DiSarcina to Concentrate on Stabilizing His Defense

Shortstop Gary DiSarcina has been taking infield practice for more than a month, and one would think, recovering from a broken bone in his left forearm, that batting would be his biggest concern as he begins a minor league rehabilitation at Class-A Lake Elsinore tonight.

Not so.

“My biggest thing is defense,” DiSarcina said. “I weigh 203 pounds right now, and my playing weight is 195. I usually lose 10 pounds in spring training, but I’ve lost only two, so how I react in the infield, how I break for grounders and how much range I have, is a concern.

“I’m not worried about hitting inside pitches or checking my swing. I got that OK from the doctor [Wednesday].”

DiSarcina will play four games for Lake Elsinore before joining double-A Erie (Pa.) Monday. The Angels will stop in Erie between New York and Seattle for an exhibition game June 21, but DiSarcina isn’t necessarily targeting that for a return date.

“To be honest with you,” DiSarcina said, “I’m going to bail out of Erie as soon as I feel capable of playing in the big leagues.”

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The Angels had lost four of five games before Wednesday’s 2-1 victory over the Giants, but there wasn’t much rejoicing among position players. The Angels managed only seven hits--and one was by pitcher Tim Belcher--their team batting average fell to .259, and they have scored four runs or more in only two of the last 16 games.

“We are not corrected,” said Mo Vaughn, whose stiff left ankle forced him to leave the game after his fifth-inning, game-winning RBI single. “The pitching has been there. We’ve got to shake ourselves and start scoring for our guys. We all know four runs a game is not enough to win in the American League.”

The Angels will benefit from a return to Anaheim, where Vaughn, who also left Tuesday’s game early, will go back to designated hitter for a three-game series against the Arizona Diamondbacks beginning Friday night.

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It’s not as if Angel closer Troy Percival needs any help. After retiring the side in order Wednesday for his 17th save, the right-hander has given up only one hit in 14 1/3 innings since May 5, striking out 16, walking one and going 12 for 12 in save opportunities.

But Percival caught a break in the ninth Wednesday when plate umpire Brian Runge called his 3-and-1 pitch to Barry Bonds a strike, even though it appeared well below Bonds’ knees. Bonds then popped to third, and Percival retired Jeff Kent and J.T. Snow to end the game.

“Any time you get Bonds out, you take a deep breath,” Percival said. “But you can’t relax, because those next two guys are great clutch hitters.”

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Bonds wasn’t a factor in his first game since mid-April surgery to repair a damaged triceps tendon and remove a bone spur from his left elbow. The Giant left fielder grounded back to the pitcher twice, flied out to left and popped to third and is six for 42 lifetime against Belcher.

“Belcher gave me problems when I played in Pittsburgh, so this was nothing new,” Bonds said. “It was a good challenge. . . . I just hope it doesn’t take too long for me to help this ballclub. Right now I feel like a third wheel out there.”

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It was a beautiful--and deceiving--day for baseball in San Francisco. There wasn’t a cloud in the sky, but with a 12:35 start and the usual 3Com Park swirling winds, every popup was an adventure.

Angel third baseman Troy Glaus was wearing sunglasses, but those couldn’t prevent him from losing Snow’s foul popup in the sun in the first inning.

“The sunglasses cut down on the glare,” Glaus said, “but with the sun as high as it’s going to get, you could have welding glasses on and not see the ball.”

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Coming soon to a big league stadium near you: Matt Luke. The outfielder, who sat out three months because of a back injury, hit two homers, including a grand slam, Tuesday and has four homers and 12 RBIs in his first 12 at-bats for triple-A Edmonton, which warrants strong consideration for a recall by the Angels. . . . Since losing his first four decisions at Erie, Angel prospect Ramon Ortiz is 6-0 with a 2.05 earned-run average in his last seven starts. The right-hander with a 93-mph fastball and a sharp-breaking slider has made a strong recovery from surgery to repair a fractured elbow last season, striking out 61 and walking 30 in 68 2/3 innings. Right-handers Matt Wise (7-2, 2.61 ERA, 52 strikeouts) and Brian Cooper (6-1, 2.92 ERA, 80 strikeouts) are also having outstanding seasons at Erie.