Wrist Injury to Cause Finley to Miss at Least Two Starts

Chuck Finley hoped the sprained left wrist he suffered against the New York Yankees last Tuesday wouldn’t force him to miss a start, but the freak injury may cost him at least two starts.

Though the swelling in his hand has subsided, Finley felt a sharp pain inside the wrist Sunday. After being examined by Dr. Lewis Yocum, team physician, Finley received the first cortisone shot of his 12-year career.

He has still not thrown since the injury, which he suffered when he fell while backing up home plate.

Finley, who tied a franchise record by winning 10 consecutive starts, will be reevaluated Tuesday, but Manager Terry Collins said the earliest he might be able to pitch again is Saturday in San Francisco.

“We’ll see how this shot works,” Finley said. “If it gets rid of the inflammation I should be able to go, because the swelling is all gone. We’ll know better Tuesday. . . . In the meantime, maybe I’ll try to find some voodoo doctor down by the beach to rub a few chicken bones on it.”

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Mark Langston and Mark Gubicza will throw simulated games Tuesday, so to spice up the affair they’ll pretend they’re pitching against each other.

“It’s going to be turn-back-the-clock night,” Langston said of his showdown with Gubicza, who played 13 years with Kansas City before being traded to the Angels last winter.

Both would like to turn back the clock a few years. Elbow and shoulder injuries have sidelined them for most of this season, and both might be relegated to the bullpen--one reluctantly--when they’re activated.

“It’s not that I’m not open to going to the bullpen, but my role is a starter until that changes,” said Langston, who went back on the disabled list Thursday after giving up five runs in one inning against the Yankees Wednesday night.

“I’ve been a starter my whole career. It’s not like you can call down and say I need you to face the next hitter. I can’t get ready in five minutes.”

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Jaret Wright, the former Anaheim Katella High star and the son of former Angel pitcher Clyde Wright, was told Sunday he would be starting for the Cleveland Indians against the Angels in Anaheim Stadium on Wednesday night.

Wright, a huge Angel fan while growing up, began the season in double-A Akron, was promoted to triple-A Buffalo and by July was pitching in Cleveland.

Wright is 4-2 with a 4.75 earned-run average in 10 starts, but this will be his first appearance in Anaheim.

“I’m very excited,” Wright told reporters in Oakland on Sunday. “When I left for spring training I had no idea I’d be pitching in Anaheim or even in the big leagues this season.”

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Boston shortstop Nomar Garciaparra extended his hitting streak to 26 games Sunday, and the rookie is batting .377 during the streak. Third baseman John Valentin, who hit a game-winning homer in the fifth inning, extended his hitting streak to 14 and is also batting .377 in the past 26 games. “It’s like, every time I get a hit, he gets a hit,” Valentin said of Garciaparra. “He’s like my little brother.” . . . Garciaparra’s streak is the longest by a Red Sox player since Wade Boggs hit in 28 in a row in 1985. . . . Angel third baseman Dave Hollins’ second-inning homer was his 13th of the season, and 12 of those have come in Anaheim Stadium.