For Openers, Suzuki Does His Job

Ichiro Suzuki might be regarded as the best player in Japan, but no one will confuse him with Mark McGwire or Sammy Sosa in the United States. Before long, though, Suzuki could be regarded as one of the best leadoff hitters in the major leagues.

In the weekend series against the Angels, the Mariners’ highly touted import displayed excellent bat-control skills. He doesn’t have much power. Instead, he concentrates on keeping the ball out of the air.

“He’s a weapon leading off,” Angel pitching coach Bud Black said.

Suzuki, a seven-time batting champion in Japan, singled in each of the three games against the Angels, extending his hitting streak to 10 games. More impressively, he did not hit a fly ball in 14 at-bats, slapping ground balls and line drives.

“He’s very unorthodox,” Black said. “You don’t really see that style of hitting over here. The only guy we could really compare him to is Brett Butler. He opens up his stance, and he has the ability to hit even good pitches hard and slap them by the infielders.”

*

A decade has come and gone since Wally Joyner last played for the Angels, and his old No. 21 is worn by Shigetoshi Hasegawa. So, when the Angels asked what other number Joyner might like to wear, he suggested No. 5, his number when he played at Brigham Young.

“I was surprised it was available,” Joyner said.

The number should have been retired long ago, but Brian Downing declines to cooperate. Downing wore the number from 1978-90, playing in more games than anyone in franchise history. He still holds team records in nine offensive categories.

The Angels have retired the numbers of Rod Carew, Jim Fregosi and Nolan Ryan. They would like to retire No. 5, but Downing has repeatedly refused, still unhappy in part because the team released him in 1990 without what he considered the respect of advance notice so he could start the final game that season. “That’s Brian,” said Joyner, a teammate of Downing for five seasons. “I’d love to take it off and give it to him. I think he’s very deserving of that. I would imagine the team would have to put it on the wall first and then have him come out.”

ON DECK

* Opponent--Oakland Athletics, three games.

* Site--Edison Field.

* Tonight--7.

* TV--Fox Sports Net tonight.

* Radio--KLAC (570) tonight and Wednesday; KMXN (94.3) and KMPC (1540) Tuesday; XPRS (1090) all three games.

* Records--Angels 6-6, A’s 2-9.

* Record vs. A’s--2-1.

TONIGHT

ANGELS’ JARROD WASHBURN

(0-0, 0.00 ERA)

vs.

ATHLETICS’ MARK MULDER

(0-1, 2.92 ERA)

* Update--The Angels selected Washburn as their opening day starter before a case of strep throat put him on the disabled list. He makes his season debut tonight. The Angels cleared roster space for Washburn by returning reliever Mark Lukasiewicz to triple-A Salt Lake.

* Tuesday, 7 p.m.--Ramon Ortiz (2-0, 2.51 ) vs. Tim Hudson (1-1, 5.28 ).

* Wednesday, 7 p.m.--Scott Schoeneweis (1-1, 3.92 ) vs. Cory Lidle (0-1, 27.00 ).

* Tickets--(714) 663-9000.