Washburn Has a Lively Start

If this is the kind of performance Jarrod Washburn is capable of when going through a little spring “dead-arm” phase, it will be interesting to see how he pitches when his arm comes back to life.

The Angel left-hander threw 6 1/3 shutout innings against the San Francisco Giants Sunday, giving up five hits, striking out four and walking two in a 3-0 exhibition victory. Washburn threw 100 pitches and has thrown 15 1/3 consecutive scoreless innings, though five came against Oakland’s triple-A team.

“When you have a little dead arm, and your fastball still has good life, and you still get guys out, that’s a good sign,” Washburn said.

“My velocity is down a hair. I usually go through a dead-arm phase [in spring training]. Hopefully, I’ll have it behind me by the time the season starts.”

Washburn, pitching against a Giant lineup that included all but one regular -- second baseman Ray Durham -- escaped a first-and-second, no-out jam in the first and a runner-on-second, no-out jam in the third.

He retired Barry Bonds twice, on a fly ball to center and a liner to first.

Washburn, who will be slotted between Bartolo Colon and Kelvim Escobar in the rotation, has been the Angels’ most effective starter this spring, and his performance has helped quiet trade rumors that followed him to camp.

“I don’t really care [about the trade rumors],” Washburn said. “If they trade me, whoever gets me would be getting a good pitcher. Maybe now they’re having second thoughts because they see that I’m healthy. I don’t know. If they want to trade me, that’s part of the business, part of the game.”

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Bengie Molina started for the second consecutive day, catching six innings and breaking a scoreless tie with a run-scoring double to right field in the seventh.... Reliever Scot Shields was impressive, throwing 1 2/3 hitless innings.... Aaron Sele gave up six runs -- two earned -- and seven hits in five innings of a triple-A game against Milwaukee. He walked three, struck out one and threw 91 pitches.