Eckstein Could Duck This Duty

In his rookie season last year, shortstop David Eckstein set a franchise record when he was hit by a pitch 21 times. He’ll match that record the next time a pitcher hits him.

Although players commonly talk about improving in a particular statistical category from year to year--hitting one more home run, stealing one more base, winning or saving one more game--Eckstein insists he is not intent on improving his hit-by-pitch total.

“I don’t look to increase that, because with one pitch in a bad spot I could be done,” he said. “I won’t say I want to get hit 30 times this season. Where I stand in the batter’s box, I’m going to get hit. But, if I go up there looking to get hit, I’m not aggressive, and that’s something I don’t want to be.”

And there’s another reason he won’t say he wants to get hit more often.

“My mom would hate it,” he said. “She says, ‘I hate it when you get hit.’ ”

As a leadoff batter, he said, he does look to improve his on-base percentage, .355 last season and .360 before Saturday’s game.

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When the Angels signed center fielder Darin Erstad to a four-year, $32-million contract extension Saturday, no teammate was happier than pitcher Jarrod Washburn.

“That’s huge for the team,” Washburn said. “As a fly-ball pitcher, it’s even more huge. The guy takes away two or three hits a game for me.”

TODAY

ANGELS’

RAMON ORTIZ

(9-8, 3.94 ERA)

vs.

YANKEES’

DAVID WELLS

(12-5, 3.66 ERA)

Edison Field, 1 p.m.

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

Update--For the Angels, today’s game is the last in a series of 20 consecutive games against the other five AL teams with winning records. The Angels play their next 13 games against the Detroit Tigers, Chicago White Sox, Toronto Blue Jays and Cleveland Indians, teams a combined 82 1/2 games out of first place.

Tickets--(714) 663-9000.