BASEBALL DAILY REPORT : ANGELS : Johnson Causes Shakeup in Lineup

Stressing that it was simply a one-game move to counter Seattle left-hander Randy Johnson, Manager Marcel Lachemann moved designated hitter Chili Davis to left field for Monday night’s game.

Lachemann didn’t want regular left fielder Jim Edmonds, a left-handed hitter, facing Johnson and didn’t want Bo Jackson playing left in consecutive games. So, Davis trotted out to left, Jackson was the designated hitter and Edmonds, nursing a bruised right shoulder, did not start.

“I told (Jackson), ‘It’s no slam on you,’ ” Lachemann said. “But I think Chili can get to some balls he can’t. (Jackson) is working on a thing (an artificial hip) that most of us wouldn’t be walking on. This is just a day we wanted to get Bo’s bat in the game.”

The Angels are 17-17 when Jackson, batting .276 with seven home runs and 29 runs batted in before Monday, is in the lineup.

Davis is batting a team-leading .338 and having one of the finest seasons of his career, but he hadn’t started in the outfield since he played right field on Sept. 3, 1992, when he was a member of the Minnesota Twins. And he hadn’t started in left since his first stint with the Angels.

“Don’t make a big deal out of it,” said Davis, the Angel DH in 66 of 70 games this season. “I’ve been out there before.”

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Sporting two false front teeth to replace the ones he lost, catcher Jorge Fabregas was still dazed from a fourth-inning collision with Darrin Jackson of the Chicago White Sox on Sunday. His mouth was still swollen and sore Monday. The teeth are temporary, to be replaced by permanent ones after the All-Star break.

“I was a little dazed,” said Fabregas, who was optioned to triple-A Vancouver when Greg Myers was activated from the disabled list. “I don’t remember too much. In an emergency, I would play. Once the swelling goes down, I’ll be all right.”

Fabregas recalls being hit square in the mouth by Jackson’s helmet as Jackson came sliding into home plate.

“It was just a low throw and I went to get it,” he said. “He slid and came up. I hate for this to happen now. Hopefully, the swelling goes down so I can get my mask over it.”