Salmon Gets It Right in Return

It had been 20 months -- July 25, 2004, in Seattle to be exact -- since Tim Salmon played the outfield, so as the Angel veteran stood in right field before Monday’s triple-A game against Texas, one thought consumed him: “That first ball always finds you.”

Sure enough, the first batter lined a shot directly over Salmon’s head, providing an immediate test for the 37-year-old who is trying to return from knee and shoulder surgery. Salmon aced it, hustling to the wall to make the catch. He later doubled and caught a fly ball in left field, part of a three-inning stint to determine his outfield readiness.

“It felt, um, strangely familiar,” Salmon said. “I had to break on that first ball and twist around to get to it. It’s nice for them to know I can play [the outfield] for an inning or two.”

Monday’s development is another indication that Salmon, who is batting .333 (14 for 42) with two homers this spring, is closing in on a roster spot.

“He’s attacking the ball as well as we’ve ever seen him, he moved well in the outfield, and he’s running the bases well,” Manager Mike Scioscia said. “He’s passing every test.”

Salmon hasn’t been told anything, “but I’m pleased with the way things are lining up,” he said. He’s also been “blown away” by the reaction of fans, who have given him rousing ovations before most of his home at-bats.

“He’s been the face of the Angels for a long time, but he’s going to have to make it on his own merit,” Scioscia said. “He wouldn’t want it any other way.”

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Garret Anderson, starting his second straight game in left field after missing almost three weeks because of a foot injury, hit a home run in Monday night’s 15-2 exhibition victory over the San Diego Padres in Peoria, Ariz.

Orlando Cabrera, Juan Rivera and Dallas McPherson added home runs for the Angels. Rivera, after playing center field in a minor league game Sunday, played four more innings in center against the Padres, an indication the Angels might be considering him as a possible alternative to Darin Erstad.

Kelvim Escobar went six innings for the Angels, allowing two runs on four hits, striking out six and walking three, and added a sharp single to right in the fifth.

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The Angels, searching for a left-handed-hitting bench player, have expressed interest in outfielder David Dellucci, who hit 29 home runs last season but is reportedly being shopped by the Rangers.

Texas wants pitching and has shown interest in Angel right-hander Kevin Gregg, but it’s highly unlikely they would trade Dellucci to a division rival. The Angels have also inquired about Padre outfielder Ben Johnson, who bats right-handed.

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The Angels and Fox Sports Net are working to complete an agreement on a 10-year, $500-million television deal in the next few days so the Angels can announce a 150-game schedule that could start with this weekend’s Freeway Series.