Newcomers Are Off to a Shaky Start

The new shortstop and starting pitcher were booed, and the new center fielder had his batting average plummet below its usual early-season depths.

It was a somewhat shaky first week for Angel newcomers Orlando Cabrera, Paul Byrd and Steve Finley, who account for $17 million of the Angels’ $95-million payroll but made scant contributions outside of Finley’s game-winning ninth-inning single Thursday against Texas.

Finley, who had a .241 career average in April before this season, had only one other hit, a single, and was batting .091 after going hitless in four at-bats Sunday during the Angels’ 8-3 loss to the Kansas City Royals.

Things got so out of whack for the center fielder that he shook his head in frustration after popping out in the infield in the seventh inning with Cabrera on third base.

“I’m not disappointed with my swings, I’m just disappointed with the results,” Finley said. “But I’m used to this kind of stuff in April, so it’s no big deal.”

Byrd was booed after giving up nine hits and six runs in seven innings Friday in his Angel debut, a 6-2 loss to Kansas City. And Cabrera heard it from Angel fans Wednesday when he fouled out to the catcher with the bases loaded in the eighth inning of the team’s 3-2 loss to Texas.

Cabrera played solid defense and drove in a run Sunday with a seventh-inning triple, but he was hitting .158 after starting his Angel career in a three-for-19 slide.

*

Robb Quinlan was back at third base, one day after being removed in favor of rookie Maicer Izturis. Manager Mike Scioscia said he wanted to give Quinlan a chance to build continuity at the plate and in the field, where he had made two errors in his first four games.

Quinlan made two nice plays in the fourth inning, the first on a sharply hit grounder by David DeJesus in which Quinlan fielded the ball on a short hop and threw to first base for the out. He also started a double play by way of second base with a backhanded stop on a grounder by Matt Stairs.

Quinlan was hitless in four at-bats, though, and his batting average dropped to .125.

*

The Boston Red Sox are holding their World Series ring ceremony today, but Cabrera won’t be able to attend because the Angels play at Texas. “I’ll watch it on TV,” said Cabrera, who will receive his ring when the Angels play the Red Sox in Boston on June 3-5.... Dallas McPherson homered Saturday for his first hit during his rehabilitation assignment with triple-A Salt Lake but is batting .091.

ON DECK

* Opponent -- Texas Rangers, three games.

* Site -- Ameriquest Field.

* TV -- FSN West today and Wednesday; Channel 9 on Tuesday.

* Radio -- 710, 1020.

* Records -- Angels 3-3, Rangers 3-3.

* Record vs. Rangers -- 2-1.

* Today, 11 a.m. PDT -- Jarrod Washburn (0-0, 0.00) vs. Kenny Rogers (0-0, 1.50).

* Tuesday, 5 p.m. -- John Lackey (0-0, 7.72) vs. Chris Young (0-0, 6.75).

* Wednesday, 5 p.m. -- Paul Byrd vs. Chan Ho Park (0-0, 4.76).