Tidy Outing Lifts Dickson’s Hopes

TEMPE, Ariz. — Jason Dickson started this mess last Friday when his shaky outing against Milwaukee began a five-day stretch in which Angel starting pitchers gave up 31 earned runs in 21 innings. Wednesday, the right-hander put an end to it.

Dickson, sidelined in 1999 because of shoulder surgery, revitalized his fading rotation hopes with his best start of the spring, giving up one run and five hits and striking out three in 5 2/3 innings of a 6-3 Cactus League victory over the San Diego Padres.

“We’ve talked about his command getting better, and today he matched that with velocity,” Manager Mike Scioscia said. “His pitches were much crisper. His off-speed stuff today was the best we’ve seen. That’s the way Jason Dickson can pitch, and it’s very encouraging to see him step up.”

Dickson entered Wednesday’s game with a 9.35 earned-run average in three outings, but he remained encouraged because he was throwing without pain and seemed to get a little better with each appearance.

“The thing that kept me positive was the fact that Mike and Bud [Black, pitching coach] were at all my games, and they see what happens,” Dickson said. “You look at the results, and you don’t understand how a guy really threw. They don’t go into the coaches room and pick out the guys with the best numbers. Sometimes results don’t dictate [who makes the team].”

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The infield picture became clearer Wednesday when the Angels released Jason Bates, which means Benji Gil has virtually locked up the utility infield job, and second baseman Pat Kelly abruptly retired, leaving Scott Spiezio and Trent Durrington to compete for that job.

Gil had two doubles and a single Wednesday to raise his spring average to .343 with three homers and nine runs batted in.

After Kelly started at second Tuesday, Scioscia said he would give the veteran who has been slowed by a shoulder injury a serious look at the position this week.

But Kelly, 32, had a change of heart--and shoulder condition--Wednesday morning, and after a long talk with Scioscia he decided to retire.

“His injury isn’t something that’s going to feel better in a month or two, and no surgery is going to change that,” Scioscia said. “He has some damage there that wasn’t going to allow him to compete for a position. He has a baby due soon and wanted to return to his family.”

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Ramon Ortiz (torn labrum) and Jarrod Washburn (strained rib-cage muscle) threw off a bullpen mound Wednesday for the second time this week with no setbacks. The next step will be to throw an inning in a Cactus League game, and it’s possible both will open the season on minor league rehabilitation assignments.