Promotion Surprises Holtz

Mario Mendoza, manager for the Angels’ double-A team at Midland, Tex., was addressing his players after a game in Jackson, Miss., Wednesday night when he told them he had some good news.

“He came over and shook my hand, and when he said I’d been called up to the big leagues, I just did a double take,” said reliever Mike Holtz, who joined the Angels in Seattle Thursday. “I thought maybe it was a prank. But then I thought, that would have been a pretty mean prank.”

Holtz, 1-2 with a 4.17 earned run average in 33 appearances at Midland, replaced another left-handed reliever, Brad Pennington, who cleared waivers Thursday and was sent to triple-A Vancouver.

“This certainly wasn’t something I was counting on,” said Holtz, a 17th-round pick out of Clemson in 1994 who hasn’t thrown a triple-A pitch. “It’s easy to be overwhelmed here, but hopefully this is the beginning of my career.”

Holtz, who throws a fastball, sinker, curve and changeup, rebounded from “Tommy John surgery” in 1992 and went 0-0 with an 0.51 ERA for Class-A Boise in 1994 and 4-4 with a 2.29 ERA at Class-A Lake Elsinore in 1995.

“He’s made some adjustments this season, adding a little more deception to his pitches,” Lachemann said. “We’ll need him to get left-handed hitters out.”

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Philadelphia Phillie General Manager Lee Thomas confirmed Thursday that he and Angel GM Bill Bavasi discussed a potential trade for left fielder Garret Anderson last week. Thomas indicated Bavasi was looking for “a good, young pitcher,” but said no specific Phillies were discussed. Curt Schilling, a 29-year-old right-hander with a $1-million salary, is believed to be the pitcher Philadelphia would consider trading. Center fielder Jim Edmonds (sprained thumb) and third baseman Jack Howell (strained hamstring) worked out in Anaheim Thursday and will begin rehabilitation assignments at Lake Elsinore Saturday. No timetables have been set for their return. . . . Bad news for Seattle opponents: Mariner ace Randy Johnson (bulging disk in lower back) threw 40 pitches from a bullpen mound Thursday, felt fine and is schedule to pitch a simulated game Monday. Center fielder Ken Griffey (fractured bone in right wrist) took batting practice Thursday for the first time since his June 20 injury. Both are expected back by the end of the month. . . . The Angels entered the second-half ranked ninth in the league in batting (.279), 11th in pitching (5.29 ERA) and 11th in fielding (.980).