Wooten Feels Better After Three-Hit Day

His surgically repaired right knee puffed up on the third day of camp. His left shin turned purple after fouling a ball off it in the first week. His left biceps is bruised from a recent foul tip, and Saturday he suffered a cut on his chin.

Shawn Wooten, who is competing for a job as a backup catcher and utility player, is the most banged-up Angel in camp, but there’s nothing like a three-hit game to help ease the pain.

Showing the kind of power he must display if he is to make the team, Wooten smacked two doubles and a single in three at-bats to key a 17-hit attack in a 10-8 Cactus League victory over the Oakland A’s.

Wooten also made the defensive play of the game at third base, pinning Ramon Hernandez’s wicked-hop grounder between his chin and bare hand and throwing to first in the fourth inning.

“I think I showed last year that I can hit a little, but I’ve got to have a lot of days like this to make the team,” said Wooten, who can also play first base. “That’s going to be my role.”

Adding to Wooten’s satisfaction Saturday was the fact that his coach from West Covina South Hills High, Jim Bastion, was in attendance. Four former South Hills players, Jason and Jeremy Giambi of the A’s, and Wooten and catcher Kevin Lidle of the Angels, played in the game.

Oakland pitcher Cory Lidle--Kevin’s twin brother--and Angel pitcher Aaron Small are also South Hills graduates.

“I think we’re going to dinner,” said a woozy Wooten, who watched the final three innings with an ice pack on his chin. “He [Bastion] better be buying.”

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Angel pitcher Ismael Valdes, who was confident his rigorous winter workout regimen would help him avoid the injuries that have plagued him for the last three years, was back in the trainers’ room.

Valdes was scratched from the game because of tightness in his right rib cage and won’t make his first Cactus League start until late this week.

“It’s nothing serious,” Manager Mike Scioscia said. “If anything, we’re being a little conservative with this. We want to give him every chance to show us what he has, but we want him to be 100%.”

Veteran right-hander Tim Belcher started in Valdes’ place and gave up two runs on three hits in two innings. Matt Wise replaced Belcher and gave up two runs on two hits, including Jason Giambi’s two-run homer.

Scott Spiezio and Larry Barnes, who are competing for the first-base job, each homered for the Angels, and reserve outfielder Kimera Bartee had a two-run triple in the sixth. After the game, the Angels assigned catchers Angel Diaz and Chris Barski and outfielder Elpidio Guzman to minor league camp.

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Though Bengie Molina agreed Friday to terms on a $280,000 contract for 2001, his agent and the Angels will continue negotiations on a multiyear deal for the young catcher.