Escobar Happy With Debut

Matt Hensley, the front-runner to win the sixth and final bullpen spot, will be sidelined for at least a month because of shoulder discomfort and a strained left rib cage, left fielder Garret Anderson (tendinitis in knee) and reliever Scot Shields (shin splints) will be out for a few days, first baseman Darin Erstad missed his fifth game because of bronchitis and Dustin Moseley, the most likely fill-in candidate should the Angels suffer an injury in their rotation, left Tuesday’s game because of a strained right forearm.

But there was some good news on the injury front: Kelvim Escobar, slowed by shoulder tightness this spring, made his exhibition debut, and the results -- he gave up three runs and five hits in two innings of an 8-5 loss to the Chicago White Sox -- were hardly enough to dim the spirits of the right-hander.

Escobar, who was questionable for the game after experiencing severe flu-like symptoms Monday night, said his shoulder felt “100%” during a 34-pitch outing that will put him in line to start the fifth game of the season, against Kansas City on April 9. Escobar will have four more starts to get his pitch count up to the 95-pitch range.

“The main thing is my health -- the results don’t matter right now,” Escobar said. “I felt I had to get out there today, any way I could, because there’s only [three] weeks left before the season, and I have to get some work in. ... I felt strong the whole time. I just left too many pitches up in the zone. The next game, I’ll work on command.”

Cool, dry and windy conditions made it difficult to grip the ball, but after giving up five singles in a 23-pitch first inning, Escobar settled down during an 11-pitch second, giving up a single to Joe Crede, who was caught stealing, and retiring Juan Uribe on a fly ball and striking out Scott Podsednik.

“His velocity was good, and I like the way the ball was coming out of his hand,” Manager Mike Scioscia said. “The way he felt was encouraging.”

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The Angels might open the season with a left-hander in the bullpen after all. With Hensley out -- the right-hander is considering surgery that could sideline him for the season -- left-hander Jake Woods and right-hander Scott Dunn are the leading candidates for the final bullpen job. ... Shortstop Orlando Cabrera was scheduled to return to his native Colombia on Tuesday night to complete the paperwork for gaining permanent U.S. residency. Cabrera is expected to return Friday. ... Casey Kotchman had three hits, improving his average to .394, and Vladimir Guerrero hit a solo home run.