Howie Kendrick made a triumphant return to the Angels’ roster and lineup on Friday and had two consecutive starts before finding himself back on the bench for Sunday’s game.
Not to worry. Kendrick didn’t reinjure the left hamstring that forced him to miss 42 games. Instead, manager Mike Scioscia opted to give him some rest. You would think that 42 days are enough rest but with more than 100 games still on the 2008 schedule, the bect course of action at this point it to not overwork him.
“We want him to feel his way back into it,” Scioscia said. “I think his hamstring is fine. Everything seems to be where it needs to be.”
Angels’ lineup
Maicer Izturis, SS
Gary Matthews Jr., RF
Garret Anderson, LF
Vladimir Guerrero, DH
Torii Hunter, CF
Casey Kotchman, 1B
Mike Napoli, C
Brandon Wood, 3B
Sean Rodriguez, 2B
Jon Garland (5-3, 3.89, but 10-2 with a 4.17 ERA in his career against Toronto)
Blue Jays’ lineup
David Eckstein, SS
Marco Scutaro, 2B
Alex Rios, CF
Scott Rolen, 3B
Lyle Overbay, 1B
Rod Barajas, C
Brad Wilkerson, RF
Kevin Mench, DH
Joe Inglett, LF
A.J. Burnett, P (5-5, 4.57 but 1-1 with a 3.91 ERA in two career starts against the Angels)
AL BALDERAS/The Register
