Black Finds a Silver Lining

The Angel rotation was battered and bruised last week, rocked for 24 runs in 212/3 innings of four consecutive games, but pitching Coach Bud Black knew he had an effective pain killer in Jarrod Washburn, who was about to start against the Kansas City Royals last Thursday.

“Wash is the type of guy who will take this upon himself,” Black said before the game. “He wants the responsibility of righting this ship, of getting everyone else on track.”

Sure enough, Washburn limited the Royals to one run on seven hits in 71/3 innings of an eventual 2-1 loss, an effort that couldn’t right the Angels’ sinking ship but threw a life preserver to the rotation, which posted modest gains during a weekend series in Minnesota.

There have been a few positive developments in a once-promising Angel season that turned sour last week--Garret Anderson’s emergence as one of the league’s elite run-producers, closer Troy Percival’s return to dominance, and David Eckstein’s spark at the top of the order--but none more significant than Washburn’s emergence as a staff ace.

The left-hander has been the team’s most consistent and effective pitcher, taking an 11-6 record and 3.41 earned-run average into tonight’s start against the Royals, and after two injury-marred seasons--he went on the disabled list three times in 2000--Washburn did not miss a start since a season-opening bout with strep throat.

“This is the longest I’ve pitched in a season for a long time, but I still feel strong,” said Washburn, who has 17 quality starts (six innings or more, three earned runs or less) among his 25 games. “I hope this gives the front office peace of mind that I’m durable .... I hope they look at this season and know they can count on me every fifth day.”

Black believes the confidence Washburn has gained this season will provide benefits for the Angels in the future.

“When you start to establish yourself as a major league pitcher, the things that are most important are durability and the consistency of your performance,” Black said. “Doing what he’s done this year is the initial step toward being a solid major league pitcher.”

*

Shawn Wooten, who hit .312 with eight homers and 32 runs batted in as a designated hitter and utility player, has been sidelined because of tendinitis in his left wrist, and there’s a chance he could be out for the rest of the season. Wooten will undergo an MRI test this week to determine whether he’ll need surgery on the injured wrist, which has bothered him for several years. After spending the first 148 days of the season in first place in the Pacific Coast League’s Central Division, the Angels’ triple-A Salt Lake team was swept in a four-game, season-ending series by the Iowa Cubs over the weekend and knocked out of playoff contention. Third baseman Jose Fernandez finished first in the PCL in RBIs (114), second in homers (30) and third in batting (.337) and was recalled along with pitchers Matt Wise, Brian Cooper and catcher Jose Molina by the Angels on Monday.

ON DECK

Opponent-Kansas City Royals, three games.

Site-Edison Field.

Tonight-7.

TV-Fox Sports Net tonight, Channel 9 Thursday night.

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

Records-Angels 70-67, Royals 55-82.

Record vs. Royals-3-3.

TONIGHT

ANGELS’ JARROD WASHBURN (11-6, 3.41 ERA) vs. ROYALS’ JEFF SUPPAN (8-11, 4.70 ERA) Update-Kansas City, a series that the Angels will probably look back on as the turning point in their season. Angel starting pitchers are 0-6 with a 7.10 ERA in the last 13 games and have not won a decision since Washburn’s victory over the Indians on Aug. 19. Pat Rapp, who suffered a bruised right forearm when he was hit by a line drive last week, played catch over the weekend, but the Angels haven’t decided whether he will make his next scheduled start Saturday.

Wednesday, 7 p.m.-Ismael Valdes (8-9, 4.09) vs. Chad Durbin (7-13, 4.54).

Thursday, 7 p.m.-Scott Schoeneweis (10-9, 5.16) vs. Paul Byrd (6-6, 3.67).

Tickets-(714) 663-9000.