Donnelly Has a Reduced Role

Reliever Scot Shields is so versatile, so durable and so effective, “he’s almost filling the role of two guys,” Manager Mike Scioscia said Wednesday. “You don’t see many setup guys who can throw 30 to 40 pitches to get to your closer and have the ability to pitch the next day.”

There is a flip side to Shields’ success, though. Reliever Brendan Donnelly, an All-Star and the team’s primary setup man in 2003, has had to cope with a reduced role this season.

Donnelly entered 2005 as the Angels’ primary setup man but lost the job when he gave up five earned runs and nine hits, including two home runs, in his first four appearances.

Shields, who is 3-1 with a 1.37 earned-run average in 16 games, including two perfect innings in Tuesday night’s 5-4 win over the Indians, slid into the primary setup role in front of closer Francisco Rodriguez in mid-April and has held it since.

Donnelly recovered from his early struggles -- the right-hander hasn’t allowed a run in his last 9 2/3 innings -- but he has evolved into more of a sixth- or seventh-inning pitcher, filling in as setup man only on the rare nights Shields is not available.

“I still want the eighth-inning role; like I said in spring training, it will be a season-long competition between me and Shields,” Donnelly said. “But we’re OK with that because we’re friends. Everyone wants the ball in those situations, but we also know what the team needs and how the bullpen is set up. The team is way bigger than any one person. That’s our philosophy, and it needs to stay that way.”

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The Angels activated catcher Bengie Molina off the disabled list after Wednesday’s game and optioned utility player David Matranga to triple-A Salt Lake. Molina, sidelined since April 18 because of a strained right thigh, is expected to start when the Angels open a six-game trip at Detroit on Friday.

Jose Molina and Josh Paul have been capable defensive replacements and have provided some offense, “but Bengie is a stud back there,” Scioscia said. “We need his presence every day.”

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The headaches Jarrod Washburn experienced after his diving attempt to catch a bunt Sunday dissipated Tuesday night, and the left-hander was able to throw in the bullpen Wednesday. Washburn said he would make his next start Saturday in Detroit, but don’t look for him to do any more Darin Erstad impersonations in the field.

“I’m too old for that,” Washburn said. “You won’t see me diving again. I think. I haven’t seen the replay, but I’m told it looked pretty bad.”

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Left fielder Garret Anderson suffered a minor ankle injury when he banged into the wall in foul territory while fielding Alex Cora’s double Tuesday night. Scioscia said Anderson could have played the field Wednesday, but he started at designated hitter as a precaution.... Erstad, in a four-for-36 slump that has dropped his average from .286 on April 30 to .241, was given Wednesday off, the first game the first baseman has sat out this season.