Anderson Hasn’t Hit the Panic Button Yet

Angel outfielder Garret Anderson entered Friday night’s game against the Oakland Athletics with a .333 career average against the A’s, his highest average against any opponent.

He also was hitless in four consecutive games for the first time since a career-long eight-game hitless streak that occurred June 8-17, 1999.

Anderson went 0 for 4 Friday in the Angels’ 5-1 loss at Edison Field. He is hitless in 18 at-bats during this homestand.

Anderson struck out in the first inning with runners at first and second, grounded out to second in the fourth, grounded out to first with the bases loaded in the fifth and flied out to right in the eighth.

Anderson, who batted .289 with 28 home runs and 123 runs batted in last season, said he is not struggling with his swing.

“We play enough games that things are going to happen--some good things and some bad things,” Anderson said before the game. “There are not many things mechanically that I need to think about. I keep it pretty simple.”

Angel Manager Mike Scioscia said he was not concerned about Anderson, who hit several balls hard in the Angels’ four losses against the Seattle Mariners.

“He has a good approach when he is 0 for 20 or 10 for 20,” Scioscia said.

“[The Mariners] didn’t have a lot of holes out there the way they were playing defense.”

The Angels were batting .220 going into the game, which ranked 12th in the league, ahead of only Tampa Bay (.217) and Baltimore (.214). Scioscia said he was not going to make any major changes.

“Right now the call is for patience, not any rash moves,” he said.

Angel closer Troy Percival, on the 15-day disabled list since April 3 because of a strained muscle in his rib cage, felt no discomfort after throwing off a mound for seven minutes.

Percival is scheduled to throw in the bullpen again Sunday. He is eligible to come off the disabled list Thursday, but Scioscia said there is no set timetable as he works his way back.

“We have a couple of options--he could pitch in a simulated game or make a rehab start,” Scioscia said. “We’ll see how it comes out Sunday. We don’t want to get too far ahead.”

First baseman Shawn Wooten and outfield prospect Nathan Haynes, each of whom had thumb surgery during spring training, had pins removed Friday. They will begin gradual rehabilitation but are not expected to begin swinging a bat for three weeks.

Wooten suffered ligament damage in his right thumb while attempting to break a fall after catching a pop fly in an exhibition game against the San Diego Padres on March 13. He underwent surgery on March 20.

Haynes, who was scheduled to play center field for triple-A Salt Lake, suffered ligament damage in his left thumb on March 6 while running the bases.

TONIGHT

ANGELS’

JARROD

WASHBURN

(0-1, 4.35 ERA)

vs.

ATHLETICS’

ERIK

HILJUS

(O-1, 7.50 ERA)

Edison Field, 7

TV--Fox Sports Net.

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

Update--Washburn threw 100 pitches in 51/3 shutout innings last Monday against the Seattle Mariners, but did not figure in the decision in the Angels’ 5-4 defeat. He is 4-5 with a 3.59 earned-run average in his career against Oakland. Hiljus is making his second start of the season. He gave up five runs and seven hits in six innings of a 7-1 loss to the Mariners on April 5.

Tickets--(714) 663-9000.

Gary Klein