Valenzuela Will Make Angel Debut on Friday

By HELENE ELLIOTT

June 5, 1991 12 AM PT

TIMES STAFF WRITER

ANAHEIM — Fernando Valenzuela signed a major league contract Tuesday and will make his Angel debut Friday at Anaheim Stadium against the Detroit Tigers.

“I’m looking forward to being part of the team. I hope I can do something for them,” Valenzuela said. “I know it’s going to be a great team.

“I hope there will be a lot of people coming, not only to that game but to support the team. It’s great when people come to the park. The players can do a lot extra.”

To make room for Valenzuela on the roster, the Angels optioned Scott Lewis, who had been their fifth starter, to triple-A Edmonton. They also recalled right-hander Joe Grahe Tuesday, but Manager Doug Rader specified Grahe’s role will be a long reliever for the immediate future.

Angel Senior Vice President Dan O’Brien said Valenzuela signed a one-year contract with a one-year option that supersedes the one the Mexican-born left-hander signed before he made his three minor league starts.

O’Brien also said the contract is not heavily laden with incentives but does contain “different phases . . . that kick in over a period of time beginning Friday, forward to the future.”

The Angels know they’re not getting the Valenzuela of seven or eight years ago, but they’re happy to get him, nonetheless.

“We expect a fifth starter who can do what the other four, five have been doing--that is, win,” O’Brien said. “He knows how to win. He knows how to pitch. This is a good ballclub that knows how to play defense and score runs. He can help it. They can help him.”

Valenzuela threw on the side before Tuesday’s game, as he normally would on his third day between starts. He said he had improved in each of his minor league outings and felt ready to return to the major leagues.

Valenzuela pitched a total of 17 innings in one start for Class-A Palm Springs and two for double-A Midland. He didn’t allow an earned run, and pitched a seven-inning shutout in his final game, Saturday at Little Rock, Ark.

“In my first game, my fastball was a little wild, especially my fastball away,” he said. “My second game was a lot better. My breaking ball, I was very happy. In all three games it was working fine. I’m not a power pitcher so I have to use my breaking ball a lot . . .

“I know there’s a lot of difference from the minor leagues (to the majors). There are hitters with more experience. But the same way, I have a lot of experience in the big leagues, so I can handle it.”

Valenzuela will pitch Friday on five days’ rest. Jim Abbott, whose turn would have come Friday, instead will pitch Saturday, also on five days’ rest.