Angels Feel Out of Place

Angel fans who have tried to block out the painful memories of a 2003 season in which a team ravaged by injuries took two steps backward for every step forward are suddenly getting an unwelcome refresher course as the Angels approach the midpoint of 2004.

On the day the team welcomed designated hitter Tim Salmon back to the lineup for the first time in nearly six weeks, it placed outfielder Raul Mondesi on the disabled list with a torn thigh muscle, announcing that its newest free-agent acquisition was out indefinitely.

There was also deflating news on the field Wednesday night, when the Angels lost to the Milwaukee Brewers, 12-2, in front of 41,423 at Angel Stadium to fall out of first place in the American League West for the first time since May 3.

The Angels, who trail the Oakland Athletics by one game and lead the third-place Texas Rangers by a half-game, have dropped a season-high five consecutive games and 10 of 14.

“We’ve taken our lumps the last couple of weeks,” said Angel Manager Mike Scioscia, who addressed his team after the game. “I just wanted the guys to know we’re not the only club banged up and we’ve got to pick it up and get going.”

The Angels had 14 hits but ended potential rallies by hitting into five double plays, including one to end an inning with the bases loaded, and received a second consecutive shaky start from Jarrod Washburn, who has remained stuck on seven victories since May 15.

One night after requiring 17 innings to score a run off five Angel pitchers, the Brewers tagged Washburn for three runs in the first on Lyle Overbay’s two-run double and Bill Hall’s run-scoring single.

“The biggest issue, I guess, was not making pitches,” Washburn said. “I made a bad pitch to Overbay and he drove in two runs, and I really didn’t get any better as the game went on.”

The Angels went quietly in the first, extending their scoreless streak to 33 innings to tie a club record set in August 1963, before breaking through for a run in the second that was partly attributable to a Milwaukee error.

Jeff DaVanon led off with a bunt single and went to second on Salmon’s single to left. One out later, Shane Halter hit a potential double-play grounder, but second baseman Junior Spivey’s wild throw to first allowed DaVanon to score.

The teams traded runs in the third, with Vladimir Guerrero hitting his team-leading 15th homer for the Angels, before Milwaukee tacked on two runs following Angel miscues in the fourth to take a commanding 6-2 lead. One run scored when Washburn hit Brady Clark with a pitch with the bases loaded, and the other run scored when second baseman Adam Kennedy bobbled a routine grounder.

The Angels loaded the bases with one out in the third before Casey Kotchman grounded into a double play and put runners on first and third with one out in the fourth before Kennedy grounded into another double play.

Washburn (7-3) departed after the fifth, having surrendered eight hits and six runs. The left-hander, who had won seven of his first eight starts, has given up 13 runs in 8 1/3 innings over his last two starts.

It was also a rocky night for rookie relievers Matt Hensley and Dusty Bergman, each of whom surrendered three runs.

Salmon went three for three with a walk and DaVanon had three hits to raise his batting average to .345, but the Angels left 10 men on base, including seven in scoring position. The Angels amassed 13 hits off Milwaukee starter Victor Santos (4-2) but could not string enough of them together to chase the right-hander before he completed six innings.

Mondesi injured his thigh during the Angels’ 1-0, 17-inning loss to Milwaukee on Tuesday.