Angels Pull Off a Win and a Tie Against Rangers

Outfielder Brian Downing left Tuesday night's game in the third inning with a strained right ankle after returning to second base on an attempted pickoff play. Manager Gene Mauch said Downing will be out of the lineup until at least Friday. . . . Reliever Doug Corbett took a plane home to Anaheim Tuesday morning to be with his 2 1/2-year-old son, Kyle, who has contracted viral meningitis. Corbett, whose son is resting comfortably at Children's Hospital of Orange County, might rejoin the team by Friday, in time for a three-game series against the Cleveland Indians. "He called about 2 o'clock (Tuesday) morning," Mauch said. "He was frantic, besides himself with anxiety." Corbett wasn't expected to pitch Tuesday evening (he went 1 innings Monday night, earning his sixth save), but Mauch said he might have been used Wednesday. Corbett's departure leaves the Angels with veteran left-hander Terry Forster, right-hander Jim Slaton and three rookies--right-hander Todd Fischer, left-hander Chuck Finley and right-hander T.R. Bryden. Mauch said Forster's arm is tender, though Forster says otherwise. "That's what he tells me," Mauch said, "but I know better. I know who he talks to." . . . Reliever Donnie Moore, who continues to rehabilitate an injured right shoulder, threw at Anaheim Stadium Tuesday. It marks the first time he has tested his shoulder two consecutive days. "He felt good," Mauch said. John Candelaria, scheduled to start in Palm Springs Thursday, also threw for about eight minutes at the Big A, as did Gary Lucas, who is expected to make a relief appearance in the same game. No problems, Mauch said. . . . Reliever Jim Slaton will remain in the bullpen. "We'll probably continue this way," Mauch said. . . . Don Sutton, 41, will face Cleveland Indian pitcher Phil Niekro, 47, Saturday evening at Anaheim. It will be the first time since 1892 that two 300-game winners (Sutton, 301; Niekro, 304) pitched against each other. Pud Galvin, who finished with 361 career wins, and Tim Keefe, 342 victories, did it in 1892. Saturday's 7:05 Angel game will be preceded by an Old-Timers game, an irony not lost on Sutton. "It just means we'll be playing two old-timer games that day," he said. "And it'll be nice to work on a day when I'm not the oldest guy on the field, too."