Pitchers Aren’t Laying Blame

Jarrod Washburn finally can feel Kelvim Escobar’s pain. After receiving tremendous run support in his first 22 starts, Washburn emerged with his first shutout loss of the season Sunday at Angel Stadium after pitching brilliantly against the Texas Rangers.

Washburn gave up one unearned run and six hits in eight innings of the Angels’ 1-0 loss, one day after Escobar gave up one run and three hits in eight innings of a 2-0 defeat.

“The last two days were tough, but we’re not going to sit in here and point fingers at anybody,” said Washburn, whose support, 6.48 runs a game, still dwarfs Escobar’s 3.77. “We’re going to live as a team and die as a team.”

Washburn’s gem continued a distressing trend in which the Angels have gotten quality starts of six innings or more and three earned runs or fewer in 13 of 15 games but have gone only 8-7, scoring 4.2 runs a game.

“This isn’t the time you want any kind of slump to happen offensively, defensively or pitching-wise,” Washburn said. “Unfortunately, guys are going through a little slump right now, and hopefully, we’ll bust out of it soon.”

Said Jose Guillen, who had two of the Angels’ six hits Sunday: “We’ve got to score some runs for those guys. Escobar and Washburn, they pitched great games and we didn’t give them any run support. That’s the way we’ve been the last two weeks.”

Escobar, who left without speaking with reporters Saturday after coming out on the wrong end of a shutout for the fifth time this season, declined to comment Sunday.

“I don’t see how it could get any more frustrating for a pitcher that’s done what he has without the support,” Manager Mike Scioscia said. “But this has happened all year, and he’s been magnificent. I don’t see any frustration level that’s going to affect him from now through the end of the season.”

The Angels have so much confidence in Escobar (10-11), whose 3.75 earned-run average is the best among their starters, that they have set their rotation so he will pitch on the final day of the regular season, on three days’ rest.

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Garret Anderson was hitless in four at-bats as the designated hitter after being out of the starting lineup the previous two games because of tendinitis in his left knee. Scioscia said it remained unclear when Anderson might be able to return to center field, but Anderson probably will be the DH most days until then because Scioscia likes having the left-handed batter behind Vladimir Guerrero in the order.

“It gives [Guerrero] the protection he needs and should give us more continuity,” Scioscia said of using Anderson at DH instead of Troy Glaus.

ON DECK

Opponent -- Seattle Mariners, three games.

Site -- Angel Stadium.

TV -- FSNW, all three games.

Radio -- KSPN (710), KTNQ (1020).

Records -- Angels 84-65, Mariners 56-93.

Record vs. Mariners -- 12-5.

Tonight, 7 -- John Lackey (12-12, 4.67) vs. Ryan Franklin (4-15, 5.03).

Tuesday, 7 p.m. -- Aaron Sele (9-3, 4.88) vs. Jamie Moyer (6-12, 4.98).

Wednesday, 7 p.m. -- Bartolo Colon (16-11, 5.08) vs. Gil Meche (5-6, 4.94).