Angels exhibition game against A’s rained out

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Hideki Matsui’s exhibition debut with the Angels will have to wait. The Japanese slugger was in Sunday’s lineup for the first time this spring, but the Angels’ game against the Oakland Athletics in Arizona’s Tempe Diablo Stadium was rained out.

Matsui, who has been eased slowly into drills because of a pair of arthritic knees that relegated him to designated hitter for all 142 of his games with the New York Yankees last season, will not make Monday’s hourlong trip to Surprise, Ariz., for a game against Texas. He will probably start Tuesday’s game against the Padres in Tempe.

Joe Saunders, who was scheduled to start Sunday, instead threw a 30-pitch bullpen session off a covered mound. Ervin Santana will start Monday’s game against the Rangers.

Sunday’s game against Oakland will not be made up. Fans who purchased tickets for the game can exchange them for another Angels home game this spring, subject to availability, or get a full refund up to 30 days following the conclusion of spring training.

-- Mike DiGiovanna in Tempe, Ariz.