Angels’ Peter Bourjos held out of Saturday lineup against Mets

Reporting from New York

Peter Bourjos made a spectacular catch and knocked in the winning run with a double Friday night, and all the center fielder got was a lousy spot on the Angels bench Saturday night.

Such is life for a (usually) light-hitting defensive whiz on an offensively impaired team with a hot-hitting designated hitter/outfielder in a National League park.

Manager Mike Scioscia decided before the series in Citi Field that Bourjos, who bats right-handed, would start against New York Mets left-hander Chris Capuano on Friday and left-handed-hitting Bobby Abreu would start against right-hander Mike Pelfrey on Saturday.

And no amount of Bourjos heroics, with the glove or bat, would change his mind.

Abreu, who entered with a .403 on-base percentage, 30 runs batted in and was hitting .407 (22 for 54) since May 29, started in left, with Vernon Wells sliding from left to center.

“We’re still putting a pretty good center fielder out there,� Scioscia said. “We definitely want to get Bobby’s bat in the lineup, and Peter has played a lot; we need to give him a chance to catch his breath.�

Bourjos said his ribs were still a little sore from his collision with the wall after leaping to rob Ronny Paulino of extra bases in the sixth inning Friday, but his absence Saturday was not injury-related.

“I feel good; I want to play,� Bourjos said. “But we don’t have the DH, and Bobby has been one of the hottest hitters in the game, so you want to get him in the lineup.�

As good as Bourjos’ catch was, it ranked only seventh on ESPN’s top 10 plays of the day. Bourjos, in his first full big league season, caught the segment in his hotel room Friday night.

“It’s pretty cool to see yourself on top 10 plays,� Bourjos said. “It’s kind of surreal. I grew up watching that.�

Dubble Bubble trouble

Mets reliever Bobby Parnell found himself in a sticky situation Friday, with a runner on third and one out in a one-run game. So did Maicer Izturis, who was on third base.

During a break for a mound visit, Wells, in the on-deck circle by the third-base dugout, took a wad of gum out of his mouth, tossed it in the air and whacked it with his bat like a coach hitting fungoes.

The gum soared through the air and hit Izturis in the helmet.

“They usually don’t go that far, but I hit that one pretty good,� Wells said. “That’s the first time I’ve ever hit anyone. Izzy was laughing. And so was the third baseman.�

Rehab report

Third baseman Alberto Callaspo, sidelined since last Sunday because of a left hamstring pull, was available to pinch-hit Saturday was used as a pinch-hitter Saturday and flied out to left field. He could return to the lineup Monday in Florida.

Reliever Fernando Rodney, on the disabled list because of an upper-back strain, has been throwing off flat ground and should be ready to return when he is eligible to be activated Friday night.

Short hops

Angels right-hander Joel Pineiro, who was the first pitcher to throw a shutout in Citi Field, reached another milestone here Friday night when he notched his 100th career victory. Pineiro is the fourth Puerto Rico-born pitcher to win 100 games, joining Javier Vazquez (155), Juan Pizarro (131) and Jaime Navarro (116).

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