Percival Goes on Disabled List

The Angels’ already weakened bullpen took a severe hit Sunday when closer Troy Percival was put on the 15-day disabled list because of an infection in his left foot.

With General Manager Bill Stoneman still trying to trade for a reliever, and with the Angels still unwilling to promote their most dominant triple-A reliever, Francisco Rodriguez, they filled the vacant roster spot by recalling Matt Wise from triple-A Salt Lake.

The injury could hardly have come at a worse time. The Angels are four games behind the Seattle Mariners and one game ahead of the Oakland Athletics, with an 11-game stretch against the Mariners and A’s starting Wednesday.

Percival is not eligible to be activated until July 27, so he will not be available for all five games against Oakland and four of the first six games against Seattle.

The injury would not necessarily force Stoneman to accelerate his search for bullpen help, Manager Mike Scioscia said.

“It’s not as if we’re going to lose Percy for the second half of the season,” Scioscia said. “I don’t think this puts any more importance on it. If you’re trying to strengthen your bullpen, you have that same priority whether you have Percy or not.”

Scioscia said the Angels had considered promoting Rodriguez, their 20-year-old Venezuelan prodigy, but the team is concerned that he might need more experience than 18 innings at triple A. Still, he has an 0.49 earned-run average, has given up nine hits and three walks, and struck out 26.

The Angel bullpen has been ravaged by injury, with Percival, Dennis Cook and Al Levine all put on the disabled list within the last 17 days.

Cook has a suspected torn labrum in his shoulder, and an examination today should determine when--or if--he can return this season. Levine is scheduled to make minor league rehabilitation appearances Tuesday and Thursday and could rejoin the team this weekend.

Percival, who ranks third in the league with 22 saves, developed the infection while on a family boating trip during the All-Star break.

An examination Sunday confirmed that the infection had reached the Achilles’ tendon and would take some time to heal--”longer than the three days we had hoped,” Scioscia said.

*

Third base coach Ron Roenicke blames himself for the play that injured catcher Bengie Molina, who sat out his second consecutive game Sunday because of a strained left hamstring. The injury occurred Friday, Molina said, “when I got thrown out by 25 feet and tried to get out of the way.”

Molina was on second base when David Eckstein singled to center field. Carlos Beltran’s throw to catcher Brent Mayne beat Molina home by so much that Molina slowed up to avoid a collision, pulling his hamstring in the process. Molina hopes to return tonight or Tuesday.

With two out, and with high grass in Kansas City that tends to slow the ball, Roenicke said he reacted on instinct.

“When I sent him home, I realized I shouldn’t have,” Roenicke said. “With two outs, I usually send everybody.”

ON DECK

Opponent--Minnesota Twins, two games.

Site--Metrodome, Minneapolis.

Tonight--5 PDT.

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

Records--Angels 53-37, Twins 53-40.

Record vs. Twins--3-4.

TONIGHT

ANGELS’

JOHN LACKEY

(1-1, 2.70 ERA)

vs.

TWINS’

JOHAN SANTANA

(4-1, 2.45 ERA)

Update--Third baseman Troy Glaus has one extra-base hit in his last 20 games. He is hitting .194 in that stretch, with 20 strikeouts in 62 at-bats.

Tuesday, 10 a.m.--Jarrod Washburn (10-2, 3.04) vs. Eric Milton (11-6, 5.14).