BASEBALL DAILY REPORT : Pennington Probably Saved By Injury

A well-timed sore left elbow may prolong reliever Brad Pennington’s Angel career. Pennington, expected to be designated for assignment and exposed to the waiver wire today to make room for reliever Mark Eichhorn, was instead put on the 15-day disabled list Thursday.

Pennington, claimed off waivers from the Boston Red Sox on May 16, has a 4.50 earned-run average with eight walks in four Angel appearances, but with left-handers Chuck McElroy and Mark Holzemer in the bullpen, Pennington became expendable.

By putting him on the disabled list, the Angels will have the option of activating Pennington again should another reliever get injured in the next two weeks.

Eichhorn will probably take Pennington’s roster spot today. Starting pitcher Mark Langston, who returns to the rotation tonight only 23 days after knee surgery that was supposed to sideline him for six to eight weeks, will probably replace reliever Todd Frohwirth or starter Shad Williams on the roster.

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Baltimore’s telecasts of tonight’s game and Saturday night’s game against the Angels will be broadcast live in Taiwan on TVIS television, marking the first time that a major league game will be televised live in Taiwan. . . . The Angels won’t have to face Oriole ace Mike Mussina this weekend, because Mussina pitched Wednesday night at Seattle. That means the Angels will have played 17 consecutive games against Boston, New York and Baltimore without facing Mussina, Red Sox ace Roger Clemens and Yankee right-hander Doc Gooden, who recently threw a no-hitter. . . . Angel right fielder Tim Salmon is hitless in his last 11 at-bats and is now hitting .257 with only six homers and 25 runs batted in. . . . Designated hitter Chili Davis has a team-high 31 walks, including 20 in the last 17 games.