Third Shot Probably Won’t Be the Charm for Matranga

NEW YORK â€”  David Matranga’s first big league stint, with Houston in 2003, lasted about 24 hours. He was called up from triple-A New Orleans one day and sent back to the minor leagues the next.

“A cup of coffee?� the utility infielder said. “The coffee didn’t even make it out of the pot.�

Later that season, after Jeff Kent had suffered a wrist injury, Matranga spent a week in the big leagues, collecting one hit in five at-bats.

His third major league stint began Thursday, when Matranga joined the Angels in Yankee Stadium after Maicer Izturis was put on the disabled list Wednesday.

With second baseman Adam Kennedy due to come off the DL next week, Matranga, the former Orange High infielder, probably will be sent back to triple-A Salt Lake before the Angels return home to play Detroit on May 6.

“But you never know in this game,� Matranga, 28, said. “Weird things happen. You try not to play general manager or manager; you let them make decisions and just play. But just when you think you know what’s going on, things change.�

As an eight-year minor leaguer, Matranga has learned to be ready for anything. Even so, he was not prepared for the call he got at home in Salt Lake City on Wednesday night.

“We were watching the [Angel-Yankee] game, and my wife was looking at the computer,� Matranga said. “She said something about Izzy going down, but we had no idea he was hurt. When the game ended, I got a call.... It was Dino [Ebel, Salt Lake manager] telling me to pack my bags. It was an unbelievable feeling.... I’ve never even been to New York City.�

Matranga didn’t spend much time here. He arrived Thursday afternoon, took a cab to the stadium and flew with the team to Minnesota after the game.

With Izturis out, Lou Merloni will slide into the primary utility infield spot, and Matranga will be used as a pinch-runner and to provide defensive coverage if needed.

*

Reliever Matt Hensley, a leading candidate for the sixth and final bullpen spot when spring training began, will undergo arthroscopic surgery on his right shoulder Tuesday in Los Angeles. The right-hander, who has a slight tear in his shoulder, probably will be out for the season.

Reliever Bret Prinz, on the disabled list because of a strained right shoulder, threw in the bullpen for the second time this week Thursday and probably will report to the Angels’ extended spring-training camp in Arizona next week.

ON DECK

Opponent -- Minnesota Twins, three games.

Site -- Metrodome, Minneapolis.

TV -- FSNW, all three games.

Radio -- 710, 1020.

Records -- Angels 13-9, Twins 13-8.

Record vs. Twins (2004) -- 5-4.

Tonight, 5 PDT -- Paul Byrd (1-2, 5.61) vs. Carlos Silva (1-0, 1.93).

Saturday, 4 p.m. -- Kelvim Escobar (0-0, 0.00) vs. Brad Radke (1-3, 5.08).

Sunday, 11 a.m. -- Bartolo Colon (3-2, 3.73) vs. Johan Santana (4-0, 3.55).

*

ANGELS TONIGHT

ANGELS’ PAUL BYRD

vs.

TWINS’

CARLOS SILVA

*--* THE MATCHUPS 2005 2004 VS OPP TEAMS/PITCHERS W-L ERA TEAM W-L IP ERA ANGELS/Byrd (R) 1-2 5.61 2-2 -- -- -- Minnesota/Silva (R) 1-0 1.93 1-1 2-0 21.1 1.27

*--*

Metrodome, 5 PDT

TV -- FSN West. Radio -- 710, 1020.

Update -- Injury-free and with solid offensive and defensive backing, Byrd thought a 20-win season was a realistic possibility. If the veteran right-hander doesn’t start pitching better -- he has given up 16 earned runs and 34 hits in 25 2/3 innings of his first four starts -- he’ll have trouble reaching 10 wins. Silva, the Twins’ right-hander, was 2-0 with a 1.27 earned-run average in three games against the Angels last season. Minnesota completed a three-game sweep of Kansas City on Thursday and has been led offensively by outfielder Jacque Jones, who is batting .365 with six doubles, 13 runs batted in and a .474 on-base percentage.

-- Mike DiGiovanna