Eckstein’s Record Is a Hit

At 5 feet 8, 170 pounds, Angel rookie David Eckstein doesn’t have the physically imposing presence that Don Baylor did. But when Eckstein was hit by a Rick Reed pitch Saturday night, it was the 19th time Eckstein had been plugged this season, a club record that surpassed Baylor’s 18 in 1978 and Rick Reichardt’s 18 in 1968.

It also gave Eckstein the American League rookie record. Detroit’s Heinie Manush was hit 18 times in 1923.

“It’s nice to get in the record book for anything, but that’s part of my game, to get on base any way I can, so I’ll definitely take a pitch if I have to,” Eckstein said with an uneasy laugh. “I’m just fortunate enough that I haven’t been hurt too bad by any of the balls.”

Frank Robinson holds the major league rookie record for most HBPs; he was hit 20 times with the Cincinnati Reds in 1956.

ON DECK

Opponent--Seattle Mariners, three games

Site--Edison Field.

Tonight--7.

TV--Fox Sports Net, all three games.

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

Records--Angels 73-70, Mariners 103-40.

Record vs. Mariners--3-10.

TODAY

ANGELS’ ISMAEL VALDES

(9-9, 3.97 ERA)

vs. MARINERS’ FREDDY GARCIA

(15-5, 3.09 ERA)

Update--Valdes is 0-2 with a 3.29 earned-run average in two starts against Seattle this year and is 1-3 with a 3.55 ERA in five career outings against the Mariners. With one more victory, Valdes would give the Angels four pitchers with at least 10 victories (Ramon Ortiz, 12; Jarrod Washburn, 11; and Scott Schoeneweis, 10) for the first time since 1991 (Mark Langston, Jim Abbott, Chuck Finley and Kirk McCaskill). The Mariners can potentially clinch the AL West while in Anaheim.

Tuesday, 7 p.m.--Scott Schoeneweis (10-9, 5.10 ERA) vs. Aaron Sele (13-5, 3.71 ERA).

Wednesday, 7 p.m.--Ramon Ortiz (12-8, 4.35 ERA) vs. Paul Abbott (15-3, 4.13 ERA).

Tickets--(714) 663-9000.