The Los Angeles Times from Los Angeles, California • 14

SPOR TSB USINESS San Diego County Saturday, April 4, 1981 Cos Angeles duties CCtPart III Lakers Save Face, Season Dodgers Are Winners; So Are Angels 48,331 a Big A Record See LA. Win in 9th, 4-1 Abdul-Jabbar Gets 27 Points, 17 Rebounds in 111-106 Win By MIKE LITTWIN, Times Staff Writer HOUSTON The Lakers, only one game away from what would have been an embarrassingly early elimination from the playoffs, were clearly a team on the run Friday night. Which is just the way Coach Paul Westhead assumed they'd be. But Westhead left nothing to chance. He changed the Lakers' lineup, and the Lakers changed their luck.

With Michael Cooper at guard in Magic Gone? Johnson Feels Some Lakers Are Resentful I -'t', I 4 fi "-it" Iff it Jjj ByROSSNEWHAN, Times Staff Writer It is expected that both the Angels and Dodgers will flirt with the three million attendance figure in 1981, providing, of course, there is not a strike. The first evidence of what is expected to be an epidemic of baseball fever in Southern California was seen on a chilly April night as the Dodgers defeated the Angels, 4-1, Friday in the opening game of the Freeway Series. A crowd of 48,331 saw Los Angeles snap a 1-1 tie in the ninth inning on an RBI double by Ron Cey and a two -run homer by Pedro Guerrero, both at the expense of Andy Hassler. The crowd was the largest ever for a baseball game at recently expanded Anaheim Stadium. The previous record was 46,309 for the 1967 All-Star game.

Many of the new outfield seats were filled, at the same $5.50 per ticket as for the field and loge boxes. Another 45,000 Expected Another crowd of approximately 45,000 is expected tonight, when the Dodgers could draw even with the Angels, whose Freeway Series lead is now 17-16-1. Burt Hooton and Robert Castillo combined Friday night to frustrate what Manager Jim Fregosi has called the best lineup in Angels history on six hits. Hooton allowed four in seven innings and said he is probably more advanced this spring than ever before. He has allowed just seven earned runs in 28 innings.

He said a key factor was a Nautilus program initiated when the shoulder ailment believed to be bursitis last year was diagnosed this winter as the first stage of a rotator cuff injury, an ailment that is generally fatal to a pitcher's career. Error Led to Run The only run Hooton yielded came in the fifth when Pepe Frias committed one of the five Los Angeles errors, throwing away Juan Beniquez's inning-opening grounder. A bunt single by Bobby Grich and an infield out got Beniquez home. Hooton's strong effort was duplicated over six innings by Jesse Jefferson, the 31-year-old right-hander who previously pitched for the Orioles, White Sox and Blue Jays and was signed to a one year contract as a free agent. Jefferson allowed only four hits in a performance that may have earned him the 10th and final berth on the Angels' staff.

He has allowed just five earned runs in 21 innings this spring, taking advantage of what he believes "may be my last chance in the majors." A double by Mike Scioscia and single by Frias led to the Dodgers Please Me ANGELS, Page 6 place of Magic Johnson and Johnson at forward in place of Jim Chones, the Lakers ran past the persistent Houston Rockets, 111-106, to even the best-of-three series at one game apiece. The series finale will be played Sunday afternoon at 12:30 at the Forum. The Lakers plan to show up. "The Lakers from Game 2, not from Game 1," Norm Nixon said. Lakera Blow Big Lead There was a distinct difference, aside from the lineup change, a change which seemed to confuse Houston as the Lakers jumped out to an 18-5 lead.

A change, that even with the smaller lineup, allowed the Lakers to outrebound the Rockets, 54-43, thanks to a career-high 18 rebounds from power forward Johnson and 17 from Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, to go with his team high 27 points. "You could feel the difference in the locker room before the game," said Johnson, who fouled out with 2:57 to play and what had been a 20-point Lakers' lead reduced to three, 100-97. "We were ready to come out and play." When Johnson came out, Cooper told him, "We're going to bring it back for you." Calvin Murphy, who scored 29 points, missed on a jumper, and Norm Nixon, who had 21 points with 11 assists, took Murphy low on the other side. He made the jumper and Murphy fouled him. As fast as that, it was a 103-97 lead.

Jamaal Wilkes, who rebounded (sort of) from a poor game Wednesday to score 21 points, hit a baseline jumper from 20 feet to put the score at 105-97 with 1:14 to play. The game, was out of reach. And the Lakers would like to think that they may be out of danger. Lakers Win With Speed "We came out Wednesday like we didn't want to win," said Cooper, who scored 17 points while helping apply strong defensive pressure. "We might as well not have shown up.

But there was a different kind of atmosphere tonight. We were loose, but not as loose as usual. We meant business." Westhead made clear from the beginning what must be done. The Lakers must control the tempo, they must run. That's what he put Cooper in there for.

He also did it to create what he called a "reverse matchup." "It looks like we're at a disadvantage with that lineup," Westhead said, "but now they have to counter with our speed." When it was size against size, the Rockets were in control. But on Friday, the Rockets A ITCRS Pin! By MIKE LITTWIN, Times Staff Writer HOUSTON The joy is missing from the Lakers this time around. And no one feels that vacuum more keenly than the one who made the Lakers joyful in the first place-Magic Johnson. It has recently occured to Johnson that some of his teammates, for reasons he doesn't understand, have come to resent him. "Things are different," Johnson said Friday afternoon.

"I can't say it's jealousy because I might be wrong. "I feel kind of upset, kind of let down. This is the first time I've been involved with something like this." Johnson was concerned that what he saw as a lack of spirit would continue Friday night. It didn't, as the Lakers beat the Rockets, 111-106. One very good reason was Johnson.

Another was Norm Nixon. And another was Kareem Abdul- Jabbar. Not Completely in Tune Johnson missed 45 games this season with a knee injury, and during his absence the Lakers obviously struggled. He came back to play the final 17 games of the regular season, and soon enough he was his old self, playing as if he hadn't missed a beat. But the Lakers, who were upset Wednesday night at the Forum by the Rockets in Game 1 of their best-of-three series, somehow still haven't been completely in tune.

Did Johnson feel his teammates welcomed him back? "I thought so," Johnson said. "But it's hard to tell. It was the same old laughing and joking. But I don't know." There have been some things written and said that have caused Johnson to wonder. Teammate Norm Nixon has said Please see MAGIC, Page 8 ROBERT LACHMAN Log Angela Time up a double-play attempt in Freeway Series opener Friday night at Anaheim.

Dodgers won, 4-1. Angel second baseman Bobby Grich slides hard into Dodger counterpart Jack Perconte to break Zahn May Answer Angels' Prayers His Were Heard When Mauch Gave Him Job 4 Years Ago By ROSS NEWHAN, Times Staff Writer Four years ago Geoff Zahn, out of baseball but not out of prayers, wasn't sure he would ever suit up again for a season opener, let alone pitch one. Now 34, and having averaged 13 wins and 213 innings in the four years since then-Minnesota Manager Gene Mauch gave him a job when nobody else would, Zahn will pitch a season opener for the first time in his career Thursday night at in Seattle. He will do it for the Angels, with whom he signed a three-year, free-agent contract for $1.2 million. And he is enough of a realist to know he got the coveted assignment only because he appears the most reliable man on a suspiciously unreliable staff.

"I've come a long way," Zahn said, referring to that time four years ago, "but I know I wouldn't be opening the season if this was the Baltimore staff." In the absence of a stopper like Steve Stone or Jim Palmer or Scott McGregor, a proven No. 1, the Angels hope Zahn can supply the consistency he did in Minnesota while profiting from an improved offense and defense. Zahn said that a factor in signing with the Angels he was also drafted by the Yankees, Phillies, Indians and Rangers was that "I felt this was a good opportunity to see how good I can be." Now, he said, he can explore the limits of his potential. "I don't mean that in terms of adding 10 miles per hour to my fastball or developing a Koufax curve," he said. "That's probably not possible.

But I can continue to work on the elimination of mental mistakes, to know hitters better, to keep the ball down. "Everyone has limits, but I don't believe I've reached mine. And what I like about this opportunity is that I know Mr. Autry (owner Gene) will continue to do everything within his power to develop a winner." Zahn won 53 games in his four years with the Twins. He also lost 53.

He came back from the elbow operation that put him out of baseball in the winter of 1976-77 to pitch 252 innings in '78 and 233 in '80, 29 more than Angels leader Frank Tanana, who is now with Boston. Zahn once belonged to the Dodgers, a left-handed prospect with a good fastball and curve. Now he throws more with brainpower and finesse, a thinking man's Please see ZAHN, Pace 9 Van Hoose Leads Dinah Shore Golf Story ea Fage SAW DIEGO Part of 3-Step Plan Sports Scene Lefebvre and Jones Phased In by Padres By STEVE DOLAN, Times Staff Writer If Lloyd Follows Form, It Could Be an Easy $100,000 By CHRIS COBBS, Times Staff Writer LA COSTA-With the exception of Chris Evert Lloyd, the contestants in this weekend's Clairol Crown tennis tournament could use a lesson in crisis management. The crisis they're confronting is how to keep Lloyd from making off with the $100,000 first prize. Not that the losers will go away empty-handed.

Second place is worth $50,000, third place $30,000 and fourth place $20,000. The numbers suggest, however, that the sponsors might as well go ahead and make out the big check in Lloyd's name. After all, her combined record against the field is 13-1-4-0 against Andrea Jaeger, 4-1 against Hana Mandlikova and 5-0 against Pam Shriver. For good reason, then, Lloyd is a 7-5 favorite to win the tournament, which begins today at 11 a.m. Lloyd is a 10-1 favorite to dispose of Shriver, who was a last minute fill-in for Martina Navratilova.

In today's second match, Mandlikova is a 3-2 favorite over Jaeger. Lloyd said she liked the four-woman format. "It's easier to get psyched for two matches than for five or six," she said. "In my heart I know I can play well for two straight matches." She said she viewed Shriver as Please see TENNIS, Page 7 By MIKE GRANBERRY, Times Staff Writer Confidence and attitude are words thrown around locker rooms more often than used tape. Sports writers grow somewhat weary at the sound of them.

Athletes have had them imprinted on their minds by coaches, like statements carved in granite. But it is those two words that seem to come up most often in spring football. Spring football? Isn't this a contradiction in terms? The crack of spring is supposed to be that of ball hitting bat not shoulder pad crunching thigh. Dan Fouts is supposed to be fishing in Oregon and, undoubtedly, he is. But that other football team in town, the San Diego State Aztecs, are learning a new system, in the hope of developing a new attitude and confidence, under the watchful eye of Coach Doug Scovil.

Hope almost glistens off the players' faces like the black greasepaint they smudge under their eyes on autumn Saturdays. Scovil spring objective is to teach. Ultimately, he would like the team he inherited from Claude Gilbert to be a passing juggernaut. Last season's team, which won its last three games and finished with only four victories, never found an identity. It began as a running, option-offense team.

Defeated by menacing Brigham Young in its first game, 35-11, its fate and perhaps Gilbert's as well was fixed for the season. Linebacker Thomas Carter, a redshirt last year, said as much this week as he prepared for another afternoon of confidence-building, attitute-bullding workouts. "Me," he said, "I thought Coach Gilbert was a pretty good guy. It hurt me to see him get fired. But when they lost at BYU, he had one foot out the door." Carter is a young man who went to Wyoming as a freshman because he admired the coach who recruited him, Frank Falks.

Falks up and went to San Diego State in Puerto Rico. "He definitely can hit major league pitching. He hustles his butt off. He impressed me more than anyone in Puerto Rico." Cookie Rojas, a Chicago Cubs' coach, managed against Lefebvre in Puerto Rico. "Lefebvre is very aggressive," Rojas said.

"Given the opportunity to play, he'll show it. In New York, there was a lot of pressure on him. And sometimes, a player puts too much pressure on himself. When he plays everyday, he'll start to relax." Although Lefebvre lacks the experience and overall ability of Winfield, he does have one thing in his favor. Lefebvre has been known to run into a wall or two chasing a fly balls, unlike Winfield.

Lefebvre Advances Quickly The left-handed hitting Lefebvre, a third-round pick by the Yankees in 1977 out of Eckerd College in Florida, has advanced rapidly. He was supposed to have his first full Triple-A season at Columbus last year, but was called up May 15 by the Yankees when Oscar Gamble was injured. Lefebvre hit home runs his first two games as a Yankee and began with a six-game hitting streak. He was eventually sent down to Columbus then brought back up, fin-Please see PADRES, Page 7 PHOENIX Take a promising young right fielder and second baseman. Add a veteran center fielder who was an American League All-Star four years ago.

Throw in two young pitchers capable of making a pitching staff that has been maligned. What it added to this week was the completion of Phase Two for Jack McKeon, the wheeling and dealing general manager of the Padres. Phase One, culminated with the acquisition of catcher Terry Kennedy from St. Louis, marked the start of getting young players with potential. Phase Two concerned acquiring capable young players at each position.

Phase Three? McKeon says it will involve adding young players for depth. The phase likely will include the addition of Montreal third baseman Brad Mills, who played under McKeon for the Triple-A Denver team in 1979. The key acquisition in Phase Two was Joe Lefebvre, a touted 25-year-old right fielder from the Yankees. He's been sought as a replacement for Dave Winfield since before Winfield signed as a free agent with the Yankees. "Lefebvre is a major league outfielder," said Tim Flannery, Le-febvre's teammate thejwst winter Anoclatcd Pk Doug Scovil, San Diego State coach.

to be Gilbert's defensive coordinator. Carter up and went, too. And now Falks has headed out the door again. "I'm not leaving this time," Carter said, with the kind of belly laugh that fits comfortably in the hulking frame of an outside linebacker. Confidence does not escape Carter when he considers that two of the best at that position Kevin Mitchell and Ron Spears have also left the Aztecs.

Mitchell and Spears are graduates who left some big shoes behind. Carter thinks ne can help fill them. His attitude comes out in the chomping-at-the-bit Please see SPORTS SCENE, Page 5.