Angel Notebook : Forsch, Burleson and Their Arms Pass Important Tests

YUMA, Ariz. — Two arms that didn’t throw a baseball during competitive play last season were dusted off and tentatively turned loose Sunday afternoon. The Angels cringed and waited for the word.

Ken Forsch, limited to 16 innings’ worth of pitching since 1983 because of a dislocated shoulder and elbow bone chips, made his spring debut by working two innings against the San Diego Padres and was later able to comb his hair.

Rick Burleson, making his second comeback attempt after his second torn rotator cuff, had to crank up and unleash a fierce throw to home plate in the second inning, trying to cut short Bip Roberts’ bid for an inside-the-park home run. To the surprise of many, Burleson threw out Roberts instead of his arm.

Although the Angels lost the game, 5-4, they were grateful for the little victories. The arms of Forsch and Burleson had succeeded in staying out of harm’s way.

Forsch pitched the fourth and fifth innings in relief of starter Mike Witt. His results were mixed.

The fourth inning was perfect--three batters, three outs.

The fifth was rougher.

Garry Templeton led off with a single and one out later, Roberts singled him to second. A double by Jerry Davis scored one run. A sacrifice fly by Rusty Tillman brought in another.

Forsch’s totals: 2 innings, 3 hits, 2 runs, 0 walks, 0 strikeouts.

No throbbing pain in right arm.

“I gave up two runs and I’m not happy about that,” Forsch said. “But for the first time in two years in this uniform, I was able to pitch without pain. To me, that’s about as significant a step as you can take.”

Bob Boone said he was pleasantly surprised as he caught the 1986 edition of Ken Forsch, finding it similar to the pre-disabled list model.

“He had good action on his pitches,” Boone said. “He got a fastball up to Roberts and hung a slider to Davis, but that’s a matter of not being sharp, not being able to pinpoint the ball yet. His arm showed good life.”

So, too, did Burleson’s on a near-perfect relay throw that was impressive on two counts--its accuracy and its effect on Burleson’s shoulder. There was none.

Roberts drove the ball into the gap in right-center field, with Gary Pettis finally tracking it down and hurrying a throw to the infield. Burleson and shortstop Dick Schofield set up for the cutoff as Roberts rounded third.

Burleson took it, whirled and fired. The throw to catcher Boone was so strong and true that it took a video replay to ascertain that the source had been Burleson and not Schofield.

Manager Gene Mauch admitted a little anxiety on the play.

‘I had the same frame of mind as everybody else--’Let’s see what happens,’ ” Mauch said. “He didn’t even hesitate. He just let it fly.”

Burleson also had a single, his second hit in as many spring games.