Washburn Overpowered by Thome and Rollins

Jarrod Washburn might have wondered if he was still pitching in Hiram Bithorn Stadium on Monday night after watching Jim Thome’s eighth-inning home run land halfway up the green ramp in center field in what seemed like a galaxy far, far away.

Only this was worse. Thome’s blast marked the Philadelphia Phillies’ second home run of the inning against Washburn, who last week surrendered only one home run in six innings at the Montreal Expos’ hitter-friendly Puerto Rican home.

The late home runs by Jimmy Rollins and Thome widened a one-run lead and gave the Phillies a 3-0 interleague victory over the Angels at Edison Field, spoiling the return of Darin Erstad from a hamstring injury that had sidelined the center fielder for nearly two months.

Vicente Padilla and two relievers held an Angel team that had averaged 6.7 runs over its recent 12-game trip to six hits, including three singles by Scott Spiezio.

“We’re not going to blame this on anything but not being able to do anything offensively,” said Manager Mike Scioscia, whose team suffered its third shutout of the season and first since April 14. “Outside of Spiezio, we didn’t get a lot going.”

The Angels (31-30) fell a season-high 11 games behind the Seattle Mariners in the American League West, and a sense of urgency might be infiltrating the clubhouse five weeks before the All-Star break.

“We understand we can’t play like this and make a miracle run at the end,” said Adam Kennedy, who went hitless in three at-bats before being lifted for a pinch-hitter in the eighth. “We’re going to have to cut into [the deficit] at some time.”

Washburn (6-6) said he did not pitch very well despite giving up only one run and six hits over 7 1/3 innings before the homers.

“I got away with a lot of mistakes early, and then late I made a lot of mistakes that cost me,” said Washburn, who suffered the first interleague loss of his career after recording six victories. “I just threw [the pitches to Rollins and Thome] right down the middle instead of in or out. In the middle of the plate, against good hitters, they’re going to do that.”

The Angels squandered excellent scoring opportunities in the third and seventh innings.

Brad Fullmer singled with one out in the seventh and scooted to third on Spiezio’s single through the hole at second, but Fullmer’s momentum on his slide carried him past the bag and third baseman David Bell applied the tag for the second out. Bengie Molina followed with a single, moving Spiezio to second, but Benji Gil grounded out to end the inning.

In the third, Spiezio hit a leadoff single and moved to second when Molina took a Padilla pitch in the left shoulder. Gil successfully moved the runners over to second and third with a bunt, but Kennedy struck out and Erstad grounded out.

Erstad ended a 10-game hitting streak that started April 10 and was put on hold when he suffered the hamstring injury nine days later.

Monday marked the first time all season the Angels had none of their regulars on the disabled list, though shortstop David Eckstein was out of the starting lineup for a fourth consecutive game because of a bruised left hand.

Erstad noted that considering the way several reserves have played, especially outfielder Jeff DaVanon, the Angels remained capable of making a charge at any time.

“The guys that filled in for the guys that were injured did a great job,” Erstad said. “You’re never going have everybody healthy the whole year, so you have to have guys step up, and that’s what we’ve had. It’s made our team stronger, and that’s what we’re going to need down the stretch.”

Padilla, who had won only one of his last eight starts, baffled the Angels over seven innings by working ahead in the count with a lively fastball and deceptive slider.

“You go up there and go 0-1, 0-2 all night and you’re not going to do very well,” Kennedy said.