AROUND THE MAJOR LEAGUES : Valenzuela Loses in Minors

Fernando Valenzuela’s minor league effort didn’t go much better than his major league outing.

Valenzuela was the losing pitcher for triple-A Rochester in Saturday’s International League game against Richmond. Valenzuela, who was optioned to the minors by the Baltimore Orioles two days ago, pitched 3 1/3 innings and gave up four runs, one earned, on six hits and walked three in a 6-3 loss.

Valenzuela gave up six earned runs in 2 1/3 innings for the Orioles against Texas on Tuesday night. He is is scheduled to pitch for the Orioles in an exhibition against Rochester on Thursday, then be recalled to start April 27 against the Chicago White Sox.

Jim Abbott, who never got much support from the Angels, didn’t get any runs from the New York Yankees on Saturday, but it didn’t matter much in a 9-0 loss to the Texas Rangers.

Abbott, who is 3-12 lifetime in April, is off to a 1-2 start with the Yankees. But this was his first poor outing, giving up six runs, eight hits and four walks in 5 1/3 innings.

“He was a little short today with his stuff,” Manager Buck Showalter said. “Do that against a good right-handed-hitting club, he’s going to scuffle. I don’t think Jim’s arm strength is where it’s going to be later.”

Said Abbott: “You do the best you can with what you have. I’m not particularly down on myself. You just know when you’re on. That’s no excuse. I walked some guys, and that’s what really hurt.”