Nothing Definitive on Salmon, McDowell

No definitive news was good news for Angel Manager Terry Collins.

Neither outfielder Tim Salmon nor pitcher Jack McDowell will go on the disabled list at this time.

Both were examined by Dr. Lewis Yocum on Monday--Salmon for a strained ligament in his left foot that has forced him to sit out four games and McDowell for pain in his right elbow that forced him out of Sunday’s game.

Neither will rejoin the Angels on this road trip, which ends Thursday.

Salmon was given a second cortisone shot and will continue therapy. Salmon, who hit in the batting cage over the weekend, will be reexamined later in the week.

“My thoughts were that the doctor was going to tell us that Tim had to sit down for a while,” Collins said. “This is progress.”

McDowell left Sunday’s game after three innings because of “achy-ness” in the same elbow that was operated on last May. He returned to Southern California on Monday and underwent an MRI exam, which revealed some inflammation.

McDowell was given anti-inflammation medication and will be reexamined on Friday, which is his next scheduled start.

“My feeling is that, Jack being Jack, he will start Friday,” Collins said.

*

Darin Erstad couldn’t score from second base on a single Sunday, but Cecil Fielder could, as he scored the go-ahead run in the sixth inning in a 2-1 victory over Tampa Bay.

“That’s an odd one,” said third base coach Larry Bowa, who held Erstad at third in the first inning.

Of course, Erstad had to stop because Fielder had ripped a single into left field.

“He couldn’t have thrown the ball to the left fielder any better,” Bowa said.

*

Craig Shipley, eligible to come off the 15-day disabled list, was not activated Monday because he was sent back to the hotel with flu. He will be activated today.

*

Troy Neel, hitting .244 with five home runs and 13 runs batted in for triple-A Edmonton, had his contract sold to the Orix Blue Wave of the Japanese Pacific League.

TONIGHT

ANGELS’

JASON DICKSON

(0-3, 11.77 ERA)

vs.

ORIOLES’

NERIO RODRIGUEZ

(0-0, 0.00 ERA)

Camden Yards, 4 p.m.

Television--Channel 9. Radio--KRLA (1110), XPRS (1090).

* Update--Rodriguez, a converted catcher, is one fo the Orioles’ top pitching prospects. But he struggled at triple-A Rochester, going 0-3 this season. “It was cold in Rochester,” Rodriguez said. “I need it warm to win.” Dickson, who has struggled himself, hasn’t pitched in a game since April 18, missing one turn in the rotation.