Finley and Angels On Top of It

Chuck Finley is not about to sit back and analyze his winning streak, which reached a franchise-record 10 in the Angels’ 5-3 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers before 21,874 in County Stadium Friday night.

“I don’t want to try to figure out what I’m doing right because I might start doing stuff wrong,” said Finley, who gave up three runs on eight hits, struck out three and walked two in seven innings.

“I’ve had some luck go my way, I’ve pitched well, and there have been some great defensive plays behind me. I’ve stayed away from big innings, and I’ve kept the ball in the yard for some reason.”

Home runs hurt Finley the first three months of the season--he gave up 17 in his first 14 games and was 3-6 with a 5.71 earned-run average on June 27.

But Finley has given up only three home runs since July 1, improving to 13-6 with a 4.07 ERA. His 10th consecutive victory tied the team record set by Ken McBride in 1962 and Bert Blyleven in 1989 and helped the Angels return to first place in the American League West, half a game ahead of Seattle.

“I don’t strive to get my name in big print,” said Finley, who has a 2.17 ERA during the streak. “But to look back and know I won 10 in a row during a pennant race and kept the team at the top of the charts, that means a lot.”

Finley got some relief help from Pep Harris, who retired the side in the eighth, and Troy Percival, who struck out two of four batters in the ninth for his 20th save.

Every Angel starter had a hit and the Angels, who scored single runs in the third through seventh innings, caught a better glimpse of what Rickey Henderson can bring to their lineup.

Henderson went 0 for 5 in a groggy Angel debut Thursday after traveling all night from San Diego to Milwaukee following Wednesday’s trade from the Padres. But a full night’s sleep did him wonders.

He reached base in four of five at-bats, walking three times, singling and striking out. He also stole a base and helped create a run in the seventh inning with his speed.

Henderson was on second and Darin Erstad on first when Dave Hollins ripped a potential double-play grounder to second. Fernando Vina tried to tag Erstad, but when Erstad stopped, Vina threw to first. First baseman Mark Loretta then threw to shortstop Jose Valentin in an attempt to get Erstad.

As Erstad was caught in a rundown, Henderson broke for home, sliding in ahead of Valentin’s one-hop throw.

“Rickey didn’t slow down a bit, he kept coming, and we ended up getting a run out of it,” Manager Terry Collins said. “That’s what Rickey Henderson brings to a club. He scraps for runs, he’s aggressive, and as aggressive as [third-base Coach] Larry Bowa is, we should get some unexpected runs.”

The Angels also got an unexpected double play in the third inning, using excellent execution to turn Vina’s RBI single into two outs.

With runners on first and second, Vina singled to right, scoring Gerald Williams, but Salmon cut down Mike Matheny trying to go from first to third on the hit. Vina tried to go to second on Salmon’s throw, but Hollins, the Angel third baseman, threw him out after applying the tag to Matheny.

The Angels’ 10 hits ended a streak at 12 games in which they failed to reach double figures in hits. There is also help on the way--Jim Edmonds and Tony Phillips probably will return today.

Edmonds, on the disabled list since Aug. 1 because of a lower back strain, joined the Angels in Milwaukee on Friday and should be ready to play center field for a three-game series in Baltimore, and Phillips is expected to return to the team after meeting with union doctors regarding his arrest on cocaine possession charges.

Edmonds was scheduled to fly to San Jose Thursday for a two-game rehabilitation stint with Class-A Lake Elsinore, but the Angels decided otherwise.

“If he tells me he’s OK to play we need him in the lineup, playing center field, being a home run threat every time he steps to the plate,” Collins said. “We need the whole package, and we can get him ready here.”

Edmonds, injured while making a strong throw home in a July 31 game against the Chicago White Sox, said his back doesn’t bother him swinging. “That’s the easiest thing to do,” he said. “Throwing and running are harder.”

The Angels probably will send reliever Greg Cadaret or reserve outfielder Orlando Palmeiro to triple-A Vancouver to make room for Edmonds. There’s also a slim chance pitcher Jason Dickson, suffering from shoulder stiffness, could be placed on the disabled list, opening a roster spot.

If Edmonds and Phillips return, Henderson will likely move from left field to designated hitter, Garret Anderson will move from center field back to left, and Phillips probably will replace Luis Alicea at second.

* DOCTOR, DOCTOR

Tony Phillips, seeing doctors in New York, is expected to offer to submit to drug testing. C8