Cabrera and Kennedy Try to Get Their Act Together

It was only batting practice, but Angel shortstop Orlando Cabrera and second baseman Adam Kennedy were turning double plays at full speed before Monday night’s game against the Seattle Mariners, a crash course to become familiar with each other before their first game together.

Kennedy was in the lineup for the first time since Sept. 20, when he suffered a complete tear of one ligament and a partial tear of another ligament in his right knee while fielding Ichiro Suzuki’s grounder up the middle in Angel Stadium.

The five-year veteran underwent surgery that was supposed to sideline him for six to 10 months, and Kennedy returned at the front end of that window, after only 6 1/2 months, completing his rehabilitation with a six-game minor league stint.

“The knee doesn’t feel the same quite yet,” Kennedy said, when asked if he felt as strong as he did before the injury. “But from what I understand, that’s OK as long as there is no pain or limitations. I don’t feel like there are any limitations.”

Kennedy was tested early Monday night when he had to leap to snag Adrian Beltre’s first-inning line drive with runners on first and second. Kennedy made the catch, but his ill-advised quick flip to Cabrera in an attempt to double off Suzuki rolled past the shortstop, allowing Suzuki to take third.

The Angels escaped damage when Randy Winn, who took off from first on Richie Sexson’s strikeout, was caught in a rundown, and first baseman Darin Erstad threw out Suzuki at the plate.

Although Kennedy participated in individual drills during spring training, he was not far enough along in his recovery to work at game speed with Cabrera, the new shortstop. But Manager Mike Scioscia said the pair “should be a quick study” when it comes to turning traditional double plays together.

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Bengie Molina went through an aggressive catching workout, squatting, throwing to second base, blocking balls in the dirt and fielding bunts, and said he experienced no pain or discomfort in his strained right thigh.

Molina is eligible to come off the disabled list Wednesday but probably won’t be activated until Friday or Saturday because he still hasn’t tested the leg by running the bases at full speed.

“That will be the ultimate test,” said Molina, who plans to run the bases today, but not at full speed. “It’s not 100% yet, but it’s getting close. I need a couple more days of running.”

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Chone Figgins and Jeff DaVanon were not in the starting lineup because Figgins was 0 for 17 and DaVanon was hitless in seven at-bats against starter Ryan Franklin. ... Bartolo Colon, who left the game Sunday against the Minnesota Twins in the eighth inning because of a left ankle injury, felt better Monday, and Scioscia said Colon is in line to make his next start, Saturday against the Detroit Tigers. ... Reliever Bret Prinz (right shoulder weakness) and utility infielder Lou Merloni (sprained right ankle) will return to Los Angeles today to be re-examined by physicians.