DeLucia is Quite Rich With Victories

It may be the most amazing statistical fact of the season for the Angels: Rich DeLucia, a journeyman middle reliever acquired from San Francisco in mid-April, has twice as many wins as Chuck Finley, who entered 1997 as the team’s ace.

DeLucia was 6-2 entering Monday night’s game against Seattle. Finley is 3-5 going into tonight’s start against the Mariners.

“How many wins does he have?” a stunned Finley asked when informed of the figures. “That doesn’t bother me. Rich has been throwing the ball well. But it’s been a weird year for me up to this point. I thought I’d be scratching close to 10 wins at least by now.”

Finley, who is making $4 million this season, pitched well enough to win at least three more games, two against Detroit and one against the Dodgers, and the Angels have won three of his five no-decisions.

But the veteran left-hander, who has averaged 13 wins a year, has a 5.18 earned-run average and has given up 14 home runs and 32 walks in 81 2/3 innings.

“My forkball is biting fine, and my pitches are as good now as they’ve been any other year,” Finley said. “It’s just coming down to four or five pitches a game that I have to make and I’m not.”

Manager Terry Collins has sensed Finley’s frustration. “Chuck knows he’s supposed to be the No. 1 guy, and he doesn’t think he’s making the contribution he can,” he said. “But he can’t try to do more. He just has to be himself, and he’ll be fine.”

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TONIGHT’S GAME

ANGELS’ CHUCK FINLEY (3-5, 5.18 ERA) vs. MARINERS’ JEFF FASSERO (7-3, 3.80 ERA)

Kingdome, Seattle, 7 p.m.

TV--Channel 9. Radio--KTZN (710).

* Update--Mariner center fielder Ken Griffey Jr., who sat out Thursday night’s game because of a mild strain of his right hamstring, may be available tonight as pinch-hitter or designated hitter. Seattle shortstop Alex Rodriguez (bruised chest) is eligible to come off the 15-day disabled list and is expected to start tonight. “Any time you take someone like [Griffey] out of their lineup you increase your chances of winning,” Finley said. “But that doesn’t always ring true. Sometimes the guy who replaces him may have a better series.” Angel second baseman Luis Alicea appears to have recovered from his 1-for-23 slump, going 4 for 10 with four runs in the first three games of the trip.