Finley’s Opener Is One to Forget for Angel Fans

Chuck Finley is a long way removed from the wide-eyed-Louisiana-farm-boy rookie who walked up onto the mound at Anaheim Stadium in the American League championship series a decade ago. He’s been one of baseball’s most consistent and dominating pitchers for eight years and has a contract that could be worth $18 million over the next four years to prove it.

But as much as some things have changed, others remain the same.

“I pitched in Game 5 against Boston in Anaheim when we were one pitch away from the World Series or whatever they call it,” Finley said. “I finished an inning and could’ve gotten the win.

“I’ll never forget walking out to that mound when I got in that game and looking around at the cops lining the field and everything and thinking, ‘Damn, there’s not one place to hide in here.’ ”

Ten years later, on Opening Night 1996, Finley had much the same feeling, but at least it was short-lived.

He lasted only 2 2/3 innings Tuesday night against what is supposed to be one of the weaker lineups in baseball, giving up eight hits--including two home runs--and eight runs to the Milwaukee Brewers, who ended up beating the Angels, 15-9, more than 2 1/2 hours after they had chased Finley.

It was Finley’s shortest stint since he went two innings against Toronto July 20 of last season, but he left that game because a line drive off the bat of Ed Sprague struck his heel.

On this evening, few of the opponents’ line drives landed anywhere near an Angel.

Finley retired five of the first six Brewers he faced and Jeff Cirillo’s two-out homer to left in the second hardly creased the brow of longtime Finley watchers. The ultimate grinder, surely Finley would battle his way into the seventh or eighth inning and give the potent Angel lineup a chance to win.

But it was the Brewers who did the grinding in the third inning and it was Finley who was under their cleats. Three consecutive singles, Finley’s errant pickoff throw to second, a three-run homer by Greg Vaughn, a walk, another single and a double added up to Finley’s quickest departure not caused by injury since he gave up seven runs in 2 2/3 innings against Oakland July 26, 1993.

Finley, who was 4-1 with a 4.21 earned-run average this spring, earned opening-day honors last season when he was second in the league in starts, third in strikeouts (195) and ninth in innings pitched.

He closed out 1995 with two performances that carried the Angels into a one-game playoff with Seattle for the American League West championship.

The cheers turned to boos Tuesday night. It doesn’t figure to become a trend, but it’s not a good omen. Finley learned all he wants to know about slow starts last season. He dropped his first four decisions in 1995, the longest losing streak in one season during his career.