It’s Back to Future as Angel Bid Ends

Still stuck on 89 for ‘89, the Angels officially began preparations for the 1990 baseball season Tuesday night.

The American League West championship they gamely pursued for more than five months will belong in hands other than the Angels’ for the 26th time in 29 years. Their 4-0 loss to Kansas City at Anaheim Stadium, coupled with Oakland’s 4-3 victory over Texas, equaled elimination for the Angels on the 157th date of their regular-season schedule.

And, cruelty upon cruelty, the home run that again torpedoed the Angels was delivered by Dave Henderson, the anti-hero of ‘86, whose two-run shot up north was the difference in the Athletics’ victory over the Rangers.

Rubbed out . . . and not spared having it rubbed in.

At 89-68, the Angels are six games behind Oakland with five to play. Only Kansas City, which remains five games back, has a mathematical chance of tying Oakland for the title. The A’s (95-62) have clinched at least a share of their second consecutive AL West championship.

The Angels, meanwhile, squandered their fifth consecutive chance to win their 90th game. Last Wednesday, they logged victory No. 89 and haven’t won since, going 0-5 against Cleveland and Kansas City.

After a long and unlikely run--they were tied for first place as late as Aug. 21--the Angels, in the end, went quietly. And that end left Manager Doug Rader unprepared for its reality.

Or, at least, Rader refused to acknowledge it.

“I never anticipate losing and I never anticipate that tomorrow we’re not in the pennant race,” Rader said. “I can’t get my mind in the mind set to prepare myself for failure.”

Rader also refused to look back on the successes experienced by a team that most expected to finish no better than fourth with no business winning 90 games.

“No reflections tonight,” Rader said. “Tomorrow there will be. I need some time.”

Kirk McCaskill, Tuesday’s losing pitcher, reacted much the same way.

“I’m not looking back on anything yet,” said McCaskill, whose record dropped to 15-10. “We’re still fighting for something, as far as I’m concerned. Second place and possibly the second-best record in baseball means a lot, at least to me.

“All of these things are valuable. We should always have goals. Granted, we’re not going to win this thing, but nothing was ever accomplished sitting back.

Contention ended rather predictably for the Angels. They were beaten by young nemesis--and AL Cy Young Award favorite--Bret Saberhagen, who threw a six-hitter to improve to 22-6, lower his earned-run average to 2.19 and extend his consecutive scoreless-innings streak to 27, a Kansas City record.

By retiring pinch-hitter Jim Eppard on a fly ball to left field to complete the shutout, Saberhagen eclipsed Roger Nelson’s old Royal mark of 26 2/3 scoreless innings, set in 1972.

So, from the Angels’ vantage point, what’s new? This was Saberhagen’s 16th appearance against the Angels, and with it, he won for the ninth time in 12 decisions. He is 2-0 against them this season and 5-1 at Anaheim Stadium.

“Saberhagen is something else,” Rader said. “I can’t imagine a better pitcher--anywhere--than him right now. He was throwing 93 (m.p.h.) in the ninth inning and still had command of all three pitches.

“He’s got it all.”

Seldom, however, have the Angels made it easier for Saberhagen, who led, 3-0, before throwing his first pitch. Angel starter Kirk McCaskill didn’t retire a hitter until striking out Kurt Stillwell, the No. 7 batter in the Kansas City lineup. Before that, McCaskill:

--Hit leadoff man Kevin Seitzer with a pitch.

--Yielded a looping single to left field by Willie Wilson.

--Loaded the bases when George Brett beat out a grounder that skittered away from Angel second baseman Johnny Ray.

--Surrendered a two-run broken-bat single to Bo Jackson.

--Gave up another infield single, this bouncing off the glove of shortstop Kent Anderson, to Jim Eisenreich.

--Gave up a run-scoring single to left field by Danny Tartabull.

To that point, the only out McCaskill had recorded was at second base, when Angel catcher Lance Parrish erased Jackson on a stolen-base try.

So at that point, Angel pitching coach Marcel Lachemann left the dugout to offer McCaskill a few words of advice.

McCaskill promptly settled down--he retired the next 12 hitters--but by then, Saberhagen was entrenched.

Saberhagen was in trouble only once, in the fifth inning, when Lance Parrish led off with a single and Jack Howell then hit a double to left field.

With runners on second and third and no outs, Saberhagen got two in a hurry when Anderson hit a bouncer to Brett at first base. Brett scooped up the ball and stepped on the bag for one out, then watched as Parrish made a belated break for home.

On the run, Brett fired an off-balance throw to catcher Bob Boone, who made the tag on Parrish for a threat-killing double play. Saberhagen retired the next batter, Brian Downing, on a ground ball to shortstop and was out of the inning.

Twelve outs later, the Angels were also out of time. Five games are left on their schedule, but the next one that really counts for anything will be played early next April.

Angel Notes

So, what’s left for the Angels to play for? With a 4-2 final home stand, the Angels would tie the club record for most victories in a season, 93, set by the 1982 American League West champions. With a 3-3 home stand, the Angels would equal the franchise record for most victories at home, 53, set in 1967. . . . The Angels’ Johnny Ray and Kansas City’s George Brett both ended protracted batting slumps with first-inning singles. Ray was one for 18 before singling off Bret Saberhagen, and Brett was one for 21 before beating out an infield hit against Kirk McCaskill.

A’S ASSURED OF TIE

Oakland Athletics clinch at least a tie for their second straight AL West title. Story Page 3.