New Role Doesn’t Faze Rodriguez

Francisco Rodriguez doesn’t mean to downplay the role of closer or minimize the extra pressure that comes with getting the last three outs of a game as opposed to pitching the seventh or eighth inning.

But the Angels’ 23-year-old right-hander would be lying if he said he felt any difference between his first save as the team’s full-time closer Tuesday night and any of the previous 133 relief appearances he has made over the last two-plus seasons.

Rodriguez made his usual sprint from the bullpen to the infield before the ninth inning against the Texas Rangers, the only difference being the loud music accompanying his entrance.

Once he threw his first pitch to Rod Barajas, “Everything was the same,” Rodriguez said. “My mentality wasn’t different.... Obviously, a lot of people think there’s pressure on me, that I have to carry the team on my shoulders or something.

“There’s pressure from everyone, from the media, from my family, from the organization, but if I think about that, if I put all of that on my mind, I’m not going to do well. I want to have fun, but at the same time, do my job.”

One of the biggest questions facing the Angels this season is how Rodriguez will respond to the transition from setup man to closer, how he’ll cope with the trauma of a blown save, how he’ll fill Troy Percival’s shoes.

If his first test is any indication -- Rodriguez needed only 10 pitches to retire the Rangers in order and preserve the Angels’ 3-2 victory Tuesday -- the closing job is in capable hands.

“From what I know of Frankie, his expectations are as high as anyone else’s,” pitching coach Bud Black said.

“I don’t sense he’ll have a problem handling the ninth inning.”

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Steve Finley seemed surprised over the weekend by Manager Mike Scioscia’s decision to drop the center fielder from fifth to seventh in the order against Dodger left-hander Odalis Perez, but the 16-year veteran had come to grips with the move by Wednesday night, when Finley hit seventh against Ranger left-hander Kenny Rogers.

“I don’t worry about those things -- I’ve hit in every spot there is to hit in the order,” said Finley, a career .254 hitter against lefties, a .285 hitter against right-handers and a .241 hitter in April. “Look at my history in April too. I’ve had two good starts in 16 years. Scioscia said in spring training he was going to put the best lineup he could put out there every night. This is a team. It’s not about one individual.”