Was This Sacrifice Really Worth It?

Believing the situation called for a bunt, Manager Marcel Lachemann sent seldom-used infielder Damion Easley to bat for designated hitter Chili Davis with the scored tied, Tim Salmon on first and none out in the ninth inning Thursday.

The move surprised Easley. Davis wouldn’t try to second-guess it. Lachemann simply said it wasn’t fair to ask Davis to bunt because he’s a power hitter.

It all worked out for the Angels when Easley moved Salmon to second and reached base on Mike Mohler’s fielding error. However, it was a decision ripe for postgame discussion, particularly since the Angels couldn’t push across the go-ahead run after loading the bases.

Said Davis: “What am I going to say? [Lachemann] feels the need to pinch hit for somebody, it’s his job. He’s the manager. I’m not the manager of this ballclub. I’m the designated hitter.”

Lachemann put it this way: “I didn’t think it was something fair to do [ask Davis to bunt]. Basically, as a manager, I can’t ask players to do things they’re unaccustomed to doing.”

*

Lost amid the rubble of the Angels’ 8-7 loss to Oakland was Randy Velarde’s run-scoring single in the fourth inning that extended his hitting streak to 21 games.

He is tied for the fourth-longest streak in club history. Rod Carew, now the Angels’ batting instructor, holds the team record with a 25-game streak in 1982.

Velarde’s streak is the longest since Jim Edmonds hit in 23 in a row last year. Edmonds’ streak was broken at the Oakland Coliseum.

*

Lachemann on the Anaheim Stadium fans’ warm greeting for Jim Abbott, demoted to the bullpen June 22, when he came in to pitch in the sixth inning of Wednesday’s 8-1 loss to Texas:

“Everybody’s aware of what he’s going through and everybody’s pulling for him. He has a tendency to want to do it [break out of his slump] for all those people who are pulling for him rather than just relaxing and doing it for himself.

“I know he appreciates the crowd’s cheers. That was not your typical reaction to bringing in a reliever in an 8-1 game.”

*

Closer Troy Percival said he would be available to pitch today if needed, despite throwing a career-high 2 2/3 innings and 51 pitches Thursday. Said Oakland Manager Art Howe: “He’s a better man than I am if he can come back [today].” . . . Former Angel Andrew Lorraine is 3-5 with a 5.78 earned-run average for Edmonton, Oakland’s triple-A affiliate. . . . Angel catcher Don Slaught was ejected for arguing with plate umpire Greg Kosc in the second inning. Pat Borders replaced Slaught.