Angels’ Offense Starts Too Late

They are almost no one’s pick to win the American League Central Division this year. Even the staunchest supporters of the Chicago White Sox would admit the Cleveland Indians are vastly superior and figure to be unbeatable.

This is not to say there’s no hope on Chicago’s South Side in 1996. When right-hander Alex Fernandez is on the mound for the White Sox, anything seems possible.

The Angels learned that fact, losing to Fernandez and the White Sox, 8-4, before an announced 26,447 Saturday at Anaheim Stadium.

It wasn’t so much that they were defeated but the manner in which it happened over the course of the first eight innings that was so impressive.

Although he faltered a bit at the end, Fernandez rendered the Angels, perhaps the Indians’ only offensive rival in the AL, almost silent in a masterful performance for his first victory.

He did not get a decision in his opening-day start against Seattle last Sunday, leaving with a 2-1 lead only to see the Mariners rally for a 3-2 victory in 12 innings.

Saturday’s performance was neither fluke nor surprise. Fernandez has been nearly untouchable over his last 13 starts, including the final 11 in ’95. With his win over the Angels, he is 8-0 with a 1.62 earned-run average during that span.

Between a George Arias single in the second inning and Randy Velarde’s single in the ninth, Fernandez retired 20 consecutive batters. He then ran into trouble, giving up a two-run homer to Jim Edmonds and a bases-empty homer to Tim Salmon that cut the lead to 8-4.

Fernandez, who had 10 strikeouts, gave way to former Angel Joe Magrane, who has undergone a career revival with the White Sox this year. Magrane retired the Angels to preserve the victory.

Chris Snopek, Frank Thomas and Tony Phillips made sure Fernandez wasn’t flying solo Saturday, giving him plenty of hitting support.

Snopek’s first hit of the year was a three-run double off Angel starter Jim Abbott, making his ’96 debut, in a four-run sixth inning that broke the game open.

Thomas hit a two-run homer off reliever Ken Edenfield in the seventh, a blast that rocketed over the center-field fence and gave the White Sox a 7-1 lead.

Phillips, an Angel last season, singled twice, scored twice, walked and added a run batted in.

Cutting against the grain, Phillips discounted an Indian runaway.

“We should be there, just look at our lineup,” said Phillips, who played primarily third base for the Angels last year. This year, he hopes to play more in the outfield.

“I hope so,” he said. “I’ll come in and play some third base against tough left-handers and give Robin [Ventura] a rest.”

Later, say, June, July or August, Angel Manager Marcel Lachemann might be concerned that he has been forced to overwork his bullpen. But in April, in the season’s first week, Lachemann said he’s not about to start losing sleep.

“We had a day off after two games, then we get another day off after three more games,” he said before Saturday’s game. “I’d just as soon not have it that way [using so many pitchers], but it’s not a big deal now.”

Still, Angel pitching hasn’t been the rousing success it figured to be. In fact, the trend going into Saturday was anything but encouraging.

Chuck Finley and four relievers were battered by the Milwaukee Brewers, 15-9, on opening night. Mark Langston and three relievers needed 11 innings to subdue the Brewers, 3-2. Shawn Boskie and five relievers defeated the White Sox, 7-6, in 11 innings Friday.

So it was up to Abbott, filling the role as No. 4 starter in the rotation, to restore order for a staff that’s considered among the league’s best.

Didn’t happen.

Abbott couldn’t keep the White Sox silent forever and he was gone with two outs and four runs in during the pivotal sixth inning.

Chicago loaded the bases in the sixth on consecutive singles by Ozzie Guillen and Phillips. They moved to second and third on Ray Durham’s sacrifice. Abbott then walked Thomas and struck out Lyle Mouton.

Danny Tartabull followed with a run-scoring single and Snopek delivered a three-run double down the left-field line that gave Chicago a 5-1 lead.