Percival Sidelined With Strained Muscle

Before Wednesday’s game, closer Troy Percival underwent an MRI exam, which revealed a strained muscle in his right side. He is unavailable to pitch through the weekend and will be reevaluated on Monday.

“The treatment they were doing wasn’t working so they wanted to take some pictures to have a better idea of what we’re dealing with,” Percival said. Percival pitched one inning for his first save in Tuesday’s game, but his velocity was down slightly. He said the discomfort in his right side began three weeks ago after he pitched in an exhibition game against Colorado.

Percival struck out 14 batters in 71/3innings during the spring, but he limited his time because of his injury. . His fastball, which has reached 98 mph in the past, was toping out at 96 most of the time.

“I still can get the fastball up there, but I start to lose location,” Percival said. “This has not been affecting my daily life. I’m about 90% and that’s OK. I’m just looking to get back to 100%.”

Percival has altered his throwing motion some, coming from more over the top. He said that when he drops his arm, he feels more discomfort.

“With all the surgeries I have had, this is nothing,” Percival said.

Lou Pote, who has six major league saves, has been used in the closer role when Percival has been injured in the past.

Pote had a 15.00 earned-run average in eight spring training games. He had one save, but gave up seven home runs in 12 innings.

“Whatever I do in spring training, I leave in Arizona,” Pote said. “I go to spring training to work the kinks out.”

Pote looked good Sunday, throwing one hitless inning in the season opener.

“I think our bullpen is solid,” Manager Mike Scioscia said.

*

Brad Fullmer singled to left in the sixth inning Tuesday, his first hit as an Angel. He then asked for the baseball. He has done the same with his first hit for every team he has played with professionally.

“I do that with any hit that’s a little special,” said Fullmer, who was acquired from Toronto in an off-season trade. “They don’t mean anything right now, but some day they will be nice to have around.”

The one ball he doesn’t have is his 500th hit, which he got while playing with Toronto last season.

“That’s a shame, too, because it was a home run,” Fullmer said.