Kendrick gets rare day off against Cubs

CHICAGO -- Angels second baseman Howie Kendrick -- with three hits in his last 25 at-bats, yet still batting .308 on the season -- got only his second day off on Wednesday, sitting out the finale of a two-game set against the Cubs at Wrigley Field.

Kendrick doesn't like to take days off, but he believes they can help. He remembered talking to White Sox slugger Adam Dunn on May 12, prior to a game against the Angels in which he was begrudgingly held out of the lineup. Then the White Sox went to Minnesota, and Dunn compiled three homers and six RBIs in a three-game series.

"Hopefully I can just regroup and finish the first half strong," said Kendrick, who also sat out the June 26 game in Detroit.

"He's played a lot; he's playing through some things," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. "Today, coming out of the day off on Monday, a day off today and tomorrow, and hopefully finish the weekend strong and have the All Star break to freshen up a little bit."