Byrd Is Soaring With a Sinker

Pitcher Paul Byrd has had a sinking feeling this spring, but don’t worry, it’s in his right arm, not the pit of his stomach.

Unable to throw a sinking fastball for years because of elbow problems that eventually led to ligament-replacement surgery in 2003, Byrd has dusted off one of his favorite pitches and is beginning to get results with it.

Byrd induced two double-play grounders Wednesday while pitching three scoreless innings, giving up two singles and striking out two in the Angels’ 2-1 exhibition victory over the San Diego Padres at Tempe Diablo Stadium.

Byrd, who signed a one-year, $5-million contract in December to become the Angels’ No. 5 starter, has thrown five scoreless innings in two exhibition starts.

“The sinker is coming along great -- I’m getting good action on it and the swings I want,” said Byrd, a 34-year-old veteran. “I was always a fly-ball pitcher, but now, when there’s guys on first and second and no outs, instead of hoping for a shallow fly ball I can get a ground ball.”

Byrd throws a number of other pitches from various arm angles out of a funky, old-school kind of delivery, changing speeds and relying on deception more than velocity. His fastball hovered in the 85-mph range with Atlanta last season, but with improved health, Byrd believes he can touch 90 this season.

“I feel extra sharp,” Byrd said. “I have a little added arm strength and my fastball is more crisp. The hitters were late on some fastballs, which is good.”

The Angels expect Byrd to solidify a fifth rotation spot that Aaron Sele and Ramon Ortiz filled with uneven results last season.

“His stuff keeps picking up with every outing,” Manager Mike Scioscia said of Byrd. “He mixes deception with command, and that adds some life to his fastball.

“He had a couple of guys paralyzed today.”

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Three of the Angels’ four front-line relievers threw with mixed results.

Scot Shields threw two scoreless innings, striking out four, and Brendan Donnelly struck out one in a scoreless inning, but Esteban Yan gave up a solo home run to Geoff Blum in the sixth inning.

Left-hander Jake Woods and right-hander Scott Dunn, who are competing with Matt Hensley for the sixth and final bullpen spot, threw a scoreless eighth and ninth inning, respectively.

Scioscia said Woods’ location needed to improve for him to have a chance of making the team.

“It’s good to be able to get guys out when you don’t have your best stuff, but Jake’s pitches aren’t in the zones they need to be,” Scioscia said. “He’s going to have to make better pitches, and we know he can.”

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Kelvim Escobar, slowed by shoulder tightness, threw about 60 pitches during a 12-minute live batting-practice session, continuing despite taking a line drive off his ankle in the first two minutes. Scioscia said the right-hander was fine and remained on course to make his first exhibition start Wednesday against the Chicago White Sox at Tucson....Reserve outfielder Juan Rivera has a sore throwing arm and will be limited to designated hitter for another week to 10 days....Kevin Gregg gave up two hits in three scoreless innings and the Angels collected 20 hits in a 16-2 split-squad victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks at Tucson.