DiSarcina Is Returning to Form

There are signs that shortstop Gary DiSarcina isn’t too far from being back in form.

DiSarcina, who returned from a broken bone in his left forearm on June 22, had five hits in 12 at-bats with four runs scored and two runs batted in in the three-game series against Oakland.

He raised his average to .265.

“It’s still a matter of survival out there,” DiSarcina said. “The more pitches I see, the better I get. I’m just trying to hit the ball in play.”

He managed that Sunday, with a single and double.

“Gary still gets a little tired,” Manager Terry Collins said. “But this is a guy who has gotten a lot of big hits for us. We saw a little of that this series.”

DiSarcina also took a hit on his left forearm Sunday. In the third inning, he was on his way from first to third when center fielder Jason McDonald’s throw bounced and hit him.

“It got me on the that big tricep of mine,” DiSarcina said.

*

Todd Greene was lifted for a pinch hitter in the Angels’ five-run fifth Saturday. Not too shocking, except the Angels had runners on second and third, trailing, 9-7. Jeff Huson struck out to end the inning.

“It’s not a big deal,” Collins said. “In my opinion we just needed to put another hitter up there.”

Greene, who is hitting .243, has four hits in his last 36 at-bats, with two RBIs during that time. His is hitting .200 with runners in scoring position, stranding 65 of 81 runners.

*

Troy Glaus’ ninth-inning homer ended the Athletics’ streak of 96 innings without allowing a home run. . . . Shortstop Andy Sheets has gone from one extreme to the other. He started 59 of the Angels’ first 68 games while DiSarcina was sidelined. He has played in four of 14 games since DiSarcina’s return.

* Site--Edison Field.

* Tonight--7:30.

* Television--Fox Sports West, all three games.

* Radio--KLAC (570), XPRS (1090).

* Records--Angels 37-43, Seattle 40-40.

* Series record--3-3.

TONIGHT

ANGELS’ SHIGETOSHI HASEGAWA

(1-2, 3.69 ERA)

vs.

MARINERS’ JEFF FASSERO

(3-8, 7.21 ERA)

* Update--Darin Erstad has hit .349 since June 7 to raise his average from .227 to .260. “I can’t be terrible all year,” Erstad said. “I have been hitting pitches that I was missing before. I still striking out some, but that’s OK.” The Randy Johnson trade has worked out well for Seattle. Freddy Garcia and John Halama, acquired from Houston in the deal, are key pitchers in the Mariner rotation. Garcia is 9-4 and Halama is 7-2. Pitcher Gil Meche, the Mariners’ top draft pick in 1996, will make his major league debut Tuesday. A decision will be made today on Tuesday’s starting pitcher. Candidates are Jarrod Washburn, recalled from triple-A Edmonton Friday, and Mike Fyhrie, who is 8-5 with the Trappers. Fyhrie started Thursday, striking out nine in a 3-2 loss.

* Tuesday, 7 p.m.--Undecided vs. Mariners’ Gil Meche (0-0, 0.00).

* Wednesday, 7:30 p.m.--Angels’ Steve Sparks (3-5, 4.98 ERA) vs. Mariners Jamie Moyer (8-4, 4.74 ERA).

* Tickets--(714) 663-9000.