Washburn Uses Relaxed Method : Baseball: He goes 7 2/3 innings, the longest stint of his career, in 5-3 victory over Yankees. Edmonds and Glaus homer off Clemens.

Angel pitcher Jarrod Washburn was slumped in his clubhouse chair, looking skyward, before Monday’s game.

Asking for help? He had given up 15 runs in 13 2/3 innings, covering four starts. Praying for rain? He was about to face the New York Yankees.

“I was relaxing,” Washburn said after he and the Angels had defeated the Yankees, 5-3, at Edison Field. “That’s what I got to get back to doing. I’ve been worrying too much about my delivery and getting hit.”

Maybe the Angels could learn something from that. Washburn eased his way to his first victory in more than a year. He went 7 2/3 innings--the longest stint in his major league career--giving up three runs. When he left the field with two outs in the eighth it actually was apparent there were Angel fans in the crowd of 31,749.

It was one of the few times this season that the Angels didn’t have to grope for silver linings.

Troy Percival looked again like a dominant closer, whipping a third strike past pinch-hitter Darryl Strawberry for his 27th save, the first he has recorded since Aug. 14.

Jim Edmonds and Troy Glaus homered off Roger Clemens.

And Washburn, who had been pounded since moving into the starting rotation, shined the brightest. He gave up five hits against one of the most potent lineups in baseball.

How potent? The Yankees used Tino Martinez and Strawberry as pinch-hitters in the ninth. Sure, Chili Davis and Shane Spencer homered off Washburn, but each shot came with the bases empty.

“That’s what we expect from Washburn,” said Edmonds, whose two-run homer gave the Angels a 5-1 lead in the fifth. “The guy you have seen the last couple weeks, he is not that type of pitcher.”

Washburn (1-2) had pitched into the sixth inning only once in four previous starts.

“I didn’t do anything different today other than I got ahead of hitters,” the 25-year-old Washburn said. “I have been getting behind hitters and coming in with the fastball. These are major league hitters, they all can hit a fastball.

“I’ve always have had the confidence I could pitch up here. I got into a funk. I know I can get big league hitters out.”

Washburn showed that last season, when he went 6-3 for the Angels. He showed it again Monday. He gave up only four hits, one an infield single, through seven innings.

It was the type of performance the Angels would like to see more of next season. Not that Washburn looks at this as an audition.

“If I go 4-0 or 5-0 the rest of the way, I don’t think it will make a difference next spring,” Washburn said. “I still have to win a spot.”

Meanwhile, the Angels already know what Percival can do, they were simply happy to see him get back to doing it. He was handed Washburn’s best career outing and had to face a group of standout pinch-hitters.

Percival struck out Davis, then got Martinez to fly out. After walking Ricky Ledee, he blew a 3-and-2 fastball past Strawberry.

It was welcome change for Percival, who had given up 11 earned runs in his last 7 2/3 innings, blowing four saves in that time.

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FLORIDA 8, DODGERS 6

Former Cal State Fullerton standout Mark Kotsay hit his first career grand slam as the Marlins scored five runs in the first inning off Dodger starter Ismael Valdes. Page 4

BASEBALL PLUS: Page 9