Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, May 23, 1994 TAG: 9405230003
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B2 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: ANAHEIM, CALIF. LENGTH: Medium
\ Phil Leftwich, who indirectly contributed to Buck Rodgers' firing, now is the primary reason new California manager Marcel Lachemann has a 3-0 record this year.
Leftwich, a former Radford University pitcher, shut out the Kansas City Royals on four hits for 7 2/3 innings Saturday night as the Angels ran their winning streak to four games with a 3-0 win.
"I wasn't really worried about who was in the dugout, only about giving the team a good start," said Leftwich, who admitted Lachemann's presence "had a little influence."
"I wanted to be aggressive, and show him I deserve to be here," Leftwich said.
Leftwich entered the game with a 1-4 record and 5.66 ERA in eight starts, including an 8-5 loss to Chicago on Monday in Rodgers' final game.
In that game, Rodgers made an animated visit to Leftwich on the mound - and hours later he was dismissed. Apparently, Rodgers' criticism of young players contributed to his firing.
"The youngsters are taking very good care of me," said Lachemann, 6-1 as the Angels' manager - including a 3-1 interim stint during the 1992 season, when he was the team's pitching coach.
Leftwich (2-4) stood out Saturday night, walking two and striking out a career-high eight.
"That was a big key, being able to get the strikeout when I needed it," he said. "Normally, I'm not crazy about strikeouts, but they can deflate the other team."
The most deflating was registered by Mike Butcher, who set out for his first save by throwing a called third strike past pinch-hitter Brian McRae with the bases loaded and two out in the eighth.
The closest Kansas City came to scoring was when McRae fouled off Butcher's first full-count pitch, which was outside and would have forced in a run.
"Yes, that was ball four," said Hal McRae, the Royals' manager and Brian McRae's father. "We've been swinging the bat well, but Leftwich shut us down tonight. Then we just couldn't get the big hit in the eighth."
Rex Hudler gave Leftwich all the support he needed in his duel with Tom Gordon, hitting his third homer of the season in the third inning, but the Angels' second run was more noteworthy. It was produced by Chili Davis' sixth-inning sacrifice fly, his first in 838 plate appearances.
Keywords:
BASEBALL
by CNB