Angels Win With Gaetti’s 3-Run Homer : Baseball: Pinch-hit blast in eighth inning helps atone for misplays at first base earlier in the home stand.

There were enough factors in his favor--the backspin on the ball and the tendency for fly balls to carry farther in the daytime at Anaheim Stadium than at night--for Gary Gaetti to hope his eighth-inning drive might knock in a run or two.

But when he saw Seattle right fielder Jay Buhner leap in vain as the ball sailed over the fence for a three-run homer, Gaetti allowed himself a public and heartfelt cheer to celebrate the Angels’ 6-5 victory.

“I thought when I was rounding first, he lost the ball in the sun and we were at least going to get a hit out of it or an error,� said Gaetti, who had pinch-hit for Von Hayes against Russ Swan (3-7). “There haven’t been a whole lot of opportunities to come around and (clap).�

Gaetti, booed during the home stand for not making several difficult plays at first base, gave the crowd of 23,546 much to clap for Thursday. His homer boosted the Angels’ record on their longest home stand of the season to 10-5, tying a franchise record for most victories on a home stand. They went 10-3 during July 2-15, 1979.

Six of their 10 triumphs were built on rallies, including the five-run comeback Thursday. Although starter Tim Fortugno gave up five runs in four innings, relievers Mike Butcher and Mark Eichhorn (2-4) kept the Mariners from padding their lead and Joe Grahe pitched a one-hit ninth to clinch the victory and earn his 10th save, including six on this home stand.

“I didn’t think it was going to go out, but that’s what day baseball in Anaheim is all about,� interim Manager John Wathan said. “It was a beautiful end to a wonderful home stand. We’ve had moments the last couple days (in 8-1 and 8-0 setbacks against Seattle on Tuesday and Wednesday) where it didn’t look like we were going to end with a flourish. . . . Had we not won today, it would have been a good home stand, not great. It makes the manager old in a hurry for the team to have to come from behind.�

After a double by Luis Polonia, a single by Luis Sojo and Hayes’ groundout gave the Angels a 1-0 lead, the Mariners came back with two walks and a double by Omar Vizquel. Kevin Mitchell hit a three-run homer to left in the third for a 5-1 Seattle lead, as Fortugno continued to struggle. Fortugno, who pitched a shutout against the Tigers last Saturday, gave up a single to Vizquel in the fourth inning Thursday and left at the end of the inning.

“Basically, I didn’t have any feel whatsoever with my command and I got hurt,� he said. “I was falling behind with my fastball and, plain and simply, I did not have it today.�

Seattle starter Mark Grant had smooth sailing until he developed blisters on the index and middle fingers of his right hand and had to leave the game in the sixth.

The Angels got to Dennis Powell for consecutive singles by Ron Tingley and Polonia with one out in the eighth, and Sojo followed with a hopper misplayed by third baseman Edgar Martinez. Junior Felix lined Swan’s first pitch to him into center, scoring Tingley and Polonia and forcing Wathan to decide whether to leave Hayes in against the left-handed Swan or go to his bench.

Gaetti, 10 for 30 as a pinch-hitter, including a single in two pinch at-bats this season, was his choice.

“He’s been a good pinch-hitter in his career, and I know they’ve been using Swan as their closer,� Wathan said. “Von has struggled a little bit against left-handers. It just seemed the right thing to do.�

Gaetti’s strategy was less complicated.

“There’s not a whole lot of thinking about pinch-hitting,� he said. “You just go up and react. You lay it all on the line in one at-bat. Usually in those situations, it’s all or nothing for the pitcher too.�

This home stand was also one of extremes for Gaetti. He still heard boos when he was announced, but he didn’t want to discuss his critics.

“It’s better for them to come and do their thing than not to come at all,� he said. “For the Autrys (owners Gene and Jackie), I’m glad they came.�

The Angels were glad to leave for their seven-game journey to Texas and Kansas City on a triumphant note.

“This whole home stand we showed we can come back in the late innings, and that’s a big boost for our pitching staff,� said Butcher, who has pitched 8 2/3 scoreless innings in five appearances. “I think we have a lot of confidence going into this trip. We really started to put things together.�