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Washburn Goes on Disabled List

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Times Staff Writer

Jarrod Washburn made it through a vigorous 12-minute bullpen session, in which he threw all of his pitches at full effort, before Wednesday’s game, but that didn’t prevent the Angels from putting the left-hander on the 15-day disabled list because of forearm tendinitis after an 8-4 victory over the Baltimore Orioles.

The move, which is retroactive to July 25, will give Washburn an extra week of rest and keep right-hander Chris Bootcheck, who gave up one run in six innings in a no-decision against the Yankees on Sunday, in the rotation for Saturday’s game against Tampa Bay. The Angels will make another roster move today to replace Washburn.

“Jarrod felt a little better, but we’re sure he’s not at a level where he can turn it loose,” Manager Mike Scioscia said. “He needs more time to calm it down, and he should be able to get back out there next weekend. Structurally, everything is OK, but we hope with a little more rest and anti-inflammatory medication, it will keep him on the mound for a long period.”

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Washburn, who was scratched from Saturday’s start against the Yankees, underwent a precautionary MRI test Tuesday that showed mild inflammation in the forearm, a condition that has bothered the pitcher for several months.

Washburn experienced a little discomfort during Wednesday’s workout, “but the level of pain is diminished,” he said before the game. “I felt a little of [the inflammation] still in there, but it’s at a tolerable level.”

*

If this were 2002, and Adam Kennedy discovered upon entering the clubhouse that he wasn’t starting against a left-handed pitcher, he might have popped off to a reporter or two. Several times during the Angels’ championship season, Kennedy expressed his frustration about being in a second-base platoon with Benji Gil.

But this is 2005, and Kennedy is older and wiser, so when he did not start against Oriole left-hander Erik Bedard on Wednesday or Blue Jay lefty Gustavo Chacin on July 26 or Yankee lefty Randy Johnson on July 21, he simply bit his tongue, even though he despises sitting against left-handers.

“I’ll always be unhappy with it, but it won’t be an issue,” said Kennedy, who bats left-handed. “I’ve been through it before, and I know how to deal with it. In 2002, I wasn’t used to it, and I didn’t deal with it very well. Growing up a bit, I know which way to channel my frustration -- more on the field than off the field.”

Kennedy entered Wednesday with a team-high .324 average in 250 at-bats, batting .314 (22 for 70) against left-handers and .328 (59 for 180) against right-handers. Since Kennedy returned from off-season knee surgery May 2, the Angels have faced 25 left-handers. Kennedy started 16 of those games.

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