Spiezio’s Suspension Is Reduced by a Game

Angel first baseman Scott Spiezio won a small victory Friday, a one-game reduction in his suspension, but will still have to sit out five games.

Bob DuPuy, president and chief operating officer of Major League Baseball, ruled on appeals by Spiezio, Troy Glaus and the San Diego Padres’ Ryan Klesko and Bobby Jones of penalties stemming from their roles in two brawls during a March 9 exhibition game. Klesko had his suspension reduced by one game and will sit out four. The suspensions for Jones (seven games) and Glaus (two games) were not reduced.

Spiezio was hoping that his suspension would be dropped to three games.

“Deep down inside, I don’t feel I deserve this many games,” he said before the Angels’ 4-2 exhibition victory over the Colorado Rockies on Friday at Edison Field.

“I think I pretty much did what anyone would have done in my situation. I was protecting my teammates. I think some punishment was warranted, but I still thought it was steep. At least I can be happy that what I said and what they saw on the tapes convinced them to take one game off.”

Klesko, who was ejected after the first brawl but returned to the field during the second, also had hoped for more of a reprieve.

“I was thinking it was going to get reduced to at least four or three games, just looking at prior cases,” he said. “They gave me that extra day, I think, because I went back out, but I went back out to make sure no one else got hurt, to pull the other guys off. I wasn’t looking to punch anybody, like some of the other guys that got suspensions.”

Spiezio will sit out the Angels’ first five games. Glaus will begin his suspension when Spiezio returns.

“I’m going to try to be inventive of ways to keep my timing,” Spiezio said. “It’s going to be real tough. I have never had to sit there, be healthy and watch a game being played and know there is no chance of me getting [in].”

The suspensions leave Manager Mike Scioscia with a hole in his lineup. Larry Barnes, one possible stopgap at first base, turned up Friday with a sore back, which may reduce his chances of winning a spot on the opening-day roster.

Barnes was injured in his last at-bat Thursday. He was examined by Dr. Lewis Yocum before Friday’s game and did not participate in pregame workouts.

“He said it was just a strain in my ribcage,” Barnes said. “He gave me anti-inflammatory medicine. I should be swinging it tomorrow.

“I don’t know what direction they are going. Obviously, I’d like to get in there and get some at-bats to show what can do.”

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In Friday’s game, Bengie Molina had a two-run double and Glaus a run-scoring single in a three-run fourth inning for the Angels in front of 12,765. Brad Fullmer broke a scoreless tie with a single that scored Garret Anderson in the second.

Aaron Sele, making his last spring training start, went five solid innings, throwing 84 pitches. He gave up two runs and six hits. Sele, who signed a three-year, $24-million contract as a free agent, finished 3-0 with a 4.44 earned-run average in six spring starts. He has won at least 15 games each of the past four seasons.

“His pitch count is where it needs to be,” Scioscia said. “His command has improved with every start.”

Brendan Donnelly, competing with Matt Wise and Mark Lukasiewicz for the last bullpen spot, pitched a perfect sixth inning, although center fielder Darin Erstad had to chase down a drive by Todd Zeile at the wall to start the inning.

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A year ago, diminutive shortstop David Eckstein was filling in as an infielder until second baseman Adam Kennedy recovered from a broken finger.

Eckstein starts this season as the shortstop and leadoff batter, having taken advantage of the opportunity. Eckstein, who hit .285 and stole 29 bases last season, was hitting .333 with 19 runs and five stolen bases in 21 spring games before Friday.

“He’s always been a confident player, whether it was when he walked on at Florida to win a position or in the minor leagues where he had to battle every year because everyone thought he was an overachiever,” Scioscia said. “Defensively, I think he will feel more comfortable at shortstop than last year.”

Eckstein had played primarily second base before moving to shortstop after Kennedy’s return.

He came to camp this season taking nothing for granted.

“This spring was nice, but I was still on edge,” Eckstein said. “There are a lot of great guys in this organization. If you don’t play well, they are going to step into your shoes.”