Escobar Chooses the Silent Way Out

Perhaps the frustration has finally begun to sink in for Kelvim Escobar, the Angel right-hander who has been the team’s most consistent and effective starting pitcher this season but has received the least support, 3.77 runs a game.

Escobar gave up one run and three hits in eight innings, striking out seven, but he still took the loss Saturday, falling to 10-11 despite having the eighth-lowest earned run average (3.75) in the American League.

And for the first time in 30 starts, Escobar, who has not criticized his teammates once this season; who has not allowed any disappointment he might be feeling to affect him on the mound, did not hang around to speak to the media after a 2-0 loss to the Texas Rangers.

“You keep saying you don’t know how it happens, but it’s been incredible,” Manager Mike Scioscia said. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen a guy pitch so well with his back to the wall every game. If we gave him any kind of support, this guy would be in the running for the Cy Young Award. He gave us another great effort today that we didn’t support.”

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Angel left-handed pitcher Jarrod Washburn underwent an MRI test on his brain Friday in an effort to determine the cause of the severe headaches he has experienced periodically over the last few months. The results were normal.

Washburn, scheduled to start today against the Rangers, underwent a root canal about a month ago and returned to the dentist for more work before Saturday’s game.

“The doctors don’t know if an infection from the root canal might be causing the headaches,” said Washburn, who gave up two runs and six hits in 6 2/3 innings of Tuesday night’s 3-2 loss to Seattle.

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Veteran outfielder Tim Salmon underwent Saturday the first of two major surgeries, a cartilage-replacement procedure on his left knee that doctors in Arizona deemed successful.

Salmon will be on crutches for at least eight weeks, and when he is able to bear weight on the leg, he will undergo surgery to repair four tears in his left shoulder, in late November or early December. Each procedure could require up to a 10-month recovery process, forcing Salmon to sit out most, and possibly all, of the 2005 season.

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Angel center fielder Garret Anderson did not start for the second consecutive game because of tendinitis in his left knee but was able to pinch-hit, flying out to left field in the ninth inning.... Ranger reliever Frank Francisco chose to begin serving the 16-game suspension he received for throwing a chair into the crowd at Oakland on Monday night. But the right-hander plans to continue the appeal process in an effort to get the penalty reduced.... Angel third baseman Chone Figgins stole second in the ninth inning, making him the first Angel since Luis Polonia and Chad Curtis in 1993 to steal 30 bases in a season.... With Saturday’s crowd of 41,233, the Angels set an attendance record of 3,087,026, passing the mark of 3,061,094 set last season.