Percival Likes Heavy Duty

With his 28th appearance Sunday, when he recorded his 17th save in the Angels’ 8-6 victory over the Baltimore Orioles, closer Troy Percival is on pace to equal his career-high 67 appearances in 1998.

But unlike past seasons, when an overworked Percival probably felt like filing unfair labor practice charges against his employers, the right-hander feels as strong as he’s ever felt nearing the All-Star break of such a busy season.

“He’s kept me as fresh as possible,” Percival said of Manager Mike Scioscia. “I don’t get up multiple times [in the bullpen]. When I get up, I’m in the game. If you get up a few times, you can lose that adrenaline, that edge.”

The bullpen can make or break relievers. Warming up, sitting and warming up again can be taxing physically and emotionally. Relievers can throw dozens of pitches in the bullpen without getting in the game, pushing their pitch counts to 200 or more a week combining warmup and game pitches.

But Percival, who entered games in the eighth inning 27 times from 1997-99, has not even warmed up in the eighth inning this season, let alone entered a game in the eighth.

Only twice this year has Percival, 4-3 with a 3.81 earned-run average entering tonight’s game against the Royals, warmed up without entering the game. And Scioscia has given him several mandatory days off after pitching in three straight games.

“It’s been a lot easier to deal with because of how I’ve been conserving bullets in the bullpen,” said Percival, who had shoulder surgery last October. “With my health coming into the season, I wouldn’t have been able to do what I’ve done without [that approach].”

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Scioscia gave slumping second baseman Adam Kennedy two days off at the end of May and dropped him from the second to eighth spot in the order, saying the switch would “take a little pressure off” the rookie.

The move seems to have paid off. Kennedy is 23 for 51 with eight RBIs in 15 games--eight of them multi-hit efforts--since dropping down in the order, raising his average from .257 to .294. But he said his resurgence was not related to where his name appears in the lineup card.

“The pressure part hasn’t made one bit of difference, either you go to the plate feeling comfortable or you don’t,” Kennedy said. “It has nothing to do with pressure. It’s not that easy wherever you’re hitting in the lineup.”

Scioscia agreed and amended his initial statement.

“It’s not really pressure, it’s the demands of hitting second,” he said. “Adam is right, there’s pressure on everyone. But there’s more demands on the guy who hits second because he’s expected to set the table for Mo [Vaughn], Tim [Salmon], Garret [Anderson] and Troy [Glaus]. Adam has been a clutch player, but I think he’s better suited to hit eighth right now.”

ON DECK

* Opponent--Kansas City Royals, three games.

* Site--Edison Field.

* Tonight--7.

* TV--Fox Sports Net, all three games.

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

* Records--Angels 35-33, Royals 33-34.

* Record vs. Royals--3-3.

TONIGHT

ANGELS’

BRIAN COOPER

(2-2, 3.18 ERA)

vs.

ROYALS’

JEFF SUPPAN

(2-5, 5.10 ERA)

* Update--The Athletics and Mariners beat up on the Royals and Twins last week and were able to open up some ground on the Angels and Rangers in the American League West. Now the Angels, who trailed Oakland by four games entering Monday’s action, will have seven games against the Royals, who are 20-13 at home this season but 13-21 on the road, and the lowly Twins, who are already 15 games out in the Central. Mike Sweeney is having a huge year for Kansas City, batting .351 with 14 homers, 21 doubles and 66 RBIs and leads the league with a .429 average with runners in scoring position. Cooper threw eight shutout innings against Tampa Bay in his last start Thursday but got a no-decision when Percival gave up three runs in the bottom of the ninth of a 3-2 loss.

* Wednesday, 7 p.m.--Jarrod Washburn (2-1, 3.92) vs. Mac Suzuki (3-0, 3.78).

* Thursday, 7 p.m.--Tim Belcher (1-0, 1.69) vs. Jay Witasick (1-6, 6.19).

* Tickets--(714) 663-9000.