Angels’ Dan Haren goes through dead-arm phase in loss to Reds

Goodyear, Ariz. -- Dan Haren fought off a case of spring-training “dead arm” to throw 5 2/3 solid innings against the Cincinnati Reds Wednesday, allowing two earned runs and nine hits, striking out two and walking none in the Angels’ 5-4 exhibition loss at Goodyear Ballpark.

The Reds won the game on Ryan Ludwick’s walk-off two-run home run off Angels reliever Loek Van Mill in the bottom of the ninth.

“Your arm feels slow; that’s all it really is,” Haren said, explaining the condition most pitchers experience this time of year. “The normal thing to do is try to add a little bit, but your mechanics can get out of sorts.

“I didn’t try to add much because I knew my arm didn’t feel that good. I was laboring the first couple innings, but that’s good for me. It builds endurance. ... It usually lasts about a week or so. I should be fine.

Haren will have one more exhibition start, against the Dodgers in Angel Stadium Monday night, before making his regular-season debut against the Kansas City Royals on April 7.

Haren, with orders from Manager Mike Scioscia not to swing the bat, also drew a bases-loaded walk in the second to score Mark Trumbo, who had singled to lead off the inning. Vernon Wells hit a solo homer in the third, and Roberto Lopez snapped a 2-2 tie with a two-run homer in the seventh for the Angels.

Veteran reliever Jason Isringhausen, who struggled with some mechanical problems in his previous appearance, retired the side in order with a strikeout in the seventh.

“He was in his delivery better, he had better arm speed,” Manager Mike Scioscia said of Isringhausen. He spun the ball well. He had good stuff.”

Scioscia also thought reliever Kevin Jepsen “threw the ball well,” through the right-hander, attempting to bounce back from right knee surgery, gave up his second homer of the spring, a solo shot to Paul Janish, in the eighth.

“He hit one bat, but other than that, he looked good,” Scioscia said. “He’s made a couple of mistakes, but he’s working on his stuff, adding some things to his repertoire, and there are going to be some balls hit from time to time. But he’s more comfortable now than he was at any time last year.”

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Angels’ Dan Haren goes through dead-arm phase in loss to Reds