McDowell Has Pennant Fever

One impressive start Friday night has convinced Jack McDowell he can pitch effectively in the major leagues again despite missing most of the past three seasons because of shoulder and elbow injuries.

His goal now is to convince a contender after his next start he can help them win a division title or advance further in the playoffs.

“I know it sounds pretty selfish, but I would love to get the chance to pitch in a pennant race,� McDowell said. “That’s what I’m here for. . . . I have one more start before July 31 [Saturday’s non-waiver trading deadline] to convince people I might be able to help someone this year. We’ll see.�

In his first start since Sept. 24, McDowell gave up one run on six hits, struck out four and walked one in 5 2/3 innings of the Angels’ 1-0 loss to Baltimore Friday night. His command was excellent, his velocity was in the 88-mph range, and of his 88 pitches, 60 were strikes.

“I’m able to challenge people inside with what I’m throwing now,� McDowell said.

McDowell, the 1993 American League Cy Young Award winner, doesn’t believe a loss of velocity should be a major issue.

“I’m a couple of miles per hour off from when I was at the top of my game. . . . Everyone keeps saying I’m not throwing as hard, I’m not throwing as hard,� McDowell said, “but when I was first called up [in 1987] I topped out at 92-93 mph, and when I learned how to pitch, I was throwing 88-91 mph. I’m fine.�

McDowell would be a relatively low-risk proposition. A team trading for him would pay only about $150,000 of his $500,000 contract this season and would not be obligated to McDowell next season because he will be a free agent.

*

Some 60 family members and friends of Angel outfielder Reggie Williams, including his mother, Margie, chartered a bus for an eight-hour drive from Laurens, S.C., to Baltimore Saturday, and they were seated in the center-field bleachers for the game.

“If I don’t do something, she’s going to let me know,� Williams said of his mother. “She’s my No. 1 fan. If it wasn’t for her, I would have given up on this game a long time ago.�

Williams’ father, James, was killed in a car accident on his way to the hospital to see Reggie after he was born, so Reggie grew up without a father. He also has four older sisters and two older brothers, who were all at Saturday’s game.

“My mom raised me all by herself,� Williams said. “She worked four jobs to support us.�

Though Williams didn’t have much of a game, walking twice, grounding out and striking out in four plate appearances, at least his family and friends got to see him play--Williams, a reserve, started in center field and played the whole game.

*

Darin Erstad ended a 0-for-15 slump with an RBI single in the seventh inning and another single in the ninth, but Mo Vaughn’s struggles continued--he went 0 for 5 with two strikeouts, both against Oriole right-hander Jason Johnson, and is hitless in his last nine at-bats.

“The only way to keep myself sane [through this losing streak] is to continue to work, take extra hitting and study tapes,� Vaughn said. “If you don’t work, it would be really tough to live with yourself. . . .

“I love this game, whether we’re 14 1/2 games up or 14 1/2 games back. I don’t enjoy losing, but I still love playing baseball, that will never change. You’ve got to look at it like this: We could be doing something else you don’t like, like digging ditches.�

TODAY

ANGELS’ CHUCK FINLEY (5-9, 5.59 ERA)

vs.

ORIOLES’ SIDNEY PONSON (9-6, 3.74 ERA)

Camden Yards, Baltimore, 10:30 a.m. PDT

TV--Channel 9 Radio--KLAC (570), XPRS (1090)

* Update--Tim Salmon has shown no fear in right field since returning from a sprained left wrist, suffered when he attempted a sliding catch May 3. He made what appeared to be a sliding catch on Cal Ripken’s fourth-inning flare to his left--it was ruled a single--and two batters later he ranged into the gap for a sliding catch of Charles Johnson’s drive. “I don’t think,� Salmon said. “I just react.� Ripken’s two homers Saturday gave him 36 against the Angels, the most he has against any opponent. . . . The Angels are four losses shy of the worst losing streak in franchise history, a 13-game skid from Sept. 19, 1988-April 4, 1989. You know the Angels are struggling when closer Troy Percival--remember him?--has only one save since June 27.