BASEBALL : DAILY REPORT : ANGELS : Reggie Knows What Ails Athletics

If the Oakland Athletics are going to overtake the Minnesota Twins to win their fourth consecutive AL West championship, they will need to get better pitching and to pick up their offensive pace, according to Oakland hitting coach and TV analyst Reggie Jackson.

“If we get some pitching we’ll be all right, but the offense has been off the last week and a half,” Jackson said. “Six games out isn’t so bad. If they lose two or three and we win two or three, we’re within three and anything can happen then. We’ve got to win a couple of 2-1 ballgames, 3-2, those kind. If you’re within five games you’ll be there until the last week of the season.”

An Angel spokesman said Fernando Valenzuela has accepted the club’s offer to finish the Pacific Coast League season with Edmonton. Valenzuela’s agent, Tony DeMarco, said no agreement has been reached although the left-hander “is still leaning that way.” . . . Rickey Henderson was scratched from the A’s lineup when his companion, Pam, went into labor before the game. . . . The Detroit Tigers’ interest in acquiring Angel right-hander Kirk McCaskill faded when they decided the price was too high. The Angels have received several inquiries about McCaskill but haven’t come close to a deal.