Rodriguez Throws a Little

Closer Francisco Rodriguez, sidelined because of a strained muscle in his right forearm, played catch for about 10 minutes Wednesday, the first time he has thrown a baseball in four days.

Rodriguez will be examined today by Lewis Yocum, the Angel team doctor. He is hoping to be ready to pitch against the Dodgers on Friday.

“I didn’t throw any long toss or try to throw hard enough to see if it still hurt,” Rodriguez said. “Hopefully, everything will be fine and I’ll be on the mound Friday.”

If not, the Angels won’t be too pressed. Scot Shields has handled the closer role masterfully. He picked up his fourth save this season -- and second in three days -- striking out two of three batters in the ninth Wednesday to polish off a 2-1 victory over Cleveland.

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Garret Anderson sat out the game because of a sore right hamstring, injured Tuesday in the Angels’ 13-5 loss.

“He said he can’t remember any one thing that caused it,” Manager Mike Scioscia said. “Toward the end of the game it just felt tight. We decided to keep him out as a precautionary thing. He’s day to day.”

Anderson was not available even as a pinch-hitter Wednesday. However, the Angels did get Steve Finley back in center field. He had been unable to play defense the last four days because of a mild groin strain.

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Bartolo Colon, who pitched Wednesday on three days’ rest, probably will get an extra day off before his next start. Scioscia said the plan was to use Colon on Tuesday against the Chicago White Sox, and have rookie Ervin Santana face the White Sox’s Jon Garland (8-0) on Monday.

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Adam Kennedy, who started the Angels’ ninth-inning rally with a one-out single, said he “banged up” his foot while sliding at the plate to score the tying run.

“I banged foot to foot when I collided with [catcher Victor Martinez],” said Kennedy, who returned May 2 from a knee injury. “I just kind of jabbed the foot. It’s no big deal.”

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In good hands

Angel reliever Scot Shields recorded his fourth save Wednesday and second filling in for the injured Francisco Rodriguez. Here is how the two have fared this season:

*--* Player IP H S/Bl.S ERA Rodriguez 16 9 10/1 2.25 Shields 22 2/3 12 4/1 1.19 Total 38 2/3 21 14/2 1.63

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Los Angeles Times and MLB.com