Belcher on Disabled List; Ortiz Called Up to Start

The Angels made six roster moves Thursday, the upshot being that right-hander Tim Belcher’s right elbow is sore again and Ramon Ortiz will come up from triple-A Edmonton to take Belcher’s start tonight against the Colorado Rockies.

Belcher, 38 and beginning to mull retirement, received a cortisone injection in the same elbow that required surgery in the off-season and was put on the disabled list.

To pad their bullpen through the weekend, the Angels recalled right-hander Lou Pote and optioned Brian Cooper, who will make a start for Class-A Lake Elsinore before returning to the Angel rotation, probably on July 17.

The club also activated shortstop Kevin Stocker from the disabled list and optioned infielder Justin Baughman to Edmonton. Stocker had tendinitis in his left knee.

Ortiz, and not Seth Etherton, got the call for tonight’s start because it is closer to his scheduled day. Etherton, who was 3-1 with a 4.98 ERA in six starts before being sent out late last month, threw 120 pitches Monday.

After starting the season on the disabled list with a partially torn labrum, Ortiz made six starts with the Angels before being sent to the minors with orders to work on his command. In 30 innings he walked 20. Apparently, Ortiz’s location has been better recently, though he walked 27 in 55 innings at Edmonton.

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Belcher’s 15-day assignment is retroactive to Monday, so he’ll be eligible to return to the rotation July 18.

After two sound starts immediately after coming off the disabled list, Belcher had two poor outings, including Sunday’s against Oakland in which he gave up seven runs and recorded only one out.

“It’s not, like, painful with each pitch,” Belcher said. “I just don’t have the life. There’s no feel out front when I release the pitch. Then, eventually, there’s discomfort.”

Belcher has received previous injections that reduced the inflammation in his elbow.

A veteran of nearly 2,500 big-league innings, Belcher said he occasionally wonders if this is the injury that will end his career.

“I’ve struggled with that whole scenario for a year now,” he said. “It’s kind of day to day now, or week to week.”

He has had long talks with his wife, Teresa, on the subject of his career. Sunday, after arguably the worst of his 368 career starts, Belcher said that an unusual emotion welled up in him. Whereas in the past he might have looked for something to destroy, he simply felt sad.

“I didn’t even have the energy to throw anything,” Belcher said. “I almost felt like I should sit down and cry.”

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Third baseman Troy Glaus has experienced fatigue behind his right shoulder, Scioscia said, a slight ailment that might explain recent inaccurate throws.

Glaus also was in a one-for-29 slump, and Scioscia rested him Thursday against the Mariners.

“I don’t want to miss days,” said Glaus, who Wednesday was named to the American League All-Star team. “I’m not in there. I can’t do anything about that.”

ON DECK

* Opponent--Colorado Rockies, three games.

* Site--Edison Field.

* Tonight--7.

* TV--Fox Sports Net tonight, Channel 11 Saturday.

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

* Records--Angels 44-41, Rockies 45-37.

* Record vs. Rockies (1999)--2-1.

TONIGHT

ANGELS’

RAMON ORTIZ

(2-2, 6.90 ERA)

vs.

MARINERS’

KEVIN JARVIS

(2-3, 5.91 ERA)

* Update--The Rockies may be the surprise team of the National League, but they still aren’t very good away from Coors Field. They are 17-28 in road games after their 6-5 loss in San Francisco Thursday night. Despite a recent slump, the Rockies rank with the best teams in baseball in batting average and runs. And, it’s not necessarily about the altitude. The Rockies have hit only 84 home runs.

* Saturday, 1 p.m.--Ken Hill (4-5, 7.35) vs. Brian Bohanon (4-5, 6.20), 1 p.m.

* Sunday, 5 p.m.--Kent Bottenfield (4-7, 5.78) vs. Masato Yoshii (4-8, 5.08).

* Tickets--(714) 663-9000