Garner Contacted About Job

The Angels began their managerial search with a recent telephone call to former Milwaukee manager Phil Garner, according to two baseball officials.

The short conversation occurred over the weekend, according to one, and merely established to Garner that the Angels were interested. Garner told General Manager Bill Bavasi that he would participate in the search process, when it begins in earnest, believed to be when the regular season ends a week from Sunday.

Garner, on a short list of candidates that is thought to include Don Baylor and Chris Chambliss, and Bavasi agreed to speak again. Fired by the Milwaukee Brewers after 7 1/2 seasons in a purge that included general manager Sal Bando, Garner has been contacted by at least two other teams, including the Colorado Rockies.

Others, including Davey Lopes and Ken Macha, could make Bavasi’s list, as could in-house candidates Joe Maddon and Larry Bowa.

Maddon was appointed interim manager Sept. 3 after the resignation of Terry Collins.

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Tim Belcher said that the strained muscle near his right elbow has him fearing for his career.

“It’s a concern,” said Belcher, who will turn 38 in a month. “It’s the elbow. I never had anything with my elbow before.”

The Angels would not elaborate on the specific nature of the injury or its treatment, but Belcher said surgery has not been ruled out. In a worst-case scenario, the surgery could not be done arthroscopically, Belcher said, which probably would delay recovery.

Belcher will not pitch again this season. He has another guaranteed year on a contract that will pay him at least $4.6 million next season.

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ANGELS’ RAMON ORTIZ

(1-3, 6.68 ERA)

vs.

DEVIL RAYS’ DAVE EILAND

(4-7, 5.38 ERA)

Edison Field, 7

TV--Fox Sports West. Radio--KLAC (570), XPRS (1090).

* Update--Rookie right-hander Ortiz makes his seventh start. Scouts love his energy and his fastball, but wonder if he’s tiring and losing the snap on his breaking balls as a result.

ANGELS 10, DEVIL RAYS 5