He Remains in Control Second Time Around

This time, there was no margin for error, no cushy lead.

There was also no melt down on the mound or blow up in the locker room.

This time Tom Gordon was in control.

Gordon pitched 6 2/3 solid innings, keeping the Boston Red Sox close before they took over for a 10-3 victory over the Angels Saturday at Anaheim Stadium. It was his second consecutive victory since a disastrous performance against the Angels two weeks ago.

In that game, he was given leads he could not hold and left, fuming, after four innings.

“They were swinging at the first pitches, but they were hitting at people tonight,” Gordon said. “This time, my aggressiveness won the battle.”

The last time, Gordon’s aggressiveness was on display after the game. The Red Sox gave him a 3-1 lead after the first and a 5-3 lead through three innings. Gordon couldn’t hold it.

The Angels tied the score in the fourth and Gordon was told he wouldn’t go out for the fifth, even after the Red Sox scored five runs. He lashed out at Manager Kevin Kennedy afterward. Gordon said Kennedy hadn’t shown him respect by pulling him with a five-run lead.

It was an unusual performance for the soft-spoken pitcher.

“I apologized the next day,” Gordon said. “I’m an intense guy on the field, but I’m concerned about my teammates’ feelings.”

Gordon also met with Kennedy to clear the air.

“I think a lot of it was frustration that had been building up,” Kennedy said. “It was nothing personal. He understood that and has responded well since.”

Gordon has limited his angst to the field since.

He went eight innings in a 16-4 victory over Oakland in his last start and gave the Red Sox offense time Saturday.

The Angels got to Gordon for a run in the third, but he then retired 10 consecutive batters. By then, the Red Sox led, 7-1.

“With the offense we have, it’s only a matter of time,” Gordon said.

True, the Red Sox have plenty of hitters, such as Mo Vaughn and Jose Canseco. What they needed was to shore up the pitching staff during the off-season.

Erik Hanson, a 15-game winner in 1995, signed with the Toronto Blue Jays and the Red Sox went after Gordon, who had been a consistent pitcher with the Kansas City Royals for seven seasons. He didn’t come cheap, signing a two-year, $5.8-million contract.

Some started wondering if he was worth the money. Gordon lasted only 3 1/3 innings in his first start. He threw a complete game in his second start and was 3-2 entering Saturday’s game. But mostly he meandered through the early part of the season.

Saturday, Gordon gave up eight hits and struck out three. Twice he got Tim Salmon with a runner on base. He also got out of a two-on, two-out situation in the second.

Gordon left with two outs in the seventh and had no complaints about it.

“I didn’t do anything differently tonight,” Gordon said. “They came out swinging and got their hits last time. I went after them tonight the same way.”

Only with better results.