Ortiz Ready for Angel Debut

Ramon Ortiz’s last start for Edmonton before being promoted to the major leagues was one he would probably like to forget. Ortiz, who will start Thursday in Chicago, allowed four runs on six hits with two walks and five strikeouts in five innings. Ortiz (5-3, 4.05 earned-run average) took the loss Sunday in a 10-1 loss to the Albuquerque Dukes. Ortiz’s five strikeouts gave him 64 in 53 innings.

Edmonton (53-66, third place)--Third baseman Keith Luuloa, a 30th-round draft choice in 1993, is having another fine year. Luuloa, a non-roster invitee to spring training this year, is hitting .277 through Sunday after batting .334 last year in Midland. But Luuloa’s power numbers are down considerably. Last year, he hit 17 home runs and drove in 102 runs. This season, Luuloa has four home runs and 35 RBIs.

Erie (70-52)--Right-hander Paul Morse helped the Eastern League-leading Seawolves to a 6-1 victory over Portland Sunday. Morse (6-4, 3.27) gave up five hits and walked five but went the distance for the second time this season. Seth Etherton, the Angels’ No. 1 selection in the 1998 draft, is 10-10 with a 3.46 ERA in 23 starts. Etherton, from Dana Hills High and USC, led Erie in innings pitched (158 2/3) and strikeouts (150) through Sunday.

Lake Elsinore (24-27, second half)--The Storm hit rock bottom Sunday in a 27-5 loss to Lancaster, giving up a California League-record tying eight home runs. Right-hander Steve Fish took the worst of it--allowing 12 runs and 12 hits in three innings.

Cedar Rapids (22-28, second half)--The Kernels won their fourth straight with a 6-3 victory over the Beloit Snappers Sunday. Catcher Jason Hill had two hits, including his ninth home run.

Boise (31-25, tied for second)--Third baseman Robb Quinlan extended his hitting streak to 20 games in a 9-3 loss to Southern Oregon Sunday. Quinlan is hitting .349 with eight homers and 58 RBIs.

Butte (11-10, second half)--Third baseman Cordell Lindsey raised his team-leading average to .377 with a three-for-four game in a 6-4 victory Sunday over Medicine Hat. Lindsey also leads the Kings in home runs (nine) and RBIs (54).