BASEBALL DAILY REPORT : ANGELS : Orton Will Work Out in Mesa

Catcher John Orton, on the disabled list because of a sore right elbow, will report to Mesa today or Friday to work out in preparation for a rehabilitation assignment.

Orton opened the season on the disabled list because of problems with his right shoulder, and he has played in 16 games this season. “He can get a lot more swings there (in Mesa) and do what he needs to do to get ready for Edmonton,” interim Manager John Wathan said. “After a few days we’ll decide when he’ll go to Edmonton. We’ve got to make sure this time he’s OK. We want to take a conservative approach.”

Hubie Brooks, who has been on the disabled list since June 21 because of a strained neck, has been cleared to resume baseball activity and will accompany the Angels to Texas and Kansas City.

Jim Abbott, progressing well in his recovery from a pulled rib-cage muscle, is expected to return Aug. 8. If he is not ready then, Bert Blyleven or Tim Fortugno would be the candidates to make that start. Blyleven and Fortugno are scheduled to start the Aug. 4 doubleheader at Kansas City, which makes up for an April 19 rainout.

“Ideally, Abbie will be able to go on Saturday (Aug. 8),” Wathan said. “I’d hate to bring one of the other guys back on three days’ rest. It depends on how the games go and how they’re used.”

Wathan said Brooks would probably be sent on a rehabilitation assignment once he is fit.

Fortugno, the 30-year-old rookie who earned his first major league victory last Saturday, said he expected only about 20 friends and relatives at Anaheim Stadium today when he faces the Mariners. “Everybody’s got to work,” said Fortugno, a Huntington Beach resident who left 50 passes for his first start. . . . Three Mariners were Fortugno’s teammates on Class-A Salinas in 1987: shortstop Omar Vizquel and pitchers Rich DeLucia and Jeff Nelson.

The Montreal Expos’ climb to the top of the NL East can be explained by the Ken Macha factor: Macha, the Angels’ third base coach, played for the Pirates in 1977 and ‘78, only to watch them finish first in 1979; he played for Montreal in 1979 and ‘80, leaving before the Expos won the division title in 1981. He was with the Expos as a coach last season, so he fully expects them to win this season.