Olivares Excels in Collins’ Return

It has reached the point where the Angels know what to expect from Omar Olivares. By now, other teams must be catching on.

Still, the Seattle Mariners flailed and failed Wednesday, another indication that the $1.35-million investment in Olivares might have been a bargain. He gave up four hits in eight innings in a 4-2 victory over the Mariners that pushed the first-place Angels 1 1/2 games ahead of the Texas Rangers in the American League West Division.

It was another in a string of fine performances for Olivares, who has not had a winning season since 1993. He was 6-10 with Detroit and Seattle last season, but is now 5-2 for the Angels. Since replacing the injured Jack McDowell in the rotation, Olivares has given up three or fewer runs in all 10 of his starts and has pitched into the seventh inning or later seven times.

Outfielder Garret Anderson summed up Olivares this way:

“The guy is no slouch,” Anderson said.

Even guys above slouch status need some help. The Angels provided, scoring three runs in the seventh to erase a 2-1 deficit. Darin Erstad had a two-run homer, his 16th, to give the Angels the lead and Tim Salmon drove in his second run of the game for a little cushion.

It was a fine welcoming for Manager Terry Collins, who returned from an eight-game suspension and found the hand-wringing is a little more satisfying in person, although it was no less stressful.

Collins and the Angels had to sweat out the ninth, when the Mariners brought the tying run to the plate after a Dave Hollins error with two out. But Troy Percival got Rob Ducey to fly out to end the game, giving the Mariners their 13th loss in 16 games.

“They are obviously not playing like they can right now, but they scare me to death,” Collins said.

Collins had nothing to fear but fear itself . . . and Ken Griffey and Alex Rodriguez and Jay Buhner and David Segui.

None, though, were much of a factor Wednesday, Olivares saw to that. He gave up only a run-scoring single by Rodriguez and a solo home run by Dan Wilson.

“He’s been our biggest surprise this season,” Collins said. “Every club that is successful has a surprise and Omar has been our guy.

“He wanted to be a starter from the first day of spring training. When he got his opportunity, he just said, ‘I’m staying here.’ ”

Olivares made that point clear to Seattle, which chose not to re-sign him after last season. He got 15 ground-ball outs. Add to that four strikeouts and a lazy liner to second baseman Justin Baughman.

It meant that 20 of Seattle 24 outs were recorded in the infield before Olivares turned things over to Percival, who pitched the ninth for his league-leading 22nd save.

Olivares was brought in to be the Angels’ fifth starter but was more or less relegated to mop-up man after McDowell was signed. It was not a tough call. McDowell had been a star in the past, and won a Cy Young Award in 1993. Olivares had won 43 games in a six-year career. His spring just made the choice even easier, as he had a 10.24 earned-run average in eight appearances.

But when McDowell suffered an elbow injury, Olivares plugged the hole.

“He has made real quality pitches when he’s had to,” Collins said. “He might walk a guy, or get a couple guys on. The next thing you know, he makes great pitches to get a big out.”

Or two. The Angels turned three double plays Wednesday.

The Mariners had runners at first and second in the third inning, but Olivares got Griffey to hit into an inning-ending double play--which first baseman Cecil Fielder salvaged by extending himself far to the right to snag shortstop Gary DiSarcina’s throw.

Fielder also saved a run in the second, snagging a high DiSarcina throw and tagging Buhner for the last out, leaving Segui on third.

In the third, Edgar Martinez hit into an inning-ending double play with runners at first and third. In the fourth, Rodriguez struck out and Charles Gipson was thrown out attempting to steal on the play, ending the inning.

*

* McGWIRE HITS ANOTHER: Mark McGwire hit his 32nd home run, but St. Louis still lost to Houston, 6-5. C7