Rookies Caught in the Middle

Second baseman Chone Figgins and pitcher Mickey Callaway, who had prolific seasons for triple-A Salt Lake before being called up last week by the Angels, could be shut out of the major league and minor league playoffs if a strike wipes out the remainder of the season.

Neither player could return to triple-A Salt Lake for the Pacific Coast League playoffs if he is a member of the Angels’ 25-man roster when the strike, scheduled to begin Friday, takes effect. If the strike lasts only a couple of days, Figgins and Callaway could return to the Stingers before the PCL playoffs.

Judging by the way they have played since their call-ups, don’t count on it.

Callaway, who replaced the injured Aaron Sele in the starting rotation, limited the Boston Red Sox to two earned runs over six innings Sunday in his major league debut. Figgins, inserted into the same game as a pinch-runner, scored the go-ahead run in the 8-3 victory.

“Hopefully, we’ll be playing here,” said Callaway, scheduled to start Friday at Edison Field against Baltimore--if the strike is averted. “All I can do is get prepared to make my next start. If it doesn’t happen, it doesn’t, and if it does, great. You can’t get frustrated with it.”

Salt Lake could use both players if it qualifies for the playoffs. Callaway went 9-2 with a 1.68 earned-run average for Salt Lake, and Figgins set a single-season franchise record with 39 stolen bases.

*

Reliever Dennis Cook, recovering from a partially torn rotator cuff, began his rehabilitation assignment at Class-A Rancho Cucamonga on Tuesday. Cook pitched one inning, giving up a hit, walking one and striking out two.

Angel Manager Mike Scioscia said he hopes outfielder Tim Salmon can get into a couple of games for Rancho Cucamonga before the Quakes’ season ends Sunday. Salmon, recovering from a bruised left hand, has started strengthening exercises.

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Outfielder Orlando Palmeiro, who injured several ribs Monday when he leaned into a wall while trying to make a catch, said he felt fine but was not in the lineup Tuesday. Scioscia said he wanted to give Palmeiro the day off while giving Alex Ochoa some playing time.

TONIGHT

ANGELS’

JARROD WASHBURN

(15-5, 3.33 ERA)

vs.

DEVIL RAYS’

JORGE SOSA

(1-6, 5.49 ERA)

Edison Field, 7 p.m.

TV--Fox Sports Net.

Radio--KLAC (570), XPRS (1090).

Update--Washburn surrendered a season-high 11 hits in his last outing, a 4-1 loss to the Boston Red Sox, and has dropped two consecutive starts for the first time this season. Sosa hasn’t won since July 21, when he picked up his first major-league victory in a 7-5 win over Toronto that ended the Devil Rays’ 13-game road losing streak.

Tickets--(714) 663-9000.

Ben Bolch