ANGELS NOTEBOOK: SALMON OK IN OUTFIELD.

Byline: Doug Padilla Staff Writer

PEORIA, Ariz. - Tim Salmon saw his first action in the outfield Monday and moved to the cusp of earning an official roster spot.

Salmon played three innings of outfield in a minor-league game, two innings in right field and one in left. He got back on a fly ball on the first batter of the game and made a couple of other plays. He even had three at-bats, collecting a double.

Afterward, he reported no problems as he iced down his surgically-repaired left knee and left shoulder.

``It was strangely familiar,'' Salmon joked. ``I got out there and I was `Hey, I've been out here before.' It was no problem.''

Salmon said the biggest tests were starting and stopping sprints to the ball. But he handled them well.

``Well, I'm glad we did it,'' he said. ``We felt pretty good about it. I had three at-bats too so I went from field to hitting, field to hitting. I didn't have any hiccups in it. I think it was something coming into camp that I thought maybe I'd be able to do sooner.

``The reality is that my knee isn't at that point and we don't know if it will be to a point where I can do it more regularly. But if we think we can throw me out there once in a while for a few innings that's a good option to have.''

Salmon is next expected to get a shot in the outfield when the Angels open the Freeway Series at Dodger Stadium on Friday.

``He's swinging the bat really well and that's the part that's important,'' manager Mike Scioscia said. ``He looked good in the outfield. He's moving very well and running the bases well and he's passing every test and that's a good sign.''

--Anderson on mend: Garret Anderson played the outfield for the second consecutive Cactus League game on his sore left foot and crushed asecond-inning home run off the San Diego Padres' Woody Williams. Anderson has inflamed tissue along the bottom of his foot and the back-to-back games are his first since March 7.

If Anderson can play on four of the six remaining days before the season starts should have 20 at-bats over the final week of spring.

--Rotation set: John Lackey, who will start in the second game of the season next Tuesday at Seattle, will stay behind and pitch inArizona on Thursday when the Angels play split-squad games. The Angels will face the Milwaukee Brewers in Tempe and face the San Francisco Giants in the Bay Area in a night game. It will be Lackey's final start of the spring.

Jered Weaver is expected to start the game against the Giants, with Joe Saunders also expected to see some action.

--Bay Area trip: A few more regulars will be in San Francisco than Arizona on Thursday.

Chone Figgins, Orlando Cabrera, Adam Kennedy, Casey Kotchman, Juan Rivera, Robb Quinlan, Jose Molina and Nick Gorneault will be in San Francisco.

Garret Anderson, Dallas McPherson, Edgardo Alfonzo, Kendry Morales, Jeff Mathis and Salmon will remain in Arizona to face the Brewers.

The Angels plan on having just under 40 players on hand for the Freeway Series.

--Rivera is an added option: Juan Rivera has been playing center field the past few days in minor-league games to give the Angels another option at the position. He even moved there late in Monday's game against the Padres.

--Center field issues: Darin Erstad is the starting center fielder but has been dealing with a sore shoulder as he builds up arm strength for longer throws. Erstad started in center Monday. Chone Figgins is the logical backup at center but he will open the season as the starting third baseman.

Doug Padilla, [phone], Ext. 2758

doug.padilla(at)sgvn.com

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- Doug Padilla