Shea Stirs Some Memories

If it weren’t for Kirk Gibson’s epic limp-off home run in Game 1 of the 1988 World Series, the most memorable blast from that postseason would belong to Mike Scioscia, then Dodger catcher, now Angel manager.

So said Mickey Hatcher, then Dodger “Stunt Man,” now Angel hitting coach.

“You can talk about Gibby’s homer all you want but it was Mike’s that got us going,” Hatcher said. “It was off Dwight Gooden and it sent us on our way.”

The Angels are playing an interleague series against the New York Mets at Shea Stadium for the first time in club history, and that got Hatcher, first base coach Alfredo Griffin and Scioscia a tad nostalgic.

Hatcher was referring to Game 4 of the 1988 National League championship series, when Scioscia’s two-run, ninth-inning shot at Shea tied the score before the Dodgers won it in 12 innings, 5-4, to even the series at two games apiece. The Dodgers won the series in seven, then beat the heavily favored Oakland Athletics in the World Series in five.

Scioscia downplayed his place in Dodger lore: “I like to think we still would have won. It was a big hit but it wasn’t any bigger than any other big hit.”

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Outfielder Jeff DaVanon (broken nose) and right-hander Kelvim Escobar (sore right elbow) were examined here.

DaVanon, who broke his nose Wednesday in Atlanta when a fly ball ricocheted off the wall and into his face before he ran face-first into the wall, had the fracture set. His playing status is day to day.

Escobar, who has been on the disabled list twice this season with arm troubles, underwent X-rays and an MRI test and was examined by Dr. Andy Rikito, who confirmed Angel medical director Lewis Yocum’s earlier diagnosis of a bone spur. Escobar received a cortisone injection.

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With Vladimir Guerrero seemingly on the verge of being activated, the Angels aren’t worried about the free swinger re-injuring himself or changing his hard-swinging, hard-charging ways.

He suffered a partially dislocated shoulder on an awkward dive into home plate May 20.

“Vladi’s played his whole career with that problem,” Hatcher said. “Vladi’s Vladi. You can’t hold anybody back. He has to play the game the way he’s played it his whole life.”

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Sixth-round pick Jerome Moore, a Louisiana high school outfielder whom Scouting Director Eddie Bane called “the best all-around athlete” selected by the Angels in this week’s draft, agreed to terms on a $100,000 signing bonus and will report to the team’s rookie-league affiliate in Mesa, Ariz.

The Angels have also discussed parameters of a deal with their top pick, Crescenta Valley High pitcher Trevor Bell, the 37th overall selection Tuesday. Bane is scheduled to meet with the Bell family tonight, but Bell, who is expected to command a bonus in the $950,000 range, can’t sign until after he graduates from high school on June 23.

Staff writer Mike DiGiovanna contributed to this report.

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ON DECK

Opponent -- New York Mets, three games.

Site -- Shea Stadium.

TV -- Channel 9 today and Saturday, FSN West on Sunday.

Radio -- 710, 1020.

Records -- Angels 34-25, Mets 31-29.

Record vs. Mets -- 1-2 in 2003.

Tonight, 4 PDT -- Bartolo Colon (7-3, 3.10) vs. Kazuhisa Ishii (1-4, 5.14).

Saturday, 4 p.m. -- Jarrod Washburn (3-3, 3.86) vs. Kris Benson (4-2, 3.74).

Sunday, 10 a.m. -- John Lackey (5-2, 3.93) vs. Pedro Martinez (7-1, 2.45).