Springer Knuckles (Way) Down

It turns out Dennis Springer simply was throwing his knuckleball too hard.

At least that was Hall of Famer Phil Niekro’s opinion.

Springer, rocked for nine runs on eight hits in his last start, sought out Niekro for help Saturday at Boston. Niekro, general manager of the Silver Bullets women’s team and baseball’s resident knuckleball guru, offered a remedial course for Springer and Boston’s Tim Wakefield.

It worked wonders for Springer, who threw his knuckler at two speeds--slow and slower--in shutting out the Cleveland Indians, 2-0, in the first game of Monday’s day-night doubleheader at Jacobs Field.

“Phil threw out a couple of ideas,” Springer said. “He’d seen a game on TV and thought maybe I was throwing too hard. Sometimes a little advice helps.”

Wakefield, who recently shut out the Indians, offered a bit counsel too.

“Wakefield talked about changing speeds,” said Springer, 6-4 after his second victory in three starts. “Today, my No. 1 knuckler was a real slow one. They were swinging at the pitches and helping me out.

“This was big for me. If you have a 6.31 earned-run average, you’re not going to stay here very long. I don’t want to go down [to the minors] or get released. I want to stay here.”

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The Angels have shown a special interest in the Kansas City Royals recently, scouting pitchers Kevin Appier and Tim Belcher in particular.

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Veteran pitcher Kevin Gross was designated for assignment to make room on the roster for rookie Matt Perisho, who started the second game. Gross, signed June 5 to a minor-league contract, was 2-1 with a 6.75 ERA in 12 games for the Angels. . . . Second baseman Luis Alicea had to leave the first game in the eighth inning because of an injured right hamstring. He did not play in the second game. . . . A 2-0 shutout in the first game was the Angels’ first in 15 years at Cleveland. Ken Forsch, now the Angels’ director of player development, defeated the Indians, 15-0, at Cleveland’s Municipal Stadium on July 16, 1982.