Quinlan makes some big plays

Mike Scioscia once said of utility player Robb Quinlan, “He makes the plays he makes,” which sounds like a back-handed compliment but wasn’t meant to be.

Quinlan, who plays the corner infield and outfield spots, is not the world’s most gifted athlete, but he makes the plays within his grasp, which is the point the Angels manager was trying to make when he made his Quinlan quip.

Wednesday, Quinlan showed he is anything but a defensive liability, making big plays in the sixth and seventh innings that helped the Angels beat the San Francisco Giants, 4-3.

A last-minute addition to the lineup in left field when Bobby Abreu was scratched because of a stiff neck, Quinlan raced toward the line to catch Pablo Sandoval’s sixth-inning fly ball before doing a face-plant into the bullpen mound in foul territory.

“That’s a well-built mound out there,” Quinlan joked. “It’s pretty solid. The grounds crew did a good job. I knew it was close, but that was not one of those balls you can take your eye off. I was going full speed, made the catch and hit the mound with my next step.”

In the seventh, with the Giants ahead, 3-1, Edgar Renteria singled to left field with two outs and Matt Downs on second base.

Quinlan charged the ball and threw home on the fly, and catcher Jeff Mathis blocked the plate while tagging Downs to end the inning.

The Angels then rallied for three runs in the eighth inning to win.

“I just thought if the ball is hit to me, try to throw it in the air,” said Quinlan, who has made only two starts in left field this season. “I got to it quick, got a good release, and Mathis did a great job blocking the plate.”

No decision, no shame

The Angels’ eighth-inning rally Wednesday took starter Matt Palmer, who gave up three runs and six hits, struck out five and walked two in 6 1/3 innings, off the hook.

Pitching against the organization he spent seven minor league seasons with before becoming a free agent last winter, Palmer (6-0) gave up two runs in the third, on singles by Andres Torres and Randy Winn, and one in the seventh on Travis Ishikawa’s homer.

Though he didn’t get the win, Palmer, who beat 2007 American League Cy Young Award winner CC Sabathia in Yankee Stadium on May 2, had the satisfaction of knowing his team beat 2008 National League Cy Young Award winner Tim Lincecum.

“It’s definitely not a notch [in the belt], but it was fun,” Palmer, the 30-year-old right-hander, said. “Tim is a great competitor; he’s not going to back down. I enjoyed the matchup.”

Pain in the neck

Abreu’s neck began to bother him Tuesday night, and when he got to the park Wednesday, he could barely move his head from side to side.

The right fielder was put on some potent muscle relaxants and was unavailable Wednesday.

He seems doubtful for Friday night’s game against the Dodgers.

“I had it from [Tuesday] and [Wednesday] it was worse,” Abreu said. “I can’t even turn my head very well, and it really hurts throwing the ball. It’s a good thing we’re off [today]. Hopefully, I’ll be OK by Friday.”

Bell ringer

Trevor Bell, a compensation-round pick who was the Angels’ first selection -- and 37th overall pick -- of the 2005 draft, threw a two-hit shutout in his debut for triple-A Salt Lake on Tuesday.

Bell, a Crescenta Valley High graduate, struck out four and walked one against Colorado Springs.

The right-hander was 4-3 with a 2.23 earned-run average in 11 starts at double-A Arkansas.

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mike.digiovanna@latimes.com