Hill’s Return Could Be a Lot Sooner Than Expected

When pitcher Ken Hill crumbled in agony in front of the Edison Field mound on May 9 and was diagnosed with a strained rib-cage muscle in his right side, the Angels believed the right-hander would be sidelined for at least two to three months.

It appears that reports of Hill’s demise have been greatly exaggerated.

Hill, who was in so much pain he couldn’t even pick up his young child a week and a half ago, threw at nearly full speed during a lengthy bullpen session before Friday night’s game, fueling optimism he will return a lot sooner than anticipated, perhaps as early as next month.

“He’s way ahead of pace,” Manager Mike Scioscia said. “He turned it loose more off the mound today, not 100%, but he was getting it up there, and he felt no pain. We’re all encouraged by how quick he’s getting ready.”

Tim Belcher, who hasn’t pitched all season because of elbow problems, also took another step toward a return Friday, throwing 29 warmup pitches and 40 pitches during a combination simulated game/bullpen session.

“He was a little fatigued, but that’s normal,” Scioscia said. “There was no pain, and he had good life on his fastball. He’s right on track.”

Belcher, who underwent elbow surgery last November, is scheduled to throw a simulated game in Cleveland on Wednesday and another in Anaheim before resuming his minor-league rehabilitation assignment, which was put on hold this month because of inflammation in his elbow.

Jason Dickson, sidelined because of a sore right shoulder and tendinitis in his left hip, plans to throw in the bullpen today for the first time since going on the disabled list May 19.

The news on reliever Mark Petkovsek wasn’t as encouraging. The right-hander has been very slow to recover from a viral syndrome that sent him to the disabled list last weekend.

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Angel shortstop Benji Gil has a tendency to overswing, a bad habit that is reflected not only in his .207 average and 29 strikeouts but in the percentage of pitches he swings at and misses. Entering Friday night’s game, Gil had missed 81 of the 245 pitches he swung at, a 33.1% ratio that is third-worst in the American League behind Jim Thome (36.5%) and Dean Palmer (34.1%). . . . Justin Baughman, who is being groomed as a possible replacement for injured shortstop Gary DiSarcina, is batting .300 with seven RBIs in 11 games for triple-A Edmonton but has committed five errors. . . . Triple-A right-hander Ramon Ortiz, who was sidelined for eight days because of back spasms, returned to the mound Thursday and pitched six innings against the Las Vegas Stars, giving up one run on four hits, striking out nine and walking five in a 7-1 victory. . . . As soon as he finds a convenient off day, Scioscia plans to juggle his rotation to split up left-handers Jarrod Washburn and Scott Schoeneweis, who currently start on consecutive days.

TONIGHT

ANGELS’ KENT BOTTENFIELD (3-5, 4.96 ERA) vs. ROYALS’ JAY WITASICK (0-4, 7.98 ERA)

Kauffman Stadium, Kansas City, Mo., 5 p.m.

TV--Channel 9. Radio--KLAC (570), XPRS (1090).

* Update--Bottenfield was bombed for only the second time in 10 starts Sunday, giving up nine runs on 10 hits in 4 1/3 innings of a 10-6 loss to the Royals in Anaheim. The right-hander rebounded from his other shoddy start, a 3 2/3-inning, nine-run, 10-hit effort against the Toronto Blue Jays on April 20, by giving up only 11 earned runs in 35 innings of his next five starts. Garret Anderson’s second-inning home run and Darin Erstad’s fifth-inning homer Friday night gave the Angels 43 homers this month, breaking the franchise record for homers in May of 41, set in 1961.