Hasegawa’s Still Worried About Shoulder

It has been six weeks since Shigetoshi Hasegawa returned from a six-week stint on the disabled list because of a partial tear in his rotator cuff, but the reliever is still struggling to return to the form that made him the Angels’ most valuable pitcher in 2000.

The body is willing, but the mind . . .

“I’m just a little scared still,” said Hasegawa, who gave up three runs and three hits in the ninth inning of Friday night’s 8-7 victory over Toronto. “My shoulder feels OK, but I’m concerned I might re-injure it.”

Manager Mike Scioscia said Hasegawa is “not throwing the ball as crisply as he can,” and believes some mechanical problems have affected his arm speed. Scioscia suggested Hasegawa use a full windup with no one on base instead of pitching from the stretch.

“That will give me a more active motion,” Hasegawa said, “and that should help my shoulder.”

Hasegawa went 10-5 with a 3.48 earned-run average and nine saves last season, but his command and velocity have not been the same since his shoulder injury. The right-hander gave up five runs in 4 1/3 innings of his last four appearances going into Saturday night.

What will it take for Hasegawa to erase his fear of injury?

“Just time and confidence,” he said. “I think my shoulder is strong enough now . . . I hope so . . . you never know. But I can’t think about it anymore, whether I’m in a close game or have a six-run lead.”

The Anaheim Fire Dept. presented closer Troy Percival with a fireman’s jacket and helmet before Saturday night’s game in honor of the right-hander’s 200th save, recorded in New York last weekend.

The way Percival has been pitching since mid-July, he might consider taking his new gear to the mound with him.

Percival had an 0.84 ERA in 31 games before the All-Star break. In 14 games since, he has a 7.43 ERA, giving up 11 earned runs in 13 1/3 innings and watching his ERA jump to 2.78.

Remarkably, Percival was 11 for 12 in save opportunities during this span, including Friday night’s high-wire ninth, in which he gave up a two-run home run to Carlos Delgado--only the second homer he’s given up this season--and walked two before nailing down an 8-7 victory over the Blue Jays.

Percival’s velocity is good, but he’s had trouble hitting the outside corner with his fastball. He has had even more trouble throwing his curve for strikes. Percival was “more tired” Friday than he’s been in recent weeks, but Scioscia doesn’t think fatigue has been a factor in his struggles.

“Any pitcher has natural wear and tear,” Scioscia said. “His stuff looks good. His fastball command is sharp. Maybe his curve is not as fresh as it was earlier in the season, but I don’t see any indication Percy is not going to have a strong finish for us.”

Jarrod Washburn, who underwent an MRI test on his left shoulder Friday, had a strong bullpen workout Saturday and will make his scheduled start against Detroit on Tuesday. . . . Shawn Wooten missed his second consecutive game to be with his father, Bob, who is battling cancer.

TONIGHT

ANGELS’ PAT RAPP

(5-9, 4.58 ERA)

vs.

BLUE JAYS’ ROY HALLADAY

(1-1, 4.24 ERA)

Edison Field, 5 p.m.

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

Update--Rapp can no longer complain about a lack of run support. In his last six games, the Angels have scored 55 runs, an average of 9.2 runs a start. The right-hander has won his last three starts, defeating Baltimore, Boston and Chicago. Halladay has given up three earned runs or less in all six of his starts since being recalled from triple-A Syracuse.

Tickets--(714) 663-9000