Colon Is Hardly Economical

Bartolo Colon may have lost his footing on the mound and his command of the strike zone Saturday, but after a 41-pitch, two-hit, two-run, two-walk effort in a 26-3 exhibition loss to the Oakland Athletics, the Angel pitcher hadn’t lost his sense of humor.

“I’m fine,” Colon said through an interpreter. “At least I got two outs.”

That was it for the highlights. Colon got off to a rocky start in his first Angel appearance after signing a four-year, $51-million contract this winter -- he walked leadoff batter Mark Kotsay in a 13-pitch at-bat that included seven two-strike foul balls -- and it only got worse.

Billy McMillon singled to right, Eric Chavez doubled in two runs, Jermaine Dye walked, and on Colon’s 37th pitch, he finally recorded an out, striking out Erubiel Durazo looking. After Scott Hatteberg grounded into a fielder’s choice, Manager Mike Scioscia pulled Colon, who was scheduled to throw two innings.

“It’s tough when a guy has a tough at-bat like that,” Colon said of Kotsay. “Normally, you’d like to throw 20 pitches in an inning, and he had 12 or 13 pitches.”

Despite the result, Colon, normally a slow spring starter, was pleased with his velocity and said his arm felt great.

“It’s a whole different story when the season starts,” Colon said. “I’m just trying to get my location and mechanics down. I’ll be ready when they turn the lights on.”

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Tim Salmon’s first major league start in left field was a bit of an adventure. In the second inning, the left-handed-hitting McMillon sliced a fly ball toward the corner that Salmon initially lost in the sun. He recovered to make a lunging catch before falling on his back.

“How about that play?” said Salmon, the former right fielder and soon-to-be designated hitter who is expected to spell right fielder Vladimir Guerrero and left fielder Jose Guillen this season. “A slice-and-sun ball and you end up on your tail. That was not an easy one, that’s for sure.”

Salmon’s goal this spring is not to develop into a Gold Glove left fielder. He just wants to be proficient enough to feel comfortable at the position.

“It’s all angles and spins,” Salmon said. “You can do all you want in batting practice, but it’s not the same as the games.... I want to feel confident playing there. There’s nothing worse than feeling unprepared, and right now I’m not really prepared.”

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Catcher Bengie Molina was scratched because of general stiffness. He is expected to play today against Oakland....Center fielder Garret Anderson, recovering from right biceps tendinitis, is tentatively scheduled to play today....The Angels sold 58,828 tickets Saturday, the first day individual-game tickets went on sale.