ANGELS NOTEBOOK: KENNEDY GETS A HUSTLE TALK.

Byline: Joe Haakenson Staff Writer

ANAHEIM - Angels manager Mike Scioscia said he talked with second baseman Adam Kennedy about Kennedy's apparent lack of hustle in Tuesday's game against the A's.

Kennedy didn't get a good jump out of the batter's box in the ninth inning when he hit a high pop-up off A's closer Billy Koch to shortstop Miguel Tejada. Instead, Kennedy watched the ball sail into the air.

So when Tejada dropped the ball for an error, Kennedy got only as far as first base. He was on second base when the game ended in a 2-1 Angels loss.

``I don't think it was a big issue,'' Scioscia said. ``Adam plays the game as hard as anybody in the league. For him not to break out of the box was uncharacteristic of him. Our team in general plays as hard as any I've been around.''

Kennedy offered no excuses for the play and did not have a response for what Koch said after the game: ``I'm just glad he was dogging it. He should have been at third as high as that one was. It saved the game for us. I appreciated it.''

Kennedy was in the starting lineup Wednesday against the A's and in his first at-bat beat out a bunt single with a head-first dive into first base.

Scioscia said Tuesday's play has been forgotten. ``You won't see that happen very often. We're moving on.''

--Luck involved: Jarrod Washburn has the longest winning streak by a pitcher in the majors this season with 12, but he is the first to admit he's been as lucky as he has been good.

``It takes luck, you can't win a game by yourself,'' said Washburn, who hasn't lost since April 13 and is 12-0 with a 2.85 ERA in 17 starts since. ``No matter who you are, you're going to make mistakes, and you need your teammates to pick you up.''

That was evident in Washburn's last start, when he gave up five runs to the Seattle Mariners last Sunday, but the Angels rallied for a 7-5 victory.

``When you give up five runs, you're not supposed to win,'' Washburn said.

Washburn's next start will be Saturday in Seattle, where he'll face Joel Pineiro.

--Notes: Right fielder Tim Salmon was the designated hitter Wednesday in an effort by Scioscia to get him off his feet but keep his bat in the lineup. Left fielder Garret Anderson will be the DH today. ... Closer Troy Percival will throw a simulated game today and will be activated from the disabled list Saturday.

ANGELS vs. OAKLAND

Time: 1:05 p.m. at Edison Field.

TV/Radio: Fox Sports Net; 570-AM, 1090-AM (Spanish)

Matchup: Ramon Ortiz (9-7, 3.73 ERA) will start for Anaheim against Oakland's Cory Lidle (3-8, 5.08). Lidle is coming off a one-hitter against the Rangers in his last start. Ortiz has never beaten the A's in his career, going 0-4 with a 7.07 ERA, including an 0-2 mark with a 5.11 ERA this season against them.

- Joe Haakenson

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ANGELS vs. OAKLAND (see text)