Eichhorn Fills In Blanks With Big Performance

For all the terms used to describe pitcher Mark Eichhorn during his 10 seasons in the major leagues--closer, set-up man, middle reliever, long reliever--this was a first.

A question mark.

Eichhorn wasn’t concerned how he would be used on his return to the Angels this season, he wasn’t sure if he would be used.

So it would be understandable if Eichhorn did some chest-pounding after pitching three scoreless innings Sunday. After all, he got the decision in the Angels’ 6-5 victory over the Detroit Tigers at Anaheim Stadium--his first victory since July 30, 1994.

But this wasn’t the big milestone in his comeback from a year on the disabled list. That road mark was already in the rearview mirror.

“Just making the team out of spring training symbolized that hard work pays off,” Eichhorn said.

And the victory, the first since his right rotator cuff was repaired?

“I was just in the right spot to get that,” Eichhorn said.

That position was precarious when he entered.

The Tigers already had sent Jim Abbott packing by scoring three runs in the sixth inning. The Angels trailed, 5-2, and were turning things over to a guy who had given up a three-run double in his last appearance.

It was a shaky situation. But Eichhorn didn’t wobble, and he gave the Angels the opportunity for a comeback. They finally got around to it in the eighth, scoring four runs.

“[Those runs] mattered because of the way Eichhorn pitched,” Manager Marcel Lachemann said.

Praise indeed. But that he is pitching at all is enough for Eichhorn.

Two years ago, he was 6-5 with a 2.16 earned-run average in 71 games as a set-up man for the Baltimore Orioles. It was another stop, and another role, for Eichhorn, who has also blended into bullpens with the Angels, Toronto and Atlanta. His value has always been obvious.

“He’s so versatile,” Lachemann said. “He has closed games and is also capable of pitching three, four, five innings. He did that two years ago in Baltimore. Of course, it broke his arm.”

Eichhorn missed the entire 1995 season while recovering from arthroscopic surgery. The year of rehabilitation dropped his value considerably, to the point where he signed with the Angels as a minor-league free agent. He looked worthy of that level.

Eichhorn had a so-so spring training, which was followed by an even worse start. He gave up two runs in 2 1/3 innings in the season opener against Milwaukee and had given up at least one run in four of his six appearances before Sunday.

The last one was the worst. He was brought in in a save situation against Seattle and gave up a bases-loaded double to Russ Davis, the first batter he faced, and was the loser. Still Eichhorn, even with a 5.19 ERA, didn’t have doubts.

“I know what I’ve done in the past and I know what I’m capable of doing now,” he said. “Today I had to allow the team a chance to make the comeback.”

The Angels did. But Eichhorn may have made the bigger one.