A Better Start for Rookie Cooper

Interim Manager Joe Maddon had a simple game plan in mind for rookie pitcher Brian Cooper, who lasted only four innings, giving up four runs, against Minnesota in his last game.

“I would like him to have a little better start,” Maddon said before Saturday’s game. “It would be good for him to get in the flow and not have to battle so much.”

Cooper’s first inning didn’t fall into the Maddon plan. His first pitch was a strike, then he hit Brady Anderson. Cooper followed that by throwing eight consecutive balls to load the bases.

Next, he hit Albert Belle with a 3-2 pitch to force in a run.

Cooper settled down after that. He struck out Cal Ripken, got Jeff Conine on a sacrifice fly to left and struck out Calvin Pickering.

He gave up two runs with only one ball leaving the infield.

Of course, Baltimore starter Sidney Ponson matched Cooper, with a few twists, in the bottom of the inning.

Darin Erstad led off with a double, Jim Edmonds walked and Mo Vaughn singled to load the bases. Ponson then hit Troy Glaus with the next pitch, scoring Erstad.

But like Cooper, Ponson slithered out of the jam. Garret Anderson hit a fly out to left, Todd Greene struck out on three pitches and Bret Hemphill struck out looking.

The game got even stranger. Cooper left after 5 1/3 innings even though he was pitching a two-hitter. He did walk five batters and hit two batters.

Cooper gave up four runs, but none scored on a hit. Besides the two first inning runs, the Orioles scored on Belle’s ground out in the third and Surhoff’s ground out in the fifth.

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The Angels have talked with utility man Jeff Huson about returning next season. “We discussed it in August, then [Manager] Terry Collins resigned,” Huson said. “They have bigger things to do right now.” . . . Baltimore catcher Charles Johnson grounded out in the second inning, ending his string of nine consecutive hits, one short of the team record.

TONIGHT

ANGELS’ MIKE FYHRIE (0-4, 5.15 ERA) vs. ORIOLES’ MIKE MUSSINA (16-7, 3.65 ERA)

Edison Field, 5 p.m.

Radio--KLAC (570), XPRS (1090)

* Update--Fyhrie takes Tim Belcher’s spot in the rotation. Belcher (inflamed right elbow) will examined in the next two days to see if he can pitch again this season.

* Tickets--(714) 663-9000.