Finley at a Loss for First Time in Almost a Year

Chuck Finley knew his winning streak would eventually end, but against the worst team in the American League? At home, where he has lost only nine times since 1995? At the hands of a pitcher whose earned-run average looked more like Michael Jordan’s scoring average?

Hard to believe, but it was those Detroit Tigers who whipped the Angels, 7-3, before 42,409 in Edison Field on Saturday night, snapping Finley’s streak at 14 and spoiling Tim Salmon’s return from the disabled list.

Finley, who had not lost since last June 27, was overpowering at times, as his 93-mph fastball and nine strikeouts will attest, and he showed no ill effects from the bruised elbow he suffered May 2, when he was drilled by a Chad Kreuter line drive.

But the left-hander was tagged for five runs on seven hits in 5 2/3 innings before being replaced by Shigetoshi Hasegawa in the sixth.

“I hadn’t tasted losing in a long time,” said Finley, who had a 2.26 ERA and 119 strikeouts in 127 1/3 innings during the streak.

“It’s not like I live in a world where I’m never supposed to lose. But I wanted to take the streak as far as I could. I’ll just have to pull myself up and start another one.”

Detroit left fielder Luis Gonzalez knocked in four runs with a two-run home run in the second and a two-run single in the sixth, and Tiger right-hander Frank Castillo blanked the Angels for eight innings before losing his shutout in the ninth.

Castillo, who sat out the first month of the season because of a right shoulder strain, entered with a 22.85 ERA after getting pummeled in his first two starts against the Red Sox and Mariners.

The pregame tale of the tape weighed heavily toward Finley: Castillo had given up more earned runs in 4 1/3 innings (11) this season than Finley had given up in 50 1/3 innings (10).

But Castillo offset an average fastball and sinker with a superb changeup, keeping the Angels off-balance and inducing more ugly swings than a 25- handicapper on the driving range. He gave up 10 hits--three in the ninth when the Angels scored all of their runs--struck out nine and walked none.

“He had a really good changeup and a good breaking ball against right-handers,” said Angel center fielder Jim Edmonds, who struck out three times before doubling and scoring in the ninth. “That combination will get you a win any time.”

The Angels won all 18 games Finley started during the streak, and No. 19 seemed likely after Finley breezed through the first, needing only seven pitches to retire the side on two groundouts and a strikeout. Finley followed that with strikeouts of Tony Clark and Damion Easley to start the second.

Then Jeff Manto, of all people--the Tiger designated hitter entered with an .040 average (one for 25) and was hitless since his opening-day single against Seattle’s Randy Johnson--lined a single to left-center and Gonzalez homered to right-center for a 2-0 lead.

The two-run shot was the first homer by a left-handed hitter off Finley since Seattle’s Ken Griffey Jr. homered off him on Sept. 23, 1996, a span of 108 at-bats.

Manto also sparked a Tiger rally in the fifth, leading off with a single, stealing second--his first stolen base since 1991--taking third on catcher Matt Walbeck’s throwing error and scoring on Finley’s wild pitch for a 3-0 lead.

Detroit third baseman Joe Randa opened the sixth with a triple over Edmonds’ head and, two walks later, Gonzalez lined a two-out, full-count pitch to center for two runs and a 5-0 lead. Manto and Joe Oliver homered off Hasegawa in the eighth.

“I felt great the whole game, and I used all of my pitches,” Finley said. “I just got beat, plain and simple. My stuff was as good as it has been all year. I just hung a couple of pitches, and big league hitters did what they’re supposed to do with them.”

Salmon, playing for the first time since suffering a partial tear of a ligament in his left foot April 22, grounded into a double play in the first, singled in the fourth, popped out in the sixth and struck out in the eighth.

He would not win a foot race with Cecil Fielder today--it may be weeks before he’s able to run at full strength--but Salmon showed good bat speed.

“He looked good,” Manager Terry Collins said. “He might tell you he’s uncomfortable at the plate, but I thought he swung the bat fine.”

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

End of Streak

Chuck Finley had not lost a decision in his last 18 outings (having won 14), and the Angels came out on top in every one of the starts . . . until Saturday night:

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Date Opponent Outcome July 1, 1997 at Colorado Won, 4-1 July 6, 1997 vs. Seattle Won, 8-0 July 12, 1997 at Oakland Won, 6-3 July 16, 1997 vs. Detroit Won, 5-3 July 20, 1997 vs. Toronto Won, 9-5 July 25, 1997 at Boston Won, 5-4 July 29, 1997 at Cleveland Won, 7-2 Aug. 4, 1997 vs. White Sox Won, 4-1 Aug. 9, 1997 vs. Baltimore Won, 5-4 Aug. 15, 1997 at Milwaukee Won, 5-3 Aug. 19, 1997 vs. N.Y. Yankees ND (W 12-4) April 1, 1998 vs. N.Y. Yankees Won, 4-1 April 6, 1998 vs. Boston ND (W 2-1) April 12, 1998 at Cleveland Won, 12-1 April 17, 1998 vs. Tampa Bay Won, 5-0 April 22, 1998 vs. Baltimore ND (W 7-6) April 27, 1998 at Baltimore Won, 3-1 May 2, 1998 vs. White Sox ND (W 5-3) May 9, 1998 vs. Detroit Lost, 7-3

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