There is something about Angel debuts and current or former Red Sox first basemen. Tonight, Dan Haren was hit by a line drive off the bat of Kevin Youkilis with two outs in the fifth inning, and had to be removed from the game. Youkilis also touched Haren for a single in the first inning for Haren’s first hit allowed as an Angel.
Mark Saxon of ESPN Los Angeles brings the news:
Angels calling Haren injury a forearm contusion. He’ll be seen by Dr. Lewis Yocum Tuesday.
The injury to Haren immediately brought to mind Mo Vaughn, the former Red Sox first baseman who signed a massive six-year, $80 million contract with Anaheim prior to the 1999 season. Then, in his very first game as an Angel, Vaughn fell into the first base dugout while attempting to catch a foul ball, and had to be removed from the game in the sixth inning. He was placed on the disabled list and missed 15 days, and ended up only playing two seasons for the Angels.
Haren allowed two runs on seven hits in his 4 2/3 innings in his Angels debut, striking out eight batters while walking none. Haren allowed his 24th home run of the season, a solo shot to David Ortiz in the third inning.