BASEBALL / DAILY REPORT : ANGELS : Fortune Smiles on Fortugno

Tim Fortugno, recalled from triple-A Edmonton when Jim Abbott was put 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 against the Blue Jays at Anaheim Stadium on Monday.

“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 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 Junior College in Huntington Beach and Southern California College in Costa Mesa, arrived at Anaheim Stadium on Saturday in time to take a pregame run.

He marveled at the turn of events that brought him here after he languished in the minors with four different 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. 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 to 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 that summoning Fortugno made more sense than taking Chuck Crim or Joe Grahe out of the bullpen, where they have been successful recently.

“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 on Saturday night, his first appearance there since June 13, 1990, while he was with the Minnesota Twins.

“It should be interesting,” said Gaetti, who had five games’ experience at first and handled 42 chances without an error.

Wathan said that he started Gaetti at first because of Gaetti’s five-for-eight record against Yankee starter Scott Kamieniecki. Gaetti hadn’t started the previous four games; Wathan is considering starting Gaetti today against left-hander Curt Young.

Bobby Rose’s problems 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 suffered a broken elbow while making a throw from the outfield Friday. He will be examined by team orthopedist Lewis Yocum at Centinela Hospital Medical Center.

Luis Polonia (jammed left hand) was the designated hitter 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. ALS is the disease that killed Gehrig. 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.