Fullmer Gets Off to a Strong Start

Brad Fullmer finished last April with no home runs and five runs batted in.

In two games this April, the Angel designated hitter has two home runs and six RBIs.

Pretty impressive numbers for a guy who took a $2.5-million pay cut this off-season despite hitting .289 with 19 homers during the Angels’ World Series championship season.

“I think there’s a lot of things that are happening in a positive way for Brad,” Manager Mike Scioscia said Wednesday after watching Fullmer homer for the second consecutive game during the Angels’ 11-5 victory over Texas at Edison Field. “He’s got some big hits for us.”

The 28-year-old, making $1 million this season, is hoping to recapture his form of 2000, when he hit a career-best .295 with 32 homers and 104 RBIs with Toronto. Coming off a spring in which he hit .370, Fullmer is batting .400 with seven RBIs through three regular-season games.

“He’d been seeing the ball very well in the spring and it’s carrying over into the season,” Scioscia said. “I think he feels more comfortable.”

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Second baseman Adam Kennedy had to leave in the sixth inning after suffering a contusion in his right hamstring during a collision with Tim Salmon on a popup to shallow right field, but the injury does not appear to be serious.

Kennedy said he expects to be back in the lineup Friday, when the Angels open a three-game series at Oakland.

Kennedy waved Salmon off on the play, but the outfielder didn’t see the second baseman until it was too late.

“I was battling the sun and didn’t have a bead on [the ball],” Salmon said. “I didn’t know where Adam was. Right when he went to catch it was when I hit him.”

Kennedy left one batter later.

“Hopefully,” he said, “it’s just a bruise that will go away.”

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Center fielder Darin Erstad and catcher Bengie Molina received their Gold Glove awards in a pregame ceremony. It was the second top fielding award for Erstad and the first for Molina, who played a wide variety of positions through his college days. “Winning a Gold Glove in the major leagues?” Molina said. “Come on, you’ve got to be excited.” ... The Angels claimed minor league journeyman pitcher Elio Serrano off waivers from Philadelphia and designated left-hander Mark Lukasiewicz for assignment.