The Anaheim Angels have shut down veteran left-hander Mark Langston for the rest of the season after he was unable to pitch a simulated game Monday because of discomfort in his pitching elbow. Langston had hoped to come off the disabled list later this week to fill in for the injured Chuck Finley.

Langston went on the 15-day disabled list Aug. 21, just one day after he had been activated after having been sidelined since mid-May. In his brief return in a doubleheader against New York, he lasted just one inning and was nailed for five runs on six hits, including a home run given up on the second pitch of the game.

Langston underwent arthroscopic elbow surgery May 27 to have inflamed and damaged tissue repaired. He had been rushed back for that August start because other injuries had created a shortage of pitchers for the Angels.

Advertisement

Because of the injury problems, Langston was available for just nine starts this season, and he was 2-4 with a 5.85 ERA.

Johnson to miss third start

Seattle Mariners ace Randy Johnson will miss his third straight start because of tendinitis in the middle finger of his left hand. He has not pitched since Aug. 20, when he pitched against Cleveland.

Johnson left the Cleveland game because of the problem, which was first diagnosed as a blister. He threw about 10 pitches Monday before the Mariners’ game against San Diego, but experienced pain. The 6-foot-10 left-hander was scheduled to start Wednesday’s game against the Padres.

Johnson was examined by the Mariners’ team physician and will be sent to a hand specialist for further examinations. The 33-year-old Johnson is 17-4 this season with 264 strikeouts and a 2.32 earned run average in 26 starts.

If the southpaw doesn’t miss any more starts, he would have four left in his quest to become Seattle’s first-ever 20-game winner.

Allen sidelined with broken thumb

Advertisement*

Washington Redskins running back Terry Allen sustained a broken left thumb during Sunday night’s victory over Carolina. He was injured early in the second half of a 24-10 victory over the Panthers, but remained in the game until the Skins were ahead by two touchdowns in the fourth quarter.

Allen’s thumb was X-rayed Monday night and later placed in a cast. He is expected to miss Sunday’s game against Pittsburgh, and his status beyond that game is uncertain.

Allen ran for 141 yards on 25 carries, earning his 17th career 100-yard game. He scored two touchdowns, including a one-yard run that put the Redskins ahead 17-10 midway through the fourth quarter. He added a 23-yard run after a fumble on the ensuing kickoff to set up Washington’s final score, then sat out the remainder of the game while Stephen Davis took over to run out the clock.

Davis is expected to be the choice to take over for Allen against Pittsburgh. Davis ran for 55 yards on 12 carries against the Panthers mostly as the Skins ran out the final five minutes on the clock.