Howie Kendrick’s sore calf part of equation in staying on bench

ARLINGTON, Texas — Manager Mike Scioscia said Howie Kendrick’s calf was “a little sore” Wednesday night and “was part of the equation” in deciding not to pinch-run for slow-footed Kendrys Morales in the ninth inning of a gut-wrenching 11-10 loss to the Rangers.

But Kendrick was in the lineup Thursday night and said he could have run Wednesday night if called upon.

“I got up later in the game and I was loose, ready to run,” Kendrick said. “I was available. If I was injured, I wouldn’t be in the lineup tonight.”

The Angels had a 7-6 lead and two on when Morales, the 6-foot-1, 245-pound designated hitter, was thrown out trying to score from second base on Maicer Izturis’ two-out single to right field.

The speedy Peter Bourjos was on the bench, but he was going to replace cleanup batter Mark Trumbo in the outfield in the bottom of the ninth.

Kendrick was also available, but Scioscia said he kept Morales, the No. 5 hitter, in the game because he didn’t want to “gut the middle of the lineup.” Kendrick, though, has been batting fifth against left-handed pitchers for weeks.

Texas tied the score in the bottom of the ninth inning on Ian Kinsler’s solo homer, and after the Angels scored three in the top of the 10th, the Rangers stormed back with four in the bottom of the inning for a dramatic victory.

“If push came to shove and we were down by a run,” Scioscia said, “we would have looked at some other things.”

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