Silvestri Gets Call From Edmonton

Infielder Dave Silvestri left triple-A Edmonton on Friday to join the Angels in Boston today. The only question remaining Friday night was which pitcher’s roster spot Silvestri would take.

MRI test results on right fielder Tim Salmon’s sprained left wrist were normal, and MRI results on second baseman Randy Velarde’s stiff lower back were sent to team physician Lewis Yocum for further review.

But Salmon said he hopes to return for Tuesday’s game at New York, and Manager Terry Collins said Velarde “is not going to be disabled.”

The Angels have carried 12 pitchers all season, but with Salmon and Velarde sidelined, Collins had only two position players on the bench for Friday night’s game against the Red Sox.

Collins said it has become increasingly difficult to get all of his relievers enough work to remain sharp, so he probably will send one--Mike Holtz, Mike Magnante or Scott Schoeneweis--to Edmonton.

Salmon, who has sat out four games, was relieved by his MRI results.

“I can be more aggressive rehabilitating without fear of hurting it more,” he said. “The hardest thing is to not rush it, because a wrist injury can plague you all year. Right now could be the difference between having a big year and having a nagging injury and a so-so year.”

Velarde’s condition, though apparently not severe enough to send him to the DL, has him concerned.

“Just when you think things are going good, you get the rug pulled out from under you,” said Velarde, who is hitting .336 and has played superb defense. “The back is the heart of the body. Any time that goes, your eyebrows have to be raised, and that’s where I am.”

Silvestri, a 31-year-old utilityman who can play shortstop, second base and the outfield, was signed in April when triple-A shortstop Tomas Perez underwent knee surgery. He led the Pacific Coast League with a .439 average in 16 games. He has a .206 career average in 178 major league games.

*

Several Angels were upset with Red Sox left fielder Troy O’Leary for crashing into catcher Matt Walbeck while trying to score on Mike Stanley’s double in the seventh inning of a game Boston led, 6-0, Friday night.

Walbeck made the tag and held onto the ball but had to be removed from the game. “He hit me right on the chin,” said Walbeck, who looked stiff and sore. “I got my bell run, but I’ll be OK.”

O’Leary called Walbeck in the Angel clubhouse after the game and apologized, saying he didn’t think he could have avoided the play.

“I wanted to see if he was OK, and he told me he was all right,” O’Leary said. “It’s part of the game, but I don’t like to see anyone come out. It was kind of scary.”

*

It’s hard enough hitting Pedro Martinez’s 95-mph fastball, but the Red Sox ace’s killer pitch is a changeup that looks like a fastball coming out of the right-hander’s hand but does a drop and fade as it approaches the plate.

“He throws 95 and has the same arm speed with his changeup,” Angel designated hitter Todd Greene said. “It’s his great equalizer. It drops off the table.”

Martinez struck out a career-high 15 in eight innings Friday night, his fifth consecutive start in which he has struck out 10 or more, and he did not walk a batter.

“He locates all of his pitches well, and his changeup has always been great,” Collins said. “But you still have to hit off his fastball or he’ll throw it by you.”

TODAY

ANGELS’ TIM BELCHER (1-2, 9.96 ERA)

vs.

RED SOX’S JUAN PENA (0-0, 0.00 ERA)

Fenway Park, Boston, 10 a.m. PDT

TV--FX Radio--KLAC (570), XPRS (1090).

* Update--Knuckleballer Tim Wakefield was originally scheduled to start today, but with Red Sox closer Tom Gordon sidelined because of elbow problems, Wakefield has pitched the ninth inning of Boston’s last two games. Starter Bret Saberhagen was put on the 15-day disabled list on Friday because of a right shoulder strain, and Pena, a 21-year-old right-hander from the Dominican Republic who was recalled from triple-A Pawtucket to take Saberhagen’s spot, will make his major league debut today. Belcher is a notorious slow starter--the right-hander had a career 13-23 record in April entering this season--but his 1999 start has been even worse. The veteran has gone past the fifth inning only once in six starts, has given up nine home runs and has not been able to hold several large leads. He needs a quality start to stop his slump and regain his confidence.