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Boone’s Numbers (.295, 40 Years Old) Just Don’t Compute

Times Staff Writer

The Angels’ ageless wonder had three more hits Wednesday night.

A single in the second, a two-run double and a run scored in the fourth, an infield single in the fifth--it’s becoming almost a routine evening at the ballpark for Bob Boone.

The Angels’ 40-year-old catcher is having his finest season at the plate.

The three hits raised Boone’s average from .286 to .295.

Boone, who is in his 17th season in the major leagues, has been just a .250 hitter better known for his considerable defensive abilities behind the plate. Any offensive punch he provided the Angels and the Philadelphia Phillies, his team from 1972-1981, was a bonus.

Boone’s best average was the .286 he hit with the Phillies in 1979. His best with the Angels, for whom he has played since 1982, was .256 in ’82 and ’83.

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It has been a noteworthy past few days for Boone. Just last Saturday, he caught his 2,000th game. He already had broken Al Lopez’s major-league record of 1,918 games caught last September.

Afterward, surrounded by reporters, he quipped, “I’ll try to hit .300 before I turn 41.”

He appears to making good on his promise, however off-handedly he made it.

Indeed, Boone became the top hitting catcher in the majors Wednesday night. His current average is just ahead of Pittsburgh catcher Mike LaValliere’s .291.

And whimsical musings aside, the truth is, Boone is on a tear.

A quick look at the vital statistics:

--In his last 13 games, he’s hitting .372.

--He has hit in 17 of his past 18 games.

--In those 18 games, Boone has hit six doubles, two home runs and 10 RBIs.

--In the past 24 games, he’s hitting .436 with 16 RBIs.

And his hitting Wednesday propelled the Angels past the Toronto Blue Jays, 7-6, before 25,598 in Anaheim Stadium.

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The victory ended the Angels’ two-game losing streak to the Blue Jays.

The Angels fell behind, 4-0, before rallying with four runs in the bottom of the fourth.

Boone played a pivotal role, knocking in runs No. 2 and 3 with a double that Toronto left fielder George Bell misplayed.

Boone hit a Jimmy Key pitch into the gap in left-center. Bell overran the ball, but it didn’t really make much differance because Tony Armas, who was on second, and Dick Schofield, who was on first, scored easily.

After his double, Boone went to third on Jack Howell’s sacrifice bunt. Devon White, the next batter, knocked Boone in with a single to right.

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The Angels added another run in the fifth and led, 5-4, when Boone came up again.

He hit a sharp grounder in the hole between third and short. Manny Lee, Toronto’s shortstop, fielded it and made a desperate throw that pulled first baseman Fred McGriff of the ball.

The ball beat Boone, but he somehow, slid around McGriff’s attempt at a tag as Boone went by.

Only in his last at bat, in the seventh, were the Blue Jays able to retire Boone as he grounded to shortstop.

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