Baseball will get drug customer lists

Major League Baseball should get a better handle on the scope of a state and federal investigation into the illegal distribution of steroids and human growth hormone when the Albany (N.Y.) County district attorney’s office forwards customer lists to professional sports leagues today or Wednesday.

The name of Angels center fielder Gary Matthews Jr., who reportedly received a shipment of human growth hormone from an Alabama pharmacy in 2004, is expected to be on the list sent to the commissioner’s office. Matthews has denied using human growth hormone but would not address allegations that he received it.

Several pro athletes, including former baseball players Jose Canseco and David Bell, current players Jerry Hairston Jr. and Matthews, and former heavyweight boxing champion Evander Holyfield, have been implicated in the probe, and investigators are strongly considering releasing the names of others.

“We’re still trying to figure that out -- we’re struggling with it,” said Heather Orth, spokeswoman for the Albany D.A.’s office, which is overseeing the investigation. “If a crack house was raided in Albany and a customer list was there, would it be published? But we also realize how important it is for fans to know about this.”

Orth reiterated that the investigation is focused on distributors, not customers, and that Matthews will not be charged with a crime. But she wouldn’t rule out the possibility of Matthews being asked to testify as a witness in the case.

Heart of the matter

The middle of the Angels’ order -- Vladimir Guerrero, Garret Anderson and Shea Hillenbrand -- combined for six hits, including two home runs and two doubles, and three runs batted in, and Matthews had two hits and three RBIs in the Angels’ 8-7 exhibition loss to the Chicago Cubs on Monday.

Left-hander Joe Saunders gave up six earned runs and eight hits in six innings, “but there were some seeing-eye hits, and he broke about four bats,” Manager Mike Scioscia said. “I thought his velocity was good, and he pitched inside well.”

It takes a thief

Shortstop Orlando Cabrera, considered one of baseball’s best baserunners, spent about 45 minutes before Monday morning’s workout teaching Erick Aybar and Maicer Izturis the intricacies of stealing third base.

“Maury Wills once told me there’s 11 more ways you can score from third as opposed to second,” said Cabrera, who stole home against the Dodgers last season. “These guys are base-stealers, but they only know how to steal second. They don’t know how to steal third. I’m just passing on what I learned from others.”

Getting a good lead and good jump are obvious keys, but if there is a “secret” to stealing third, Cabrera won’t reveal it publicly.

“I don’t want you to put it in the paper,” he said.

mike.digiovanna@latimes.com