Lackey Doesn’t Blame It on Wind

Gusts of 30 mph created some difficult conditions Friday -- Angel left-hander Joe Saunders was nearly “pushed off the mound” in his split-squad start against Oakland -- but John Lackey didn’t use it as an excuse for a shaky spring debut in which the right-hander walked four and gave up a run in one inning.

“The wind had nothing to do with it -- I was all over the joint,” said Lackey, whose first Cactus League start was delayed by shoulder stiffness. “But it was my first time out, man, so it’s not something I’m going to over-analyze. My shoulder felt all right. That’s all that matters.”

The Angels wanted Lackey to throw about 30 pitches in two innings against the Chicago Cubs, but he needed 33 pitches to get through the first inning of a 7-6 loss, so Lackey didn’t come out for the second.

Lackey’s fastball looked crisp and his curve was sharp, but after retiring the first two batters, Lackey lost his command and walked four in a row.

“I got tired -- I’m not in shape yet,” Lackey said. “The ball came out of my hand fine, but when you get tired and you’re trying to throw strikes at the same time, it doesn’t always look good.”

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Reliever Kevin Gregg, who is battling Esteban Yan for the final bullpen spot, got roughed up by the Cubs, giving up five runs on four hits in the second inning.

It was also a tough day for left fielder Robb Quinlan, who fouled a ball off his left shin in the first inning and came out of the game, and right fielder Nick Gorneault, who bruised his left wrist sliding on a stolen base and left the game in the second. X-rays on both injuries were negative.

Chone Figgins and Adam Kennedy hit back-to-back home runs in the second inning and Tim Salmon had two hits for the Angels.

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Vladimir Guerrero reiterated Friday that he “is not playing” in the World Baseball Classic, despite persistent rumors he would join the Dominican Republic team for the second round. He said he “doesn’t feel pressure” to play in the tournament.

An ESPN.com report Thursday afternoon said that Guerrero was going to fly Thursday night to Florida so he could play in the WBC on Friday. The website retracted the story later Thursday evening.

Manager Mike Scioscia had a little fun at Guerrero’s expense Friday.

“We told Vladdy we have a split-squad on Sunday -- one game in Phoenix, one in Tucson and one in San Juan, Puerto Rico; which one do you want to play in?” Scioscia said.

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Third baseman Dallas McPherson has been slowed by stiffness in his rib cage and was unable to play the last two days. McPherson, who missed most of 2005 because of hip and lower-back injuries, is expected to resume swinging today and could return to the lineup Monday or Tuesday.... The Angels lost to the A’s, 16-4, in the other split-squad game in Tempe, Ariz., Friday.