Murray Can’t Get Into Act

Those who came to Anaheim Stadium on Monday night to see Eddie Murray hit historic home run No. 500 went home disappointed--the Baltimore Oriole slugger had only one single in five plate appearances against the Angels.

But those with a thirst for the long ball got their money’s worth--the Orioles hit five home runs in a 12-8 victory in front of 20,287, knocking the Oakland Athletics off the top of the major league’s home-run charts.

Third baseman Todd Zeile, acquired in a trade with the Philadelphia Phillies last week, blasted two home runs, and Brady Anderson, Bobby Bonilla and Chris Hoiles each homered to bring Baltimore’s season total to 221 homers.

Four of the home runs came off Angel starter Shawn Boskie, who now has the distinction of having given up the most homers (34) in all of baseball this season.

The Orioles, who stayed within four games of the New York Yankees in the hot American League East race, blew a 4-4 game open with three runs in the fourth inning, two in the sixth and three in the eighth, and with ace Mike Mussina on the mound, the outcome was never in doubt, despite the Angels’ ninth-inning rally.

The Angels scored four runs against relievers Mike Milchin and Armando Benitez, Randy Velarde capping the outburst with a two-run homer to left, but Benitez struck out Jim Edmonds to end the game.

The only real surprise of the evening was that Murray didn’t connect for No. 500.

With Boskie serving up homers like McDonald’s doles out burgers, and rusty relievers Mark Holzemer and Mark Eichhorn, neither of whom had pitched since early June because of injuries, following Boskie, the timing seemed perfect for Murray.

But Murray managed only two ground balls off Boskie and lined out against Holzemer. Many fans headed for the exits after Murray walked to open the eighth, figuring Murray would not get up again.

But a three-run rally against Holtz, who had given up only two runs in 25 1/3 innings this season, afforded Murray another chance in the ninth against reliever Greg Gohr, who has served up 28 homers this season.

What few fans remained chanted, “Eddie, Eddie, Eddie,” and Murray rewarded them with a hit--a single to right field.

History was not made, but victory was secured, which, the Orioles will tell you, is more important than Murray’s home-run chase. Mussina went seven innings, giving up four runs on six hits to improve to 18-9, but the reason the Orioles won is they finally found their range against Boskie.

The driving range.

Boskie had tormented the Orioles this season, going 3-0 with a 1.86 earned-run average and 17 strikeouts against them in three previous starts. His last game against Baltimore, in Camden Yards Aug. 23, may have been his best of the season, when he threw 6 1/3 shutout innings in a 2-0 victory.

But Boskie suffered his second straight subpar start Monday night, giving up seven runs--six earned--on six hits in only three innings. After striking out Anderson to open the game, Zeile drilled a full-count pitch into the left- field seats for his first homer as an Oriole.

Murray reached on a fielder’s choice in the second inning--stole second and scored on B.J. Surhoff’s single to give the Orioles a 2-0 lead, but the Angels countered with three in the bottom of the second off Mussina.

Chili Davis opened the inning with a double, Garret Anderson walked with one out, and Gary DiSarcina lofted a single to center that scored Davis.

Jorge Fabregas then flared a double down the left-field line to score Anderson and DiSarcina for a 3-2 lead, which the Angels enjoyed for about two minutes.

With one out in the top of the third, Anderson belted his 42nd homer, into the Oriole bullpen in right field, and Zeile followed with his 22nd homer, to left.