The Eighth Is Enough as Angels Top Rangers

The in-house spin on the Angels’ young starting pitchers has been that these guys are going to be good . . . someday . . . down the line . . . when they get a little more experience.

Where Jarrod Washburn is concerned, his actions speak louder than words.

Washburn pitched like the staff ace in a 4-2 victory over Texas in front of 17,302 Wednesday at Edison Field. He kept the score close until the Angels figured out the Rangers’ Doug Davis.

They flailed and failed at Davis’ soft tosses through seven innings before sending the 25-year-old left-hander out with a bang.

Garret Anderson’s two-run homer tied the score in the eighth. Tim Salmon followed with a double to chase Davis. Bengie Molina, just off the disabled list, rolled a single into left, scoring Salmon, for a 3-2 lead and Scott Spiezio’s sacrifice fly added an insurance run.

The outburst amounted to a sigh of relief for the Angels, who are struggling to remain in the wild card picture. They are 7 1/2 games behind Cleveland.

“Better late than never,” Manager Mike Scioscia said about the one inning of offense.

Especially because Washburn deserved, and usually receives, more. The Angels averaged more than six runs in his first 13 starts.

“The offense tried to test me to see if I’d hang tough,” Washburn said. “I knew it was a matter of time.”

Washburn played for that time. He gave up seven hits and walked four in eight innings. But he also struck out eight. It was another in a string of solid performances.

While Scott Schoeneweis and Ramon Ortiz have struggled with consistency this season, Washburn has been steady and, at times, dominating. He is 5-0 with a 3.31 earned-run average in his last nine starts.

“I don’t know about that,” Washburn said of being the staff ace. “We got five guys pitching great right now. I don’t know if anyone around baseball would call any of us an ace. But if we keep pitching like this, I’d be happy to have five non-aces.”

Others, though, have singled Washburn out. After he beat Seattle last Friday, the Mariners’ Edgar Martinez called Washburn one of the best left-handed pitchers in baseball.

The talent has always been there for Washburn. The health hasn’t. He was on the disabled list three times last season and finished with a 7-2 record. He was named the Angels’ opening day starter this spring. Instead, he went on the disabled list

“When he’s healthy, we’ve seen the kind of talent he has,” Darin Erstad said. “He’s healthy now. When you have all the bullets, it’s amazing how much more confidence you have out there. He keeps us in every game.”

Washburn certainly did Wednesday. The Rangers were fortunate to get any runs off him.

Texas’ Bo Porter walked with one out in the third. Washburn then had Porter picked off, but first baseman Benji Gil’s throw to second sailed into left field, allowing Porter to reach third. Ivan Rodriguez followed with a double and Ruben Sierra’s single to right scored Rodriguez for a 2-0 lead.

“I think every guy in the room probably feels better for Jarrod than he does,” Scioscia said. “That was a great effort against a very dangerous and very potent offensive ballclub.”

Potent wasn’t the way to describe the Angel offense. They were baffled by Davis, who gave up only three hits through seven innings.