For Anderson, it’s familiar but strange

The Angel Stadium security guards didn’t recognize the man who had spent 14 seasons with the team and set several of its all-time records, but that’s fair. He hadn’t been back since he left in 2008, and his return came in Dodgers blue, not Angels red.

So Garret Anderson had to remind them he was Garret Anderson. “They were like, ‘OK,’ ” he said.

That part was weird, as was sitting in the visitors’ dugout before the game. “It’s different being here on this side,” he said. But other than that, Anderson’s homecoming in Friday’s 4-3 victory by the Angels wasn’t anything spectacular.

He got a warm reception when he stepped into the batter’s box in the first inning. Many in the announced crowd of 40,368 cheered, some stood and applauded. Same as when he trotted out to play left field.

“It’s no surprise,” Dodgers Manager Joe Torre said. “I had to witness him, unfortunately, from the other side for so many years, and he killed me. I know he appreciated it.”

Torre batted him third and Anderson finished one for two. Torre said he has been trying to get the 37-year-old some more at-bats.

“He didn’t have to,” said Anderson, who was batting .273 in 33 at-bats before Friday. “I was able to find my swing pretty quick.”

After the game, Torre announced that, barring anything unforeseen, Anderson had made the team.

Martin’s injury

The pulled right groin Russell Martin sustained March 6 doesn’t nag him anymore -- unlike the questions he still hears about it. “I just feel like it was blown out of proportion because it wasn’t that severe,” he said. “It was like a little tweak I had and it made it seem like it was a really big deal, but it’s not.”

Martin was initially expected to be out four to six weeks, meaning he might miss the first two weeks of the regular season. He ended up missing nearly a month of exhibition games before returning Tuesday against San Francisco.

Martin said he doesn’t know if it’s 100%, “but it’s right in the vicinity.” But Torre said he wants to ease Martin back by using him as a designated hitter Saturday.

Short hops

Infielder Doug Mientkiewicz was released Friday, making room for Anderson, while outfielder Jason Repko and left-hander Eric Stults cleared waivers. Stults was also officially sold to the Hiroshima Carp. Catcher J.D. Closser and right-handers Justin Miller and Luis Ayala were reassigned to triple-A Albuquerque. Torre said Ramon Ortiz and Jeff Weaver made the team.

baxter.holmes@latimes.com