Angels Take a Hit but Still Beat the Dodgers, 6-4

For Angel fans from pre-bandwagon days, it was deja vu all over again: Jose Guillen on his knees, clutching his wrist, writhing in pain.

In 1989, the Angels signed Mark Langston for the then-astronomical sum of $16 million, and he lost a career-high 17 games. In 1998, they signed Mo Vaughn for the still-astronomical sum of $80 million, and in his first game he tumbled into a dugout and wrecked his ankle.

Four days before the Angels open perhaps the most anticipated season in franchise history, the one following Arte Moreno’s $146-million free-agent spending spree, something bad appeared to be happening to one of those free agents. The Dodgers’ Jeff Weaver had hit Guillen on the left wrist, sending him sprawling to the ground, and the words “disabled list” sprung immediately to mind.

Maybe this year will be different for the Angels. The X-rays were negative, Guillen was diagnosed with a deep bone bruise, and the Angels emerged content after an 11-inning, 6-4 exhibition victory at Dodger Stadium.

Manager Mike Scioscia says a broken bone can sometimes show up on a follow-up exam, but for now the Angels hope a day or two of rest will allow Guillen to play in Tuesday’s opener.

“If nothing’s broken, he’s never going to break another bone,” Scioscia said, “because that ball hit about as square as a ball can hit.”

Guillen played the final month of last season with a broken bone in the same hand.

Angel starter Jarrod Washburn held the Dodgers to one run over five innings, concluding spring training with a sparkling 2.33 earned-run average.

Weaver was not nearly as impressive in his 5 1/3 innings, giving up four runs and seven hits, including home runs to Garret Anderson and Troy Glaus. Weaver wrapped his spring with a 6.99 ERA, with opponents batting .402 off him.

For the first time since moving to Los Angeles in 1958, the Dodgers have lost 20 games in spring training.