BASEBALL DAILY REPORT : Ontiveros Takes Perfect Step

Steve Ontiveros took a first step toward securing a spot in the Angels’ starting rotation Tuesday, pitching a perfect seventh inning during a 7-4, 10-inning victory over the Milwaukee Brewers at Chandler, Ariz. It was Ontiveros’ first exhibition-game appearance.

“I have a long way to go; my arm has a long way to go,” he said. “I had some adrenaline going out there, and you can’t simulate that on the sidelines, so the next couple of days will be telltale.”

Ontiveros, who has been on the disabled list seven times in eight major league seasons and underwent elbow surgery last year, was projected to be the No. 4 starter. But he re-injured his elbow early this month and complained of “a little tenderness” after getting Brewers Fernando Vina and Kelly Stinnett to ground out and striking out Dave Nilsson.

Manager Marcel Lachemann said his hopes of having Ontiveros in the rotation when the season opens might be “a little bit of a stretch, but it’s still a possibility.”

The next step?

“I’d like to see him be able to come back on two days’ rest and, since he only went one inning, pitch two, maybe even three,” Lachemann said.

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Bringing a knuckleball pitcher into a game with runners on base is not usually considered an ideal situation, but it’s a role Dennis Springer will gladly accept and the Angels are seriously considering. The Angels have only one left-handed reliever--struggling Mark Holzemer--and Springer, a right-hander, has been equally effective against right-handed and left-handed batters.

Springer made his second appearance in as many days, pitching two innings Tuesday. He struck out three and gave up one hit, a solo homer by Turner Ward that ended Springer’s string of consecutive scoreless innings at 14 1/3.

Opponents are batting .163 against him this spring.

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Randy Velarde, who experienced numbness in his right thigh and underwent an MRI Monday, was back in the lineup Tuesday and had no trouble running out a third-inning double and a fourth-inning single. Infielder Jack Howell, who suffered a strained left groin running the bases Monday, won’t be going full speed for at least a few days.