SEATTLE — Luis Garcia is still working to erase the first impression he made on Angels fans this season.
The right-handed reliever didn’t retire any of the four batters he faced in his season debut March 30 in Baltimore. He was charged with four runs, three earned.
Two months later, Garcia still has a nondescript 4.26 ERA through 25 1/3 innings. However, seven of the 12 earned runs he’s allowed were in just two games, including his season debut.
Of his 27 games, 20 of them have been scoreless. In 13 of his outings – more than half – he has retired every batter he’s faced. In April, he had a stretch in which he retired 18 consecutive hitters. After a scoreless outing Friday night, Garcia has retired 15 of the last 16 batters he’s faced.
“After the first game, I was making adjustments and trying to get better every time,” Garcia said Saturday.
Garcia, 37, signed a one-year, $4.25 million deal last winter, after he’d posted a 3.62 ERA in his previous three seasons.
“The good thing about what’s happening now is he’s pounding the strike zone,” Angels manager Ron Washington said.
Garcia has also been rediscovering some velocity. A couple weeks ago, he had back-to-back games in which his average fastball was harder than 97 mph. He hit 99 mph three times in one game.
“It’s showing it’s there,” Garcia said of the velocity. “I’m not worried about it. I’m more focused on getting people out. If it’s there, it’s there. I’m just worried about my pitches, not how hard I’m throwing.”
Garcia has also proven to be durable. The Angels have used him three out of four days several times. On May 22 at Houston, he pitched a perfect ninth to close out a one-run victory when he was pitching for the fourth time in five days.
“That part of it we’re trying to stop,” Washington said. “If that’s the case, by the time we get to July or August, he’s going to be done.”
The Angels could have some extra motivation to protect Garcia. If he is pitching well in July, he could be a good trade chip.
SCHANUEL OUT
First baseman Nolan Schanuel, who was out of the lineup for the second straight day because of a sore left thumb, said an MRI exam confirmed that there’s no injury, so he’s hoping the pain will subside enough for him to play as soon as Sunday.
Schanuel said he hurt his thumb while hitting off the pitching machine May 22 at Houston.
Not coincidentally, Schanuel had been hitting .333 in the eight games before that incident, and he’s hit .111 since.
“I tried to tough through it,” he said. “You use your hands in everything you do in baseball. They get beat up the worst, especially getting jammed.”
Willie Calhoun has been the Angels’ backup first baseman, even though he’d never played the position in the majors until this season. Washington said Calhoun has held his own in the field.
“He’s been handling the opportunities,” Washington said. “He hasn’t been charged with anything tough yet, and I hope it stays that way.”
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NOTES
The Angels’ 13 one-run losses is the most in the majors. They have won six one-run games. …
Outfielder Kevin Pillar entered Saturday’s game with a 13-game hitting streak, which was the longest of his career. …
The Angels have hit at least one homer in 48 games, which is the most in the majors.
UP NEXT
Angels (RHP Griffin Canning, 2-4, 5.08) at Mariners (RHP Luis Castillo, 4-6, 3.28) at T-Mobile Park, 1:10 p.m. PT Sunday, Bally Sports West, 830 AM.
