Fly Ball Breaks Donnelly’s Nose

The Angels might want to consider barring Brendan Donnelly from shagging fly balls -- for his own protection.

The relief pitcher broke his nose Tuesday when a ball hit him during batting practice at Tempe Diablo Stadium, the second time in less than seven months that he had suffered a needless injury. He bruised the back of his left hand in August chasing a ball in the outfield.

Donnelly underwent surgery at Scottsdale Memorial Hospital to reset his nose and will be re-evaluated Thursday. There is no timetable for his return, but Manager Mike Scioscia said Donnelly would be ready for opening day if he recovered in the next week or so.

“As a reliever, we only really need to stretch him out to 30-35 pitches or two innings,” Scioscia said. “We’ll have plenty of time to do that. It’s better now than [if] this happened April 1. He can get ready within five or six appearances, and you can accomplish that in the last two weeks [of spring training] if you have to.”

Donnelly, who went 2-2 last season with a 1.58 earned-run average as a setup man, has established himself as a critical component of what is expected to again be one of the top bullpens in the American League.

“If Brendan’s not in our bullpen, it’s obviously” a blow, Scioscia said. “We have depth, but the way he was throwing the ball, it would create a bit of a void.”

*

Ramon Ortiz made a stellar debut in his bid to stay in the rotation, needing only 18 pitches to complete two shutout innings during the Angels’ 10-3 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks at Tucson Electric Park. The right-hander gave up only one hit while displaying a softer change-up that the Angels hope will serve as a more striking contrast to his fastball.

“At this time of year, he’s a little bit ahead of what you might hope for, so that’s encouraging,” Scioscia said.

Ortiz, whose ERA ballooned from 3.77 in 2002 to 5.20 in 2003, said he was not fretting about competing with John Lackey and Aaron Sele for only two spots in the rotation.

“I don’t have control over that,” Ortiz said. “I don’t have a decision.... I’m ready. That’s all I can say.”

Chone Figgins hit a three-run homer, his first home run in an Angel uniform, and Brian Specht had three hits to lead a lineup that included several reserves, along with regulars Tim Salmon and Jose Guillen. Tim Bittner and Derrick Turnbow each pitched two scoreless innings of relief. Bittner picked up the victory.

*

Scioscia said catcher Bengie Molina, suffering from soreness in his lower body, was feeling better and was expected to play his first spring game in the next couple of days.... The Angels won’t be able to gauge the return of center fielder Garret Anderson from biceps tendinitis near his right (non-throwing) shoulder until he swings a bat, which is expected to happen in the next few days.... Scot Shields threw off a mound Monday and was recovering from what Scioscia described as “spring arm,” a minor bout of fatigue.