Given Chance to Play, Williams Shows He Also Can Contribute

At 32, outfielder Reggie Williams had all of 29 major league games behind him when the Angels called him up from triple-A Vancouver on Tuesday.

He pinch-ran Tuesday, and started in left field and was the leadoff hitter Wednesday. Those games marked his first major league appearances since 1995.

“I have to play with everything I have, because the next time I leave [the major leagues] may be the last time,” Williams said. “I want to do anything I can to help this team win.”

Williams did Wednesday. He had three hits and also made a spectacular catch to rob the Detroit Tigers’ Frank Catalanotto of an extra-base hit. It was as if he was cramming an entire career into one night.

“I had faith in the Lord and I knew all my prayers would come true,” Williams said. “I knew I would have a good night.”

Not that Williams, who had seven major league hits before Wednesday, has any delusions about his role.

“They have three great outfielders here,” Williams said. “I hope to show the organization that I’m capable of being a spot starter. Whether I’m sitting three days or three weeks, I can help this team in that [reserve] role.

“I’m not going to moan and groan if I get three hits one night and then don’t play for three days.”

Williams began his career in the Angel organization, then was traded to the Dodgers for relief pitcher Mike James in 1994. He re-signed with the Angels in 1997. His career nearly came to an end when he suffered a broken ankle in 1996. He played three games on it before getting X-rays.

“They told me if I didn’t have surgery, my career could be over,” Williams said. “I thought about it and prayed. I told them I wasn’t going to have it.”

That kind of faith can move mountains.

“He’s getting a chance to show people that maybe he belongs in the big leagues,” Angel Manager Terry Collins said.

*

Third baseman Troy Glaus sat out Wednesday’s game, giving him a chance to rest his sore right ankle. Glaus twisted it when he was caught in a run-down in the 11th inning Tuesday. He remained in the game.

“I turned to get away and caught my spike in the dirt,” Glaus said. “I twisted it worse a few weeks ago. They taped it up. I’ll be all right.”

The day off was also a chance for Glaus to catch his breath.

“He just needed to take a step back,” Collins said.

Glaus, who has been nearly flawless in the field, is batting .244 with six runs batted in. He has three hits in his last 19 at-bats.

*

Collins said Darin Erstad (strained hamstring) likely will play first base when he returns. . . . The Cleveland Indians, who lost first baseman Jim Thome to a broken hand Friday, are interested in Cecil Fielder, who was designated for assignment by the Angels last week. The Indians also are looking at another former Angel, Gary Gaetti, to replace Thome.

* Opponent--Toronto Blue Jays.

* Site--SkyDome.

* Tonight--7 PDT

* TV--Channel 9 tonight, Friday night.

* Radio--KRLA (1110), XPRS (1090)

* Records--Angels 64-55, Blue Jays 60-59

* 1998 record vs. Blue Jays--0-4.

TONIGHT

ANGELS’

CHUCK FINLEY

(9-5, 2.93 ERA)

vs.

BLUE JAYS’

WOODY WILLIAMS

(9-7, 4.40 ERA)

* Update--The Angels haven’t had to face Roger Clemens in a year and a half. They haven’t exactly missed him. Clemens is 25-7 with a 2.37 earned-run average against the Angels. Jose Canseco has 32 home runs this season, with eight of his last 23 hits being homers. Finley is starting on three days’ rest. He shut out Chicago for seven innings Sunday.

* Friday, 4 p.m.--Allen Watson (4-7, 6.24) vs. Pat Hentgen (10-8, 5.11).

* Saturday, 1 p.m.--Omar Olivares (6-8, 4.22) vs. Roger Clemens (14-4, 3.09).

* Sunday, 10 a.m.--Jeff Juden (8-11, 5.38) vs. Chris Carpenter (7-6, 4.89).