Glaus Misses Another Start

Third baseman Troy Glaus, who sprained the middle and ring fingers on his left hand while sliding head-first into second base Monday, was not in the starting lineup Wednesday for the second successive game.

Manager Mike Scioscia said Glaus, who appeared as a defensive replacement in the ninth inning Tuesday, was available for pinch-hitting duty but was held out as a precaution. “He’s improved from [Tuesday],” Scioscia said.

Scott Spiezio started at third for the second straight game.

Tim Salmon, hit by a pitch on the left arm Tuesday, didn’t start Wednesday, but Scioscia said that was merely to give the right fielder a rest. Salmon, who missed 18 games last month after being hit on the hand, said he was fine and pinch-hit in the seventh, grounding out to third.

“It startled me more than anything,” he said of the pitch that hit him in his second at-bat. “It was one of those things. It was the first one that was up and in again [since his hand was hit], so it was a little strange.”

Salmon was mildly surprised he didn’t start, but he didn’t complain. “I would be willing to bet if I was swinging the bat well I’d be in the lineup,” said Salmon, who is three for 18 with no extra-base hits in six games since returning to the lineup.

*

With Jarrod Washburn cleared of sexual assault allegations, Scioscia scheduled him to start Friday in the opener of a three-game series against Texas. Rookie Mickey Callaway will start tonight’s series finale against Oakland.

The Angels had tentatively planned for Washburn to face the first-place A’s today, but the disruption of his routine the last few days led them to delay his start.

*

Having visited the site of the World Trade Center last month, the Angels had a special perspective on the first anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks.

“It’s a time you wish never would have happened, but it did, and we have to remember the people who perished,” Spiezio said. “And you have to remember the people who risked their lives to save other people. It’s great we’re playing. We have an opportunity to give thanks.”

Spiezio said he initially wondered if baseball should halt for the day but decided he’d rather play. He also said he didn’t fear for his safety in a public place.

“We have to go about our business as Americans,” he said. “It’s a free country. There are risks living in a free country. I’d rather have it this way than Big Brother watching over your shoulder 24/7.”

Fans received T-shirts imprinted with the Major League Baseball emblem and the words “We shall not forget.” A moment of silence was held and a flag was unfurled on the infield by several dozen police officers while a police honor guard stood in a semicircle on the near edge of the outfield grass. Fireman John Price of Brea, who participated in the rescue and recovery efforts in New York, threw out the first pitch. Also, the game was halted for a moment of silence at 9:11 p.m.

TONIGHT

ANGELS’

MICKEY CALLAWAY

(1-0, 1.86 ERA)

vs.

ATHLETICS’

MARK MULDER

(17-7, 3.63 ERA)

Edison Field, 7

TV--Fox Sports Net.

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

Update--Callaway has made three starts and has gone at least six innings in each. He hasn’t given up more than two earned runs in any start this season, with the Angels or triple-A Salt Lake City.

Helene Elliott