He Fields Position, Then Fields Questions

Pitcher Chuck Finley has never won a Gold Glove Award, and Thursday was the first time in a long time he could remember fielding questions about a clutch fielding play in which he was involved.

It happened in the fourth inning, which began with Paul O’Neill’s bases-empty homer that cut the Angels’ lead to 5-2, and singles by Cecil Fielder and Bernie Williams.

Tino Martinez grounded sharply to first, where J.T. Snow fielded the ball and fired to shortstop Gary DiSarcina for one out. DiSarcina relayed a throw to first, where Finley made a lunging grab, his face winding up in the dirt but the ball in his glove and foot on the bag for the double play.

Tim Raines then grounded out, stranding Fielder at third, and the Angels went on to a 12-3 victory.

“I ended up with more dirt on my face than was around the first-base bag,” said Finley, now 12-12. “DiSar said it looked like I was playing in mud or at the beach. But I was happy when I looked up and saw Big Daddy [Fielder] at third.”

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Joe Maddon, the Angel bench coach, improved to 2-0 as interim manager Thursday night, and he’s well aware that a good performance in John McNamara’s absence would enhance his chances of becoming the next Angel manager.

“But I’m not looking at this as an audition,” said Maddon, 42. “I want to do a good job on a daily basis, and if it turns out well and people think I can do this, great. But I’m not looking any further than tonight’s game.”

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The results of Jim Abbott’s second minor league start Thursday were much like his first: mixed. Abbott gave up only two hits and struck out five in seven innings, but he walked five and one of the hits was a three-run home run. He was charged with four runs, three earned, in Vancouver’s 5-0 loss to Tucson. . . . McNamara, in a New York hospital because of a blood clot in his right calf, said Thursday that the swelling in his leg has gone down and he “felt better.” McNamara will remain in the hospital until early next week. . . . Reliever Mike James, out the last three days because of a stiff neck, will not be available until today or Saturday. . . . Only Eddie Murray (11) and Mickey Mantle (10) have hit homers from both sides of the plate in the same game more than Chili Davis, who did it for the ninth time Wednesday. . . . The Yankees Thursday claimed infielder Luis Sojo off waivers from Seattle.