Walden's confidence jumps back on track

ANAHEIM Jordan Walden needed to get back on the mound Wednesday afternoon. He needed to erase the memory of three blown saves as quickly as possible for himself and maybe for his Los Angeles Angels teammates. Confidence is a delicate subject for young pitchers. It doesnt take much to lose it, and when it goes, it isnt easy to regain. But Walden, 23, summoned everything he could in the ninth inning, getting the final three outs of a 1-0 victory over the Washington Nationals. This feels more than good, he said. It feels great. Walden has 18 saves this season, but he entered the game having blown three in a row, including one Friday night against the Los Angeles Dodgers. But he preserved the win for Angels starter Dan Haren, striking out Michael Morse on a 98-mph fastball with a runner on third base. You try not to lose confidence, Walden said. I know I have good stuff. Its just going out there and doing it, but its easier said than done. When you get in the game, everything speeds up, so you try to slow it down and breathe. He was still taking deep breaths after the game. The thing is, no one believes Walden cant do the job, that his stuff is good enough to close out games consistently. Hell be fine, said Haren, who held the Nats scoreless over 7 13 innings. His stuff is electric, so its just about minimizing walks and getting ahead in the count. His stuff is so good that when he does that, people have no chance. He gets two strikes and its hard to get a hit off him. Angels manager Mike Scioscia said, I dont think theres been any confidence issues with Jordan. At times, hes shot himself in the foot with his command, but today was a great bounce-back game. He was throwing the ball hard. Walden acknowledges that hes risen through the ranks quickly. He started last season at Double-A Arkansas and ended it with the Angels, pitching in 16 games and striking out 23 batters in 15 13 innings. He took over the closers rose in the second week of this season after Fernando Rodney struggled with his command. This time last year I was in Double-A and not even a closer, just a bullpen guy, he said. Coming up here, theres so much to learn. Every day its something new, talking to people, little things here and there. Its awesome. It almost wasnt. Walden got the first batter of the ninth, Brian Bixler, to ground out, but Ryan Zimmerman lined a fastball over first base for a double, then took third when Matt Stairs grounded to first. Im like, how did that just happen? Walden said of Zimmermans ball. He hit that perfect, right over the bag, a slow hit. I just had to dig deep there. He needed catcher Jeff Mathis to block a slider that almost got away and would have tied the game but then finally retired Morse for the last out. When he struggles, he said, its primarily because of his location. Location. Walks. The leadoff walk always kills me, he said. If I can go out there and not walk the leadoff guy, Im always happy. Location hasnt been there lately. It was there when he needed it Wednesday. His confidence, if he ever lost it, was back.