DeLucia Continues to Impress

Rich DeLucia stranded two more runners Saturday, as he struck out Tampa Bay’s Bobby Smith--the only batter he faced--to end the game.

He has inherited eight runners this season and none have scored.

Last Wednesday, he worked out of a bases-loaded, one-out situation against Baltimore. Two nights earlier, he struck out the Orioles’ Rafael Palmeiro and Joe Carter--hitting 92 miles per hour on the last pitch to Carter.

DeLucia, who had an aneurysm in his upper right arm removed last summer, has struck out 10 in 9 2/3 innings. In comes on the heels of a great spring (1-1, 0.71 ERA).

“I felt confident that was all behind me,” DeLucia said. “My fingers get a little numb sometimes when it’s cold, but that’s it.”

*

Infielder Craig Shipley (irritated nerve) will be activated from the 15-day disabled list today. Who he replaces has yet to decided, as the Angels will wait until Tim Salmon’s injured left foot is examined this morning. Salmon (strained ligament) has been doing therapy over the weekend.

If Salmon does not go on the disabled list, Manager Terry Collins said Shipley will take a pitcher’s spot on the roster. The Angels are carrying 12 pitchers.

*

Ken Hill said the stiffness in his right elbow, which had forced him to leave Saturday’s game with two outs in the eighth, was gone Sunday.

He said it was the result of the Angels’ five-run eighth inning and doesn’t expect it to become a problem.

“It’s just a matter how long I sit,” said Hill, who is improved to 4-1 after the Angels’ 7-1 victory. “I’m going to try to work through it and see what happens.”

Hill also had a stiff elbow in his previous start against Baltimore.

ON DECK

* Opponent--Baltimore Orioles, two games.

* Site--Camden Yards.

* Today--4 p.m.

* TV--KCAL, Channel 9, today and Tuesday

* Radio--KRLA (1110), XPRS (1090)

* Records--Angels 12-10, Orioles 13-9.

* 1998 record vs. Orioles--2-1.

TONIGHT

ANGELS’ CHUCK FINLEY (3-0, 1.63 ERA)

vs.

ORIOLES’ SCOTT ERICKSON (3-1, 5.34 ERA)

* Update--Finley, whose has a 13-game winning streak, leads the American League in innings pitched (38 2/) and is second in ERA. But he has had a rough time in Camden Yards, where he is 0-3 with a 5.26 ERA in four lifetime starts. Jason Dickson, looking for his first victory, returns to the rotation Tuesday after taking one turn off. The Orioles have lost eight of their last 11 games and have Brady Anderson and Mike Mussina on the disabled list.

Tuesday, 4 p.m.--Jason Dickson (0-3, 11.77 ERA) vs. undecided.