Washburn Family Gets Anniversary Present

Mike and Dawn Washburn of Webster, Wis., will celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary today, and their son, Jarrod, will have the chance to give them something far more precious than silver: the memory of a lifetime.

Washburn, a 23-year-old left-hander who was recalled from triple-A Vancouver when pitcher Jack McDowell was put on the 15-day disabled list Monday, will make his major league debut tonight when he starts for the Angels against the Kansas City Royals in Kauffman Stadium.

His parents are among 33 family members and friends--including two grandparents and several great aunts and uncles--who will make the eight-hour drive from northern Wisconsin to Kansas City, Mo., to watch Washburn.

“Hopefully I can give them a nice gift,” said Washburn, the Angels’ second-round pick in 1995. “This is great, because I don’t get to see my parents very often during the season. I’m really excited. It’s a big day for them and for me.”

Washburn, considered the Angels’ top pitching prospect, got his first whiff of the big leagues when he was activated May 8, but the left-hander was sent back to Vancouver the next day when Tim Salmon was activated.

“It was a good experience just being called up,” said Washburn, who was 2-1 with a 3.70 earned-run average in six starts for Vancouver. “I got a feel for how things work. I wasn’t upset that I didn’t get to play. I knew I’d get called up again.”

TONIGHT

ANGELS’ JARROD WASHBURN (0-0, 0.00 ERA)

vs.

ROYALS’ CHRIS HANEY (3-3, 7.68 ERA)

Kauffman Stadium, Kansas City, Mo., 5 p.m. PDT

TV--Channel 9.

Radio--KRLA (1110), XPRS (1090).

* Update--McDowell, who lasted only 3 2/3 innings in Sunday’s start against Minnesota, was put on the disabled list because of a stress reaction of the right elbow, the second time this season the right-hander has gone on the disabled list. Because of several rainouts in Vancouver last week, the Angels had Washburn start Thursday night for double-A Midland, where he gave up 13 hits in 8 1/3 innings in an 8-5 loss to San Antonio. “But I had to fly all night before that game, so it doesn’t concern me,” Washburn said. “I feel confident that I’ll pitch well. I just have to hit my spots, like I did in Vancouver.”