No Decision but Satisfaction for Lackey

There are still a few things the Angels’ John Lackey can learn about being a major league starting pitcher. Little things.

Such as, on the day you are pitching you don’t have to shag balls in the outfield during batting practice, which Lackey did before Saturday’s game at Edison Field.

And, on the day you are pitching, sometimes you don’t get the victory no matter how well you throw, which is what happened to Lackey.

Still, there was nothing more satisfying for Lackey than watching the Angels rally for a 4-3 victory over the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in front of 29,513.

He did the lion’s share of work, giving up two runs in seven innings. Scott Schoeneweis, replaced by Lackey in the rotation, worked one inning and became the pitcher of record when Darin Erstad’s broken-bat single broke a 2-2 tie in the eighth inning.

Schoeneweis got the victory. Closer Troy Percival wobbled through the ninth, giving up a run and stranding two runners, but picked up his 21st save. And the Angels moved with three games of the Seattle Mariners in the AL West.

In Lackey’s eyes, the evening lacked for nothing, even if he didn’t get the victory.

“We’re in a pennant race, all that matters is we win,” Lackey said.

Lackey, 23, was superb in his third major league start, being denied victory by inches. Chris Gomez hooked a line drive down the left-field line in the seventh inning that just stayed fair for a solo home run, tying the score, 2-2.

The Angels, dormant most of the game, woke up for an eighth-inning rally. Adam Kennedy led off with a single and David Eckstein, after failing to sacrifice, looped a single to right, and both advanced on a passed ball. Erstad followed by stroking a single to right, leaving his bat in splinters at the plate.

“When they go like that, I call them warriors,” Erstad said, saluting. “It died a good death.”

Erstad also helped out by making a diving catch to take an extra-base hit away from Aubrey Huff in the sixth inning.

“That was the best catch I have ever had behind me,” Lackey said. “I’ll take a few of those. I get an out, even on a hit like that, it was a good pitch.”

Lackey is still absorbing the whole major league experience, which included chasing down fly balls during batting practice.

“I’ve done that my whole career,” Lackey said. “If I sat in the clubhouse, I’d just go crazy.”

After walking two batters in the first inning, Lackey settled down.

“That’s his makeup,” Angel Manager Mike Scioscia said. “He’s very calm, but very aggressive. That’s important in every pitcher, but rare in a young pitcher. It allows him to pitch at a high level that his experience wouldn’t seem to allow.”

When Lackey did labor, the Angels helped him out. Gomez and Jared Sandberg had consecutive singles to start the fifth inning, but Eckstein fielded Randy Winn’s sharp grounder and started a double play.

Brent Abernathy then caught third baseman Troy Glaus napping with a bunt to score Gomez, but Lackey got Steve Cox on a ground out to end the inning.

“I feel pretty comfortable here,” Lackey said. “Sure the talent level is higher, but it’s the same baseball game I have always played.”

The Angel offense couldn’t wait to get started, so it seemed, then took a lengthy siesta.

Eckstein walked to lead off the first, sprinting to first base after ball four. One out later, Tim Salmon smacked a 2-1 pitch over the center field wall, giving him six runs batted in in the last five games.

“We have a lineup, top to bottom, that is very aggressive,” Salmon said. “Whether it is David Eckstein at the top of the order or Bengie Molina and Adam Kennedy at the bottom of the order, everyone is a competitive hitter. It’s not like we sit around thinking, ‘It’s my turn to do it tonight,’ but there are a lot of guys in this lineup that can hurt you.”

Trouble was, none got around to it after Salmon’s home run until Erstad in the eighth inning.