ANGELS NOTEBOOK: KENNEDY STARTING TO MAKE CONTRIBUTION.

Byline: Joe Haakenson Staff Writer

ANAHEIM - Two outs away from being shut out by Indians pitcher Jake Westbrook, the Angels saw second baseman Adam Kennedy unofficially began his 2005 season Wednesday afternoon in Cleveland.

In reality, Kennedy returned May 2 after months of rehabilitation from knee surgery. But Wednesday, Kennedy single-handedly turned around the game and just might have turned around his slow start at the plate. Westbrook had retired 21 consecutive batters when Kennedy stepped up with the Indians leading 1-0. Kennedy fell behind in the count 0-2, took three close pitches for balls to work the count full, fouled off a pitch, and then lined a single to left field.

The Angels not only rallied for two runs in the inning to win 2-1, but they're hoping it will spark Kennedy to swinging the bat like they know he can.

``I think being thrown into the fire was good for me,'' said the former Cal State Northridge standout, who missed all of spring training and got only 22 at-bats at Single-A Rancho Cucamonga in a rehab assignment before being activated. ``I feel good; I can't complain. I've had enough at-bats to feel OK. But it's an all-season process as far as keeping my swing there.''

Kennedy is hitting .244 (11 for 45) without an extra-base hit and one RBI in 14 games. But hitting coach Mickey Hatcher said he believes Kennedy is on the verge of breaking out.

``Even before we left spring training his swing was starting to look good,'' Hatcher said. ``He just needed to face some live pitching to feel comfortable.''

Hatcher and Kennedy have worked on changing Kennedy's swing.

``If you looked at his swing, you saw he had a big uppercut,'' Hatcher said. ``Now it's more leveled out. It's why he's going up the middle and the other way more. It's a big improvement and he's maintained it.''

--Injury update: Closer Francisco Rodriguez was examined Thursday by Angels' team doctor Lewis Yocum, who reviewed an MRI performed in Cleveland and took a stress X-ray of Rodriguez' right elbow.

The X-ray did not show any abnormalities, but Rodriguez is doubtful for tonight and Saturday's games. Scot Shields is 2 for 2 in save situations since Rodriguez last pitched, last Saturday in Detroit.

--A tougher schedule: The Angels have played most of their games this season so far against sub-.500 clubs, but that changes tonight. Starting with the series against the Dodgers, the Angels play 35 of their next 38 games against teams currently over .500, taking them through the end of June.

``You know what? The only way to slay the beast is to take the game at hand and play that one,'' Scioscia said. ``Every team you play can beat you. Whether you guys perceive a team to be strong or weak, they can beat you.''

Scioscia added that he sees no reason why the schedule-makers need to put a four-city trip on the schedule, which the Angels are looking at May 30-June 12.

Joe Haakenson, [phone]

joe.haakenson(at)sgvn.com