Another Fine Day for Finley

It seemed only fitting that Chuck Finley surpassed Nolan Ryan to become the Angels’ career innings-pitched leader on a day that pretty much typified his 12-year career.

Finley was hardly at his best in the Angels’ 6-3 victory over the Oakland Athletics before 22,893 in the Oakland Coliseum on Saturday. He walked four and the A’s had so many baserunners that even Finley said, “They had me surrounded all day.”

But Finley made huge pitches when he had to, getting the A’s to ground into three double plays, and he gave up only one run on seven hits in six innings as the Angels improved to 9-0 against Oakland this season and moved to within 3 1/2 games of Seattle in the American League West.

“He was definitely grinding today,” shortstop Gary DiSarcina said of Finley, who increased his innings total to 2,183 1/3. “He didn’t have his best stuff but found a way to get out of innings. The first guy up [Damon Mashore] lined a ball off his shin, and he stayed in there and battled . . . that’s Fin.”

Finley, who has won three in a row, evened his record at 6-6 and lowered his earned-run average to 4.71. Two weeks ago he was 3-6 with a 5.71 ERA after getting shelled for eight runs in five innings at Seattle on June 27.

“Chuck is our ace, our horse,” second baseman Tony Phillips said. “You look at that game in Seattle, he gave up seven runs in three innings and stayed in until the fifth. It would have been easy to say, ‘Take me out,’ but that showed a lot of heart. He’s going to battle his butt off.”

Even more remarkable than Finley’s record is that every one of those innings pitched has come in an Angel uniform.

“It’s kind of a freak thing these days to stay with the same team for four or five years, let alone 12,” Finley said. “I’ve tried to be a quality player for this organization, and it’s worked out for both of us.

“Certain circumstances cause players to leave. Sometimes it’s money, sometimes teams force players out. I’ve never been in one of those situations. I’ve pitched decent enough to stay around, and it’s really special to say I’ve put on one uniform for all these years.”

The Angels, who have won five in a row, made the most of an eight-hit offense Saturday, scoring three runs on ground-ball outs and one when Dave Hollins was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded.

Oakland scored twice in the eighth to make it 6-3, but Troy Percival overcame control problems to strike out Matt Stairs with the bases loaded to end the inning. He then struck out two of four batters in the ninth for his 11th save.

“We walked nine guys today,” Angel Manager Terry Collins said, “so we were real fortunate to win.”

Finley’s victory came against a team he has had little success against. The left-hander had a 6-17 record against the A’s going into Saturday’s game, 2-7 on the road. But these A’s are a far cry from the team that reached the World Series three consecutive years (1988-90), winning it in 1989.

“They don’t have that lineup with Rickey Henderson, Dave Henderson, Carney Lansford, Jose Canseco, Mark McGwire, Terry Steinbach . . . I came in here a million times, threw the ball well and came out with nothing,” Finley said. “McGwire is about the only guy left.

“With half these guys, I have to get scouting reports from teammates who have been in triple A. I relied on [recently recalled catcher] Todd Greene a lot to tell me how to pitch to these guys.”

Finley may need some advice from double-A players if he faces the A’s again this season. Oakland’s league-worst record fell to 37-55, and General Manager Sandy Alderson, who acknowledged he has had trade talks with the Angels regarding McGwire, vowed to make changes.

Ariel Prieto, the supposed ace of the A’s staff, gave up five runs on six hits in 3 2/3 innings, and Steve Karsay, the No. 2 starter, was bombed in Friday’s 14-4 loss to the Angels. The Angels have outscored the A’s, 70-36, in nine games.

“I’ll put it this way--we’ve got plenty of money in the budget for airline tickets,” Alderson said, alluding to players being shuttled to the minor leagues. “I’m thoroughly disgusted.”