Stadium structure gets OK

Angels spokesman Tim Mead said a six-person team was called out to inspect Angel Stadium after a piece of concrete fell into the stands during the season opener, and it expressed no concerns about the structural integrity of the ballpark.

A concrete fragment slightly larger than a dollar bill fell from an overhang into a stairway next to the club-level seats in Section 342, down the right-field line, during the third inning of Monday’s game. No one was injured in the incident but the team relocated about 20 spectators to a dugout suite as a precaution. However, spectators were allowed into the section the next night.

The 43-year-old stadium, which is owned by the city of Anaheim and operated by the ballclub, is inspected regularly by maintenance crews, Mead said. Similar inspections are conducted throughout the year at Dodger Stadium, Dodgers spokesman Josh Rawitch said.

Mead said the Angels spent $400,000 last year on maintenance of the ballpark.

“We try to do a lot of preventive maintenance,” he said. “But when you have things that wear, they wear out over time.”

Although the spokesmen for both clubs said they could not recall similar instances of falling debris at either stadium, other ballparks have been plagued by the problem. In 1998, the Angels had a three-game series in New York rescheduled when a 500-pound piece of concrete fell into the seats at Yankee Stadium hours before gates were opened to the public.

Chicago’s Wrigley Field was twice threatened with closure after concrete broke away from the upper deck and dropped into the seating area three times in June 2004.

Hall Class of ’09

The Angels will induct pitcher Chuck Finley and outfielder Brian Downing into their Hall of Fame in a pregame ceremony tonight, enshrining them alongside Nolan Ryan, Bobby Grich, Don Baylor, Jim Fregosi and Jimmie Reese.

Finley, a four-time All-Star, holds franchise records in several categories, including wins (165). Downing left the Angels in 1990 as the team leader in seven offensive departments, including home runs (222) and games played (1,661).

Injury report

Vladimir Guerrero said his sore right shoulder, which has limited him to designated-hitter duty through the season’s first three games, is feeling better and he expects to be available to play in the field this weekend. . . . Kelvim Escobar, who had his scheduled minor league rehab start tonight postponed by tightness in his surgically repaired right shoulder, is expected to throw a bullpen session this weekend, Manager Mike Scioscia said. . . . Right-handers John Lackey and Ervin Santana, who also started the season on the disabled list, are throwing lightly on flat ground.

Short hops

Scioscia is impressed with the play of Oakland catcher Kurt Suzuki. “He’s definitely the most improved catcher over the last couple of years,” Scioscia said of the Cal State Fullerton product, in his second full big league season. . . . Scioscia says he plans to give starts to backups Maicer Izturis, Robb Quinlan and Gary Matthews Jr. during the homestand.

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kevin.baxter@latimes.com