Hatcher Betters Springer’s Best; Angels Fall in 11 : Baseball: Boston’s Russell blows lead in ninth inning, but Red Sox win, 4-3.

There were times Monday night when Boston Red Sox center fielder Billy Hatcher wondered just what was needed to gain the Angels’ respect.

He hit shot after shot, every time he stepped to the plate, and the Angels, continuing to tempt fate, finally paid the price in the Red Sox’s 4-3, 11-inning victory at Anaheim Stadium.

In one magical evening, Hatcher had four hits and three runs batted in, ruined Angel starter Russ Springer’s best outing with a two-out, two-run home run in the top of the ninth inning and sent the Angels reeling with a sacrifice fly in the 11th.

Yes, that sound you heard was Angel Manager Buck Rodgers screaming into the night.

Rodgers allowed Springer to pitch to Hatcher in the ninth and watched Springer’s 133rd pitch of the game sail into the left-field seats, snapping a 1-1 tie.

“You get hot, you get cold,” Hatcher said, “and right now I’m just swinging the bat well.”

Was Hatcher surprised to still see Springer in the ninth?

“No,” Hatcher said. “Springer was throwing the ball very, very well. He had a good fastball. He was getting his breaking ball over. He just got that one ball up on me.”

Springer was still clocked at 92 m.p.h. on the speed gun in the eighth inning. But a changeup he left up over the plate to Hatcher sealed his fate.

The Angels managed to come back in the bottom of the ninth, at least preventing Springer from receiving the loss. Sparked by a leadoff double by Chili Davis and runs batted in by Greg Myers and Damion Easley, the Angels sent the game into extra innings, ending Jeff Russell’s save streak at 18.

In the 11th inning, it was Gene Nelson’s turn to be tormented by Hatcher. Nelson yielded a leadoff single to catcher Bob Melvin. Scott Fletcher sacrificed Melvin to second, and Melvin went to third on Nelson’s wild pitch.

Next up, Hatcher.

The Angels elected to have Nelson pitch to him, because Mike Greenwell was on deck. And again, the result was painful, Hatcher hitting the ball to right fielder Tim Salmon for the game-winning sacrifice fly.

If there was any solace in the Angels’ seventh defeat in the last eight games, it was the pitching of Springer (0-3). Springer did not get a decision, but most important for his future, he proved to management that he belongs in the rotation.

Springer, who before Monday seemed unable to get out of the second inning without the game becoming a lopsided affair, pitched a career-high nine innings, yielding 11 hits and three runs. His only major flaw was the changeup he threw to Hatcher in the ninth.

Springer, who had escaped jams in five of the previous innings, found himself in deep trouble in the ninth. John Valentin led off with a double to left field. Pinch-hitter Ernest Riles then hit a sharp one-hopper back to the mound. Springer spun, threw to second base and shortstop Gary DiSarcina made a sweep tag between his legs to get Valentin, returning to the bag.

Springer appeared to escape again when catcher Greg Myers threw out Riles, attempting to steal second. But Fletcher walked and stole second.

Hatcher, who already had three hits off Springer, slowly walked up to the plate. Rodgers left Springer in the game and paced the dugout.

The next thing Rodgers knew, he was looking toward the left-field foul pole, watching Hatcher deposit a 3-and-1 pitch into the seats for a two-run homer.

If nothing else, Springer finally removed the albatross of the first two innings. While the greatest difficulty for most pitchers is endurance, Springer had trouble just getting started.

The first two innings of Springer’s starts: 18 runs.

All innings thereafter: one run.

Until Monday.

* RARE PAIR: The Oakland Athletics’ Rickey Henderson homers to lead off both games of a doubleheader. C5