Good Can Be Bad for Washburn

The secret to pitcher Jarrod Washburn’s recent success is simple: He’s not feeling as good.

Washburn came out of spring training fit and bold, in contrast to a year ago when he broke camp with strep throat. He began running his low-90s fastball up to the plate, challenging batters to hit it.

They did. After three starts, Washburn was 0-2 with a 6.00 earned-run average.

“I just felt too good coming out of spring training,” Washburn said. “I had a little extra on my fastball and thought I could overpower hitters.”

The Sandy Koufax syndrome has passed. Washburn is 4-0 with a 2.52 ERA in his last six starts. He has given up only two runs in the two no-decisions.

“I’m kind of a one-pitch pitcher,” Washburn said. “I need to change speeds with my fastball. I was able to get my fastball consistently in the low 90s instead of just the couple times I needed it that fast. I learned pretty quick that wasn’t the way for me to go about things.”

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Washburn has been the best of the Angels’ promising trio in the rotation, but Ramon Ortiz and Scott Schoeneweis also have been solid in recent outings.

Ortiz is 3-1 with a 3.60 ERA in his last four starts. Schoeneweis is 2-1 with a 3.83 ERA in his last four starts.

The Angels have a 3.85 team ERA. Boston (3.27) and New York (3.59) are the only American League teams with lower ERAs.

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The Angels, increasingly concerned about the knee injury suffered by shortstop David Eckstein, recalled triple-A shortstop Alfredo Amezaga on Thursday.

Eckstein suffered a sprained left knee while sliding into first base Monday. He did not play Tuesday or Wednesday.

While the Angels did not put Eckstein on the disabled list, which would have required him to miss another 12 days, General Manager Bill Stoneman said the move would provide “a few more days of rest” for Eckstein.

The Angels cleared roster space for Amezaga by optioning reliever Mark Lukasiewicz to triple-A Salt Lake, leaving Dennis Cook as the lone left-hander in the bullpen.

Amezaga, 24, a brilliant defensive player regarded as the Angels’ shortstop of the future, hit .235 with no home runs, 10 stolen bases and a .296 on-base percentage at Salt Lake. Benji Gil, the Angels’ veteran backup shortstop, is scheduled to start a rehabilitation assignment at Salt Lake today and could replace Amezaga--or Eckstein, if his condition does not improve--sometime next week.

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Troy Percival gave up one run in the ninth Wednesday but earned the save in a 7-6 victory over the Royals. It was the first run allowed by Percival since he gave up three against Oakland on April 21.

That was his only blown save this season and came in his first appearance after a stint on the disabled list because of a strained muscle in his right side.

Percival did not give up a run in his next 10 appearances. He was 2-0 with five saves during that stretch.

ON DECK

Opponent--Minnesota Twins.

Site--Edison Field.

Tonight--7.

TV--Channel 9 tonight, Fox Sports Net Saturday and Sunday.

Radio--KPLS (830) tonight and Sunday, KLAC (570) Saturday, XPRS (1090) all three games.

Records--Angels 27-17, Twins 26-21.

Record vs. Twins (2001)--3-6.

TONIGHT

ANGELS’

RAMON ORTIZ

(4-4, 3.30 ERA)

vs.

TWINS’

RICK REED

(4-2, 4.86)

Update--The Twins, with the contraction ax poised, are tied with the Chicago White Sox for the Central lead. The Angels will not face nemesis Brad Radke in this series. Radke is 11-4 with a 1.66 ERA against the Angels. Third baseman Troy Glaus has 41 runs batted in 41 games.

Saturday--Jarrod Washburn (4-2, 3.48) vs. Matt Kinney (1-4, 4.15).

Sunday--Kevin Appier (5-1. 2.96) vs. Eric Milton (6-3, 5.28).

Tickets--(714) 663-9000.