Gubicza Winces and Loses

Mark Gubicza gave the Angels a scare Wednesday when he grunted loudly while throwing a third-inning fastball to Seattle’s Paul Sorrento and winced after the delivery.

Bullpen Coach Joe Coleman, serving as pitching coach for the split-squad game in Peoria, Ariz., rushed to the mound to check on Gubicza, but the right-hander said he was fine.

Gubicza, in his second start since missing 2 1/2 weeks because of a sore shoulder, completed a three-inning, 55-pitch stint in which he gave up four runs on seven hits, including a two-run homer to Ken Griffey, in a 6-2 loss.

“I still feel young at times, and your instincts are to not give up anything, rear back and let one go for the strikeout,” said Gubicza, 34. “It’s not the smart thing to do, but sometimes in the competitive atmosphere, it’s tough not to do that.”

Gubicza was hit fairly hard by Seattle’s opening-day lineup, but he saw one major positive in his outing.

“It’s good to know I can throw hard without feeling bad,” said Gubicza, who will pitch in Monday’s exhibition against Cal State Fullerton.

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Todd Van Poppel’s quick comeback attempt with the Angels from January back surgery ended Wednesday when the team released the right-hander, who had a 15.00 earned-run average in eight spring appearances.

Van Poppel, a 1990 first-round pick of the Oakland Athletics who was touted as the next Nolan Ryan coming out of Arlington (Texas) Martin High has now been released by three teams--the A’s, Detroit Tigers and Angels--in the past year.

He gave up six runs without retiring a batter in his last spring start Tuesday. By cutting Van Poppel Wednesday, the Angels will have to pay him only $84,530, or roughly 25% of his $340,000 contract.

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Knuckleballer Dennis Springer improved his chances of making the team by giving up only one run--an Alex Rodriguez homer--in three innings Wednesday. . . . Seattle’s Edgar Martinez has 24 hits in his last 36 spring at-bats. . . . The Angels closed their Cactus League schedule with a 7-20 record.