Bottom Line Is a Win for Springer

Dennis Springer has never been a newspaper reporter, but the knuckleball pitcher who gave up six runs on six hits in six innings in Sunday’s 8-6 victory over the Twins knows an angle when he sees it.

“The thing is we won, the team picked me up, the guys came through with the clutch hits,” Springer said. “That’s what counts today. You can throw away the pitching.”

Springer would like to. His knuckler was all over the place and he walked five.

“Mechanically, I was just screwed up--it was ball one, ball two, ball three,” said Springer, who has given up 17 runs on 23 hits in his last three starts but improved to 4-2 with Sunday’s win. “One pitch would go this way, one would go the other way. I just couldn’t find that middle area. But sometimes you win the ugly ones and lose the good ones.”

DECK

* Opponent--Kansas City Royals, three games.

* Site--Kauffman Stadium, Kansas City, Mo.

* Tonight--5.

* TV--Channel 9 tonight and Tuesday night.

* Radio--KTZN (710).

* Records--Angels 31-28, Royals 28-30.

* Record vs. Royals--2-2.

ANGELS’ ALLEN WATSON (4-3, 5.35 ERA) vs. ROYALS’ GLENDON RUSCH (3-3, 5.37 ERA)

* UPDATE: The Royals are coming off three consecutive victories over the Texas Rangers and have been riding the hot bat of former Angel Chili Davis, who is hitting .294 with eight homers and 31 RBIs. The series will feature at least one marquee pitching matchup: Royal ace Kevin Appier, who has a 10-4 lifetime record against the Angels, against rookie Jason Dickson on Tuesday night.

* Tuesday, 5 p.m.--Dickson (7-2, 3.43) vs. Appier (4-4, 2.44).

* Wednesday, 11 a.m.--Chuck Finley (3-4, 5.19) vs. Jose Rosado (5-3, 3.06).