BASEBALL / DAILY REPORT : ANGELS : Fortune Smiles on Fortugno

Huntington Beach resident Tim Fortugno, recalled from triple-A Edmonton when Jim Abbott was placed on the 15-day disabled list, was busy Saturday getting settled--and getting tickets for the friends and relatives who want to watch him pitch Monday against the Blue Jays at Anaheim Stadium.

“I never dreamed I’d be starting the first time I was called up. I couldn’t have dreamed a better scenario than this,” said Fortugno, who has made only occasional starts during seven years in the minor leagues. “To have my first game be in my hometown, it’s just amazing.”

Fortugno, who attended Golden West Community College and Southern California College, arrived Saturday at Anaheim Stadium in time to take a pre-game run. He marveled at the turn of events that brought him here after languishing in the minors with four organizations.

“I was a reliever for 95% of my years in the minors, but I had some bad luck coming out of the bullpen in Edmonton and when they put me in the rotation, things clicked,” said Fortugno, who might get two starts while Abbott recovers from a pulled rib cage muscle. “I’m just going to try and do the same things here that I did when I was starting there. I’m happy things have worked out this way.”

Interim manager John Wathan said summoning Fortugno made more sense than taking Chuck Crim or Joe Grahe out of the bullpen, where they’ve recently been successful. “I don’t think you should weaken one area to strengthen another,” Wathan said. “And this gives us a chance to find out what he can do.”

Gary Gaetti made his first start at first base for the Angels Saturday, his first appearance at the position since June 13, 1990, when he was with the Twins. “It should be interesting,” said Gaetti, who had five games’ experience at first and handled 42 chances without an error. Wathan said he started Gaetti Saturday because of Gaetti’s five-for-eight record against Yankee starter Scott Kamieniecki and to keep Gaetti from sitting too long. Gaetti hadn’t started the previous four games. Wathan is considering starting Gaetti today against left-hander Curt Young.

Bobby Rose’s woes continue. After losing his starting job at second base, suffering a sprained ankle in the team’s May 21 bus accident and being demoted to Edmonton, Rose fractured his right elbow last week while making a throw from the outfield and will be examined Monday at Centinela Hospital Medical Center by team orthopedist Lewis Yocum. . . . Luis Polonia (jammed left hand) was the DH again because his hand is still too swollen to play left field. . . . Today’s game has been designated “Lou Gehrig Tribute Game.” Some seats in left field will be sold to benefit the Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Society of Orange County. Gehrig, a Hall of Famer with the Yankees, died of ALS. Former Angel catcher Ed Sadowski, who has ALS, will be honored before today’s game. . . . The Yankees activated pitcher Steve Farr and optioned outfielder Mike Humphreys to triple-A Columbus.