Watson Shows Burning Desire

Angel starter Allen Watson was experiencing chest pains Saturday night, and though Seattle’s lineup can cause palpitations for pitchers, Watson’s discomfort was not caused by Ken Griffey Jr., Edgar Martinez and Jay Buhner.

“I must have ate something bad,” Watson said. “I had heartburn and chest pains, so I took some antacid and it cleared up before the game. I should have chest pains before every start.”

Indeed, Watson and the Angels were breathing a lot easier after the left-hander smothered the Mariners with an eight-inning, three-hit performance to lead the Angels to a 6-1 victory before 38,750 in the Kingdome.

The Angels ended a losing streak at three games and pulled within 4 1/2 games of the first-place Mariners going into the finale of the four-game series today.

“This game was really important when you consider what we have to face [today],” Angel Manager Terry Collins said, alluding to Seattle ace Randy Johnson. “This game came down toa pitcher stepping up and giving us a quality start.”

Watson (7-4) didn’t so much win a game as he did stop a runaway freight train. The Mariners, 8-1 in their previous nine games, had 10 homers in their last three games and outscored opponents, 17-1, in the first two innings of their past five games.

But Watson, who left Monday’s start after six shutout innings because of biceps tendinitis, recovered to pitch his best game of the season, consistently throwing his fastball and curve on the hands of right-handed batters and spotting his changeup on the outside corner.

He struck out six, walked two and retired 18 consecutive batters between the first and seventh innings. Watson, three outs away from his first career shutout, tired in the ninth, giving up a walk and a single. Collins went to closer Troy Percival, who gave up a sacrifice fly to Martinez before striking out Buhner to end the game.

“Allen deserved a chance to finish it,” Collins said, “but he was tired, and we had to have this game.”

Watson had faced Seattle once this season, giving up three runs on four hits and failing to record an out in a May 19 relief appearance, and that was on his mind when he took the mound Saturday night.

“That kind of ticked me off, and it motivated me for this game,” Watson said. “I really wanted to pitch well.”

He usually does on the road. Watson is 1-2 with a 10.05 earned-run average in Anaheim Stadium this season but 6-2 with a 2.62 ERA on the road.

“I guess I’m more relaxed on the road,” he said. “That’s strange, because I’m usually a better pitcher at home. I want to change that going into the second half.”

Watson got plenty of offensive support Saturday. Luis Alicea hit a home run into the second deck in right field in the fifth inning and had an RBI single in the seventh, while Dave Hollins had a sacrifice fly in the third and an RBI single in the seventh.

The Angels’ four-run seventh featured a team-record four stolen bases, including a swipe of home by 38-year-old Tony Phillips.

With Darin Erstad on first and Phillips on third, Phillips strolled down the line while Mariner left-hander Greg McCarthy was in the stretch.

As McCarthy moved to pick off Erstad, Phillips--a good 35 feet off the bag--broke for home, scoring well ahead of Martinez’s wild throw from first base to the plate and becoming the first Angel to steal home since Rex Hudler, who accomplished the feat against Detroit on July 21, 1995.

“Larry [Bowa, Angel third-base coach] told me if he lobs it over to first to try to score,” Phillips said. “I got a nice little walking lead and went home.”

Today, the Angels have the tall task of trying to defeat Johnson, the 6-foot-10 left-hander who struck out 19 in his last start and has an 11-5 career record and 2.80 ERA against the Angels.