Erstad’s Good Night Falls a Bit Short of Perfect

Roberto Hernandez ruined Darin Erstad’s perfect night in the 10th inning Monday at Anaheim Stadium.

There was no shame in that. Hernandez has often mastered the American League’s best hitters.

When Erstad walked to the plate with the tying run standing at second base, he had all of three games experience behind him. Game No. 4 would be something to remember, but in the 10th Hernandez won this key confrontation.

The White Sox closer, trying to hold the Angels in check in the 10th and record his 21st save, got Erstad to hit a weak chopper to shortstop for the inning’s second out.

Erstad’s groundout enabled Randy Velarde to move to third, and he later scored on Don Slaught’s looper over second baseman Ray Durham to tie the score, 8-8.

The Angels don’t expect Erstad to win games for them--at least not yet.

Fact is, he probably arrived earlier than expected for his major league debut last Friday. And rest assured there are high expectations for Erstad, the No. 1 overall pick in last year’s draft.

Hitless in his first two games, Erstad got his first major league hit Sunday off Toronto’s Paul Quantrill.

The hits seemed to come far easier and with greater impact Monday against Chicago starter Alex Fernandez.

Erstad, leading off and playing center field in place of the injured Jim Edmonds for the fourth consecutive game, singled sharply in the first. In the third, he hit his first major league home run, a two-run shot into the right-field seats that gave the Angels a 2-1 lead. In the fourth, he added a run-scoring single and then stole his first base in the majors.

He walked twice before facing Hernandez in the 10th.

Not bad for a guy who admitted he was feeling a bit out of sorts Friday and Saturday. Sunday was better, but still not comfortable.

“It’s just a matter of being patient,” said Erstad, who batted .305 at triple-A Vancouver.

The Angels are willing to wait. General Manager Bill Bavasi said the other day that Erstad is not auditioning as a replacement for Edmonds, sidelined for up to eight weeks with a sprained right thumb. When Edmonds is healthy again, Erstad will be on the next plane to Vancouver.

“He’s just feeling his way through it right now,” Manager Marcel Lachemann said Sunday. “He’s helped us defensively already. Don’t forget Willie Mays started his career 0 for 24.”

Plus, Erstad is a key component of the Angels’ master plan.

Instead of trading one of their outfielders, they would prefer to have Erstad join Edmonds, left fielder Garret Anderson and right fielder Tim Salmon. The four would then take turns as the designated hitter.

Of course, this is not likely to happen until Chili Davis decides to call it quits. Davis’ current contract expires after the 1997 season, but at the rate he’s going he might continue playing past that date. His average is near .300 and he hit his 14th homer of the season on Monday.

Erstad also could muck it all up by progressing faster than planned.

In that case, the club could deal one of the outfielders to make room for Erstad. Anderson’s name has been frequently mentioned in the major league rumor mill as possible trade bait for more pitching.

Suffice to say, it appears the Angels will have their outfield stocked with talent for years to come. Anderson is 23, Edmonds is 25 and Salmon is 27. Erstad turned 22 June 4.