Frustrated Lackey Gets Lesson in Composure

Angel rookie pitcher John Lackey got a lesson Sunday, but not in pitching.

Lackey was breezing along, in total control, through five innings. Yet, that would have been a surprise to anyone who arrived in the sixth inning. Lackey looked flustered and frustrated, mostly by the calls of home plate umpire Bill Miller.

Lackey hit Mike Bordick to start the inning and, one out later, gave up a double to Jerry Hairston. Lackey then thought he had struck out Chris Richard ... twice ... but Miller called both pitches balls, loading the bases.

After the walk, Lackey threw his arms in the air in a what’s-it-going-to-take pose and stepped toward home plate. Miller took two steps toward the mound and shouted at Lackey.

“It wasn’t anything big,” Lackey said. “He was just showing how unhappy he was with the way I reacted. It wasn’t right what I did. I apologized.”

Lackey still picked up the victory, making his record 7-3 since being called up from triple-A Salt Lake City. But it wasn’t easy, as the Angel bullpen labored.

Reliever Brendan Donnelly, who was brought in after the Orioles loaded the basses in the sixth, walked Tony Batista, the first batter he faced, to force in a run. It was the first inherited runner he has allowed to score this season, having stranded 21 before Sunday.

Ben Weber and Scott Schoeneweis also had rough patches, allowing the Orioles to cut the Angel lead to 4-3. The situation was such that Manager Mike Scioscia called on closer Troy Percival in the eighth inning for only the third time this season.

Percival got one out to end the inning and the Angels scored five runs in the bottom of the eighth for some breathing room. Percival retired the side, striking out two, in the ninth for his 32nd save.

*

Adam Kennedy had been in this position before and found himself on the bench.

The Angels had two runners on and a left-hander reliever was summoned from the bullpen. Two months ago, Scioscia would likely have used a right-handed pinch hitter.

This time, Kennedy stayed in the game and smacked Buddy Groom’s 0-1 pitching into the right-field seats.

“It’s nice to be able to prove [Scioscia] right,” Kennedy said. “He has Benji Gil on the bench and he has a lot of thunder in his stick. It has to be a tough decision.”

It’s a little easier one these days. Kennedy hit .404 in August, the highest monthly average by an American League player this season. He is hitting a team-high .318 this season.

*

Tim Salmon, who has missed 19 games with a bruised left hand, took early batting practice and hit in the batting cage during the game Sunday. He will take batting practice Tuesday and said he could return to the lineup that day when the team begins a six-game trip at Tampa Bay.