DiSarcina’s Sore Shoulder Gets Some Needed Rest

Noticing a distinct lack of starch in shortstop Gary DiSarcina’s throws to first base, Angel third base Coach Larry Bowa asked DiSarcina several times last week if his shoulder was all right.

“He said he was fine,” Bowa said. “There are certain things you can keep quiet, but if you can’t throw . . . “

You have nights like DiSarcina did on Saturday, when he made three errors, two on throws, in the Angels’ 5-0 loss to the Tigers. DiSarcina acknowledged after the game that his shoulder was sore from getting hit in the upper right side of his back by a pitch Tuesday and by a pickoff throw while diving back to first on Aug. 13.

DiSarcina did not play Sunday night, and he will need two or three more days of rest and treatment before returning to the lineup.

Manager Terry Collins also held center fielder Jim Edmonds out to give his tired right shoulder a break. Edmonds, who had surgery to repair torn cartilage in his non-throwing shoulder in April, was supposed to be limited to a designated-hitter role for several weeks after returning Aug. 2.

But an injury to Garret Anderson forced Edmonds back to the outfield Aug. 7, and he started 14 consecutive games in the field, 13 in center and one at first base. Edmonds has made several outstanding defensive plays, his most recent Saturday when he made a barehanded grab of Dean Palmer’s fifth-inning shot after it caromed off the center-field wall and threw Palmer out at second. But Edmonds was so worn out Collins told him he would not play Sunday.

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Collins has not set his rotation for a three-game series in Boston beginning Friday, but a showdown between Angel pitcher Ramon Ortiz and his idol, Red Sox ace Pedro Martinez, appears unlikely.

Collins would have to use Thursday’s off day to skip Jarrod Washburn’s spot in the rotation for Ortiz to pitch against Martinez on Sunday in Fenway Park.

Wouldn’t it be interesting to see how Ortiz reacts in an emotionally charged atmosphere, where the youngster from the Dominican Republic would be starting against the pitcher to whom he has been compared?

“I don’t like it one bit,” Collins said. “He’ll have plenty of chances for stuff like that.” Asked if there was any particular reason he didn’t relish such a matchup, Collins said, “I just don’t like it.”

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Seth Etherton, the former USC star who was the Angels’ first-round pick in 1998, was promoted from double-A Erie to triple-A Edmonton. The right-hander was hit hard in his triple-A debut, giving up five earned runs on eight hits in 2 2/3 innings against the Fresno Grizzlies Sunday. Etherton went 10-10 with a 3.27 ERA and 153 strikeouts for Erie. . . . Reliever Mike James, continuing his minor league rehabilitation assignment, gave up four runs--none earned--on three hits in two-thirds of an inning against Fresno Sunday.

Tonight

ANGELS’ TIM BELCHER

(5-7, 6.67 ERA)

vs.

TIGERS’ DAVE BORKOWSKI

(0-4, 8.29 ERA)

Edison Field, 7 p.m.

TV--Channel 9. Radio--KLAC (570), XPRS (1090).

* Update--Entering Sunday night’s game, the Angels ranked 28th out of 30 major league teams in batting average (.256), 30th in runs (505), 30th in doubles (185), 28th in home runs (116), 26th in walks (366), 29th in stolen bases (52) and 30th in on-base percentage (.319). However, the Angels had the fourth-best team earned-run average in the American League (4.69). Belcher is coming off a Wednesday start when he gave up three runs on five hits in 7 2/3 innings of a 4-3 loss to Chicago.

* Tickets: (714) 663-9000.