Angels update: Haren roughed up in minor league game; Wood to start at first base vs. Royals

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The results weren’t good -- Dan Haren gave up eight runs in six innings -- but the Angels right-hander called Tuesday’s outing against a Chicago Cubs triple-A team a huge step in the right direction.

‘I felt really good; I left a lot of balls up, but my arm speed is finally back,’ Haren said. ‘That was the longest dead-arm period I’ve ever had in spring training. I haven’t felt good since [a March 7 game against the Cubs in] Mesa.

‘But it bounced back today. I’m glad. I was getting a little concerned because I had nothing on the ball, and my velocity was down. But it was definitely coming out a lot better today.’

Haren survived a scary moment in his last inning after fielding a chopper between the mound and first base. The Angels first baseman went for the ball instead of the bag, so Haren scooted to the base. But as he reached out for a tag, the Cubs runner ran into Haren’s pitching hand, knocking the ball out of his hand.

‘I’m OK, but that guy could have killed me,’ Haren said. ‘I didn’t know whether to lunge at the bag or stop.’

Most of the Angels regulars worked out in Tempe, Ariz., Tuesday afternoon and will miss Tuesday night’s 6 p.m. game against the Kansas City Royals at Surprise Stadium. But Maicer Izturis, Peter Bourjos, Alberto Callaspo and Mark Trumbo are in the lineup, as is Brandon Wood, who will make his first start of the season at first base.

The Angels lineup: SS Maicer Izturis, CF Peter Bourjos, 3B Alberto Callaspo, DH Mark Trumbo, LF Chris Pettit, C Hank Conger, 1B Brandon Wood, 2B Alexi Amarista, RF Angel Castillo, P Tyler Chatwood.

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--Mike DiGiovanna in Surprise, Ariz.