Injury Puts Washburn on the Disabled List

It seems every time an extremely difficult roster move is imminent, a manager will hedge as long as he can when asked what the team will do, telling reporters “these things usually work themselves out.”

Well, one of those things worked itself out Sunday, but not necessarily to the Angels’ benefit. Jarrod Washburn, one of the hottest pitchers in the rotation, went on the disabled list because of a strained left biceps.

Washburn, who has three wins and a no-decision in his last four starts, giving up seven runs and 15 hits in 23 2/3 innings, began feeling discomfort after his July 16 start against San Diego, and there was some question as to whether the left-hander would make his last start against Oakland on Friday.

But after limiting Oakland to one run and three hits in six innings of the Angels’ 12-3 victory, Washburn’s condition worsened over the weekend, and he was put on the disabled list.

That made the pressing question of how the Angels would find a spot for Scott Schoeneweis moot. Schoeneweis, sidelined since June 17 because of a strained rib-cage muscle, will start Wednesday against Texas.

Schoeneweis was scheduled for one more minor league start, but the Angels were so impressed with his seven-inning, two-hit, one-run, 79-pitch effort for triple-A Edmonton on Wednesday they felt he was ready.

With three days before Schoeneweis’ start, the Angels replaced Washburn with infielder Justin Baughman, who was recalled from Edmonton on Sunday to give the bench another right-handed bat against the Rangers’ left-handed pitchers. The Angels will make another roster move when Schoeneweis is activated.

*

Right fielder Tim Salmon thought he might be starting to break out of what has been a season-long funk when he doubled twice and singled in Friday night’s win over the A’s.

But Salmon went 0 for 4 with two strikeouts Saturday and managed only a single in four at-bats Sunday, his average falling to .262. He has only one home run in the last month, he has only 50 RBIs and is batting .256 with runners in scoring position.

Perhaps a series in Texas will snap Salmon out of it. Salmon began the season with a .407 average, 21 homers and 70 RBIs against the Rangers and has had some of his best games at the Ballpark in Arlington.

“I hope that can get me locked in,” Salmon said. “I’ve been looking every day for something to build on, for something that will help get me locked in.”

*

Since being traded from the Angels to the A’s last July, second baseman Randy Velarde has tormented his former team, hitting .351 against them this season and .368 since the deal.

Velarde belted a Ken Hill split-fingered fastball over the left-field wall for a two-run homer in the first inning Sunday, sparking the A’s 5-0 victory.

“I’ve come to expect things like that,” Salmon said. “It seems like every ex-Angel comes back to haunt us.”

ON DECK

* Opponent--Texas Rangers, three games.

* Site--The Ballpark in Arlington.

* Tonight--5:30 PDT.

* TV--Channel 9 tonight and Tuesday night.

* Radio--KLAC (570), XPRS (1090).

* Records--Angels 53-46, Rangers 46-50.

* Record vs. Rangers--3-3.

TONIGHT

ANGELS’

KENT BOTTENFIELD

(6-8, 5.49 ERA)

vs.

RANGERS’

KENNY ROGERS

(10-7, 4.27 ERA)

* Update--The Rangers ended a losing streak at three games with a 3-2 win over Seattle Sunday. Rogers is 12-7 with a 3.54 earned-run average in 42 games against the Angels. The heart of the Ranger order could use a jump start. After hitting .324 in the first half, Rusty Greer, Rafael Palmeiro and Ivan Rodriguez, the third, fourth and fifth hitters, combined to hit .165 with two homers and 11 RBIs during the team’s just-concluded 11-game road trip.

* Tuesday, 5:30 p.m.--Seth Etherton (5-1, 3.97) vs. Darren Oliver (2-5, 6.58).

* Wednesday, 5:30 p.m.--Scott Schoeneweis (5-5, 5.08) vs. Matt Perisho (2-3, 6.22).