ANGELS : Langston Gets Additional Encouragement

PALM SPRINGS —  Mark Langston has banished his memories of his tribulations last season, when he struggled to a 10-17 record. “The tape is somewhere deep in the caverns,” the Angel left-hander said. “There’s no need to reflect on it.”

He would be happy to keep a tape of his performance against the Oakland Athletics Sunday. The three runs he gave up were scored with two outs, an echo of a problem he had last season, but he deemed the day a success despite getting no decision in the Angels’ 11-4 victory at Angels Stadium.

“I felt strong as the game progressed and that’s a real good sign,” said Langston, who went six innings and left with the Angels trailing, 3-2.

“Statistically (spring training) is meaningless, but from the standpoint of making pitches where you want and getting pitches over, I’m encouraged.”

Langston, whose spring earned-run average is 2.45, settled down after the A’s scored on two singles, a stolen base by Willie Wilson and catcher John Orton’s throwing error.

He walked Rickey Henderson in the third and might have had an uneventful inning if second baseman Fred Manrique hadn’t dropped the throw on a pickoff attempt at second. Langston retired Wilson and Jose Canseco, but Terry Steinbach homered to left.

“He got a hit the time before on a similar pitch and I figured I’d come back with it because I didn’t think he’d be looking for it,” Langston said of Steinbach.

“John Orton and I talked about it and it was the pitch I wanted to throw. You’ve got to give him credit.”

Langston credited his one-pitch-at-a-time philosophy for carrying him through the spring.

“That’s the approach I’m going to take all season,” he said.

“For me to be as effective as in the past, I have to work ahead and be aggressive. We’ve assembled a pretty impressive ballclub. You realize as a starting pitcher you just have to keep the game close. It should be a very fun year, I think.”

Getting a respite from his catching duties, Lance Parrish was the designated hitter Sunday. He drove in three runs, hitting a leadoff homer in the fourth and driving in the other two with a single in the fifth to put the Angels ahead, 5-3.

“Actually, it was kind of nice,” he said.

“I don’t really see myself DH-ing that much. I expect Dave Parker to be there, but if I get a chance, I’ll take it.”

Jimmie Reese, the Angels’ 86-year-old conditioning coach, returned to Orange County for treatment of phlebitis in his left leg. He is not expected to rejoin the Angels in Palm Springs, but a club spokesman said Reese is expected to be back for the Freeway Series next weekend against the Dodgers.

Pitcher Matt Keough was to undergo testing on his sore right shoulder Sunday at Centinela Hospital Medical Center. Team doctor Lewis Yocum planned to examine the results today.

Although Fred Manrique was four for four with an RBI, the Venezuelan infielder isn’t optimistic about his chances of making the club. Manrique was signed as insurance in case infielder Donnie Hill left as a free agent, but Hill re-signed.

Manrique, who started at second base Sunday and has also played short, raised his average to .348 from .211.

“I always try to open some eyes. Maybe somebody else’s. Maybe some scout was watching the game,” said Manrique, who is in his 13th professional year but has only four years and 83 days of major league service.

Asked to assess his chances, Manrique was realistic, knowing Hill and Jack Howell stand to win reserve jobs ahead of him. He can refuse an assignment to triple-A Edmonton, but hasn’t yet considered his options in that instance.

“I don’t feel too good,” he said. “I just try to play my game. I use my experience each game. I think that is the only chance I have, to play as hard as I can and use my experience. I know I have the talent . . . I’m hungry to play the game. Maybe not here, but I will play.”

Pitching coach Marcel Lachemann said Chuck Finley’s workout schedule will not be disrupted by the left-hander’s strained bicep. Finley has been bothered by tenderness in his pitching arm, but expects to be ready to start the Angels’ April 9 season opener.

“I’m sure Lach and (Manager) Doug (Rader) are looking out for my best interests,” Finley said.

Angel Notes

Rick Schu drove in two runs in the Angels’ six-run eighth inning. . . . Cliff Young pitched a scoreless seventh and got the victory. . . . Mark Eichhorn gave up one run in one inning and Scott Bailes finished with a perfect inning. He has pitched 11 1/3 innings this spring without giving up a run. “He’s doing a real fine job. He’s throwing extremely well,” Rader said.