Washburn Cites Mistakes

The upper-back and neck spasms that necessitated several recent trips to a chiropractor were not a factor in Jarrod Washburn’s performance Thursday, the Angel left-hander said.

Rather, it was the confluence of a fly-ball pitcher throwing several fat offerings to a hot-hitting team on a day the wind was blowing out in Network Associates Coliseum that led to Washburn’s giving up a season-high four home runs in a 7-3 loss to the Oakland Athletics.

“I felt the same in the bad sixth inning as I did in the first five innings; I just didn’t make pitches,” said Washburn, who fell to 8-4. “I’m a fly-ball pitcher and I’m aggressive. When the ball is flying out like it was today, you’re going to give up some home runs.”

Washburn had given up only 10 home runs in 87 innings of his first 15 starts, but after escaping a bases-loaded, one-out jam by inducing a double-play ball from Bobby Crosby in the first inning Thursday, he was tagged for solo shots by Bobby Kielty in the third and Crosby in the fourth.

Then the game got out of hand in the sixth, when Washburn gave up a bunt single to Scott Hatteberg and Jermaine Dye’s two-run homer, and a single to Eric Karros and Damian Miller’s two-run homer, as the A’s took a 6-0 lead.

“Every home run was a bad pitch,” Washburn said. “You make mistakes in the big leagues, you’re going to pay for it, and that’s what happened to me today.”

*

The Angels will honor Cal State Fullerton’s national champion baseball team during a ceremony before Saturday night’s game against the Dodgers at Angel Stadium.

Coach George Horton, along with the coaching staff and players, will be recognized on the field as video highlights recap the Titans’ recent run in Omaha to the school’s fourth national championship.

Don’t expect a congratulatory telegram from Oakland General Manager Billy Beane to Horton, though. Beane was outraged that Titan right-hander Jason Windsor, the A’s third-round draft pick, was allowed to throw 322 pitches in eight days during the College World Series.

“There is probably no bigger proponent of college baseball than I am, but that’s disappointing that an adult wouldn’t have the responsibility to put a kid’s long-term interests ahead of his own selfish concerns,” Beane told the San Francisco Chronicle. “That was selfish and self-serving.”

*

Tim Salmon returned to the Angels on Thursday, showing some improvement from the flu-like symptoms that prevented him from leaving the team’s San Francisco hotel for Wednesday night’s game, but he was still unavailable Thursday.

“I was in bed for 32 straight hours, give or take an hour or two in the bathroom,” Salmon said. “I’m no longer nauseous, but I’m dehydrated, I have no appetite and I have body aches. I’ve got to let it run its course, get some fluids in me, and hopefully I’ll be ready to go” tonight.

*

Though the Angels are struggling and would seem to be in need of some kind of help to make another World Series run, Manager Mike Scioscia is not counting on any major additions before the July 31 trade deadline.

“A big part of the improvement for us will come from playing more consistently,” Scioscia said. “This is a playoff-caliber club. I see enough talent here for us to reach our goals.”

*

After travel delays turned their trip from Tucson to Edmonton into an 18-hour journey and forced Wednesday night’s game to start at 10 p.m. -- two hours late -- the Angels’ triple-A Salt Lake team’s game against Edmonton was suspended at 11:15 p.m. because of a previously planned fireworks show.

*

ON DECK

Opponent -- Dodgers, three games.

Site -- Angel Stadium.

TV -- Channel 9 tonight and Sunday night, Fox Sports Net on Saturday night, ESPN2 on Sunday.

Radio -- KSPN (710), KFWB (980), KTNQ (1020), KWKW (1330).

Records -- Angels 41-37, Dodgers 40-36.

Record vs. Dodgers -- 2-1.

Tonight, 7 -- Aaron Sele (4-0, 3.92) vs. Kazuhisa Ishii (9-3, 3.83).

Saturday, 7 p.m. -- Bartolo Colon (5-7, 6.17) vs. Edwin Jackson (1-0, 1.80).

Sunday, 7 p.m. -- Kelvim Escobar (4-4, 3.62) vs. Jeff Weaver (5-8, 4.35).