Saunders Admits Being Fatigued

It wasn’t the pressure of the pennant race or the possibility of being rattled in hostile environments that worried Angels Manager Mike Scioscia about rookie pitchers Jered Weaver and Joe Saunders.

It was fatigue, the wear and tear of a season that, for the first time, stretches deep into September and takes the pitchers toward the 200-inning mark for the first time.

Weaver was already pushed back from a start after the All-Star break because of a mild case of biceps tendinitis, and Wednesday night, Saunders admitted fatigue may have been a factor in what was by far his worst outing of the year.

The left-hander, who had a 4-0 record and 1.67 earned-run average, gave up eight runs -- seven earned -- and five hits in 2 2/3 innings of the Angels’ 9-3 loss to the Rangers, walking a career-high five and striking out only one.

“I had no command -- I couldn’t get ahead of anyone and was walking the house,” Saunders said. “My arm might be a little tired. Hopefully, I can get some rest and come back strong in my next start.”

After giving up a leadoff single to Nelson Cruz in the third inning, Ian Kinsler drove a two-run home run to center field for a 3-0 Texas lead. Michael Young struck out, but Carlos Lee singled, Mark Teixeira walked, and Mark DeRosa and Gerald Laird each singled.

Hank Blalock bounced into a fielder’s choice, Teixeira being forced out at the plate, but Saunders walked Jerry Hairston with the bases loaded to force in a run and was replaced by Kevin Gregg, who gave up a grand slam to Cruz that gave the Rangers a 9-0 lead.

*

Scioscia and Texas Manager Buck Showalter spoke on the phone before Wednesday’s game, but neither would divulge the nature of the conversation, which probably focused on the handful of pitches that hit Angels sluggers Vladimir Guerrero and Juan Rivera or were thrown near Guerrero’s head.

Whatever thoughts were exchanged, they failed to head off Wednesday night’s hostilities, when Gregg and Brendan Donnelly each hit batters with pitches, and second baseman Adam Kennedy charged the mound and started a bench-clearing brawl after being hit by Rangers reliever Scott Feldman in the ninth.

Scioscia has said repeatedly that he doesn’t condone retaliating with beanballs, but it appeared players took matters into their own hands Wednesday night.

“You’ve got to do things for the respect of your teammates, above all else,” Angels pitcher John Lackey said. “Vladdy is our best player. He’s one of the best players on the planet. We’re going to protect him. We can’t afford to lose any offense, especially our biggest part.”

*

Dallas McPherson, whose rehabilitation stint at triple-A Salt Lake was interrupted by another lower-back injury in late July, suffered another setback when he was pulled from Sunday’s game after two at-bats because of a rib cage injury. He hasn’t played since.

First baseman Kendry Morales, who was demoted to Salt Lake on July 24, has been out for a week and a half because of a rib cage injury.