Percival, Gil Added to the Disabled List

The Angels put closer Troy Percival and infielder Benji Gil on the disabled list Friday, giving them four players on the disabled list four games into the season.

Gil suffered a sprained left ankle in the first inning Friday. Percival, hampered by a strained rib cage since March 14, made his season debut Tuesday and earned the save, but his velocity was down. The Angels originally planned to postpone a decision to put Percival on the disabled list until after he rested this weekend and tried throwing again Monday, but Manager Mike Scioscia said the team decided that timetable was too optimistic for an injury that can linger for months.

“The down side is too risky,” Scioscia said. “This thing is going to take a little more time than three to four days.”

The decision means that as the Angels play 19 consecutive games against American League West opponents, their all-star closer will be unavailable for at least the first 13 games of that stretch.

Al Levine, who retired Juan Gonzalez and Rafael Palmeiro to earn the save Friday, will be the primary closer in Percival’s absence. The Angels replenished their roster by promoting reliever Brendan Donnelly and infielder Clay Bellinger from triple-A Salt Lake.

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Mo Vaughn apparently cursed the Angels on his way out of town, muttering about the Angels’ desire to make him a designated hitter. If the Angels didn’t want him to play first base for them, then no one else would either.

Got a better explanation? The Angels planned for Shawn Wooten and Scott Spiezio to share first base, but Wooten is injured and Spiezio is suspended. Now Gil, the interim first baseman, is injured too, and the Angels could not even call up triple-A first baseman Larry Barnes because he has a back injury.

“It’s crazy,” Spiezio said.

Gil got hurt after fielding a ground ball hit by the Rangers’ leadoff batter, Rusty Greer, then colliding with Greer while tagging him out. Gil remained in the game as Gabe Kapler flied out, then hobbled off the field with a 1-2 count to Gonzalez. Jose Nieves replaced Gil at first base, and on the next pitch Gonzalez struck out to end the inning.

“I kidded him--’Hey, man, don’t be afraid to stay out there for one more pitch,’” Angel pitcher Scott Schoeneweis said.