Battle With the Brewers Is Quickly Forgotten

There was no lingering animosity between the Angels and Brewers on Saturday after they traded insults and hit batsmen Friday.

“It’s done and over,” said left fielder Garret Anderson, plunked on the left elbow by Milwaukee starter Ben McDonald in the eighth inning of the Angels’ 5-1 victory.

The Brewers said pretty much the same things the day after benches and bullpens emptied but no fights erupted after Chuck Finley retaliated by hitting Brewer third baseman Jeff Cirillo to start the ninth.

“It was dealt with perfectly by both sides,” Angel Manager Terry Collins said. “I respect what they did. I just know what Chuck did was what every guy in [the Brewer dugout] would do.

“It’s over.”

Anderson’s tender elbow was perhaps the only leftover from Friday. It was stiff and swollen and he said, “I couldn’t throw the way I want to throw.”

So Collins moved Anderson into the designated hitter’s spot for only the third time in his career. Orlando Palmeiro started in left field and Eddie Murray was given the night off.

“Garret is swinging the bat great,” Collins said of Anderson, who doubled in his first at-bat to extend his hitting streak to 12 games. “If his arm is bothering him, I can still have his bat in the lineup.”

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Collins said he had a good idea Finley would hit Cirillo after McDonald hit Anderson.

“Nobody said a word, but I knew what was going to happen,” Collins said.

Collins had no qualms about charging out of the dugout, but there was going to be a limit to his involvement in any brawling.

“I’ll go out, but not into the middle of it,” said a smiling Collins, 5-8 and 160 pounds. “Those guys are too big and too strong.”

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Finley’s complete-game victory gave Collins a rare chance to rest his weary bullpen.

“Mike James is a little tender, but otherwise our bullpen is in good shape,” Collins said. “Complete games sure can help.”

It was only the Angels’ third complete game this season. Rookie Jason Dickson has the other two.

Closer Troy Percival, activated from the disabled list Friday, warming up twice in case Finley faltered, but Collins didn’t need him.

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Today is No-Hitter Day at Anaheim Stadium, which doesn’t mean fans can expect one from either Angel starter Dennis Springer or Milwaukee’s Jose Mercedes. Instead, the Angels will honor the no-hit pitchers in franchise history.

Nolan Ryan, Clyde Wright, Bo Belinsky, Mark Langston and Mike Witt will attend the game. Ryan threw four of his seven no-hitters with the Angels. Witt had the only perfect game in franchise history in 1984 and also combined with Langston in 1990.

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TODAY’S GAME

ANGELS’ DENNIS SPRINGER (1-1, 6.14 ERA) vs. BREWERS’ JOSE MERCEDES (1-0, 3.70)

Anaheim Stadium, 1 p.m.

TV--Fox Sports West. Radio--KTZN (710).

* Update: Springer, a knuckleball pitcher, makes his third start of the season. He defeated Baltimore on Wednesday, pitching 5 2/3 innings of shutout relief. He gave up only two hits with six strikeouts and two walks. He might be pitching out of the bullpen or at triple-A Vancouver if not for the rash of injuries that has befallen the staff. Springer figures to be an important part of a rotation that has apparently weathered injuries to Chuck Finley, Mark Gubicza (expected back soon from a strained shoulder) and Mark Langston. Mercedes makes his third start of the season. He faced the Angels earlier this season, pitching a scoreless two-thirds of an inning in relief.