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Injuries Land Percival on the Disabled List

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Times Staff Writer

The Angels put closer Troy Percival on the disabled list Friday, one night after he blew a save in a particularly horrendous fashion.

Percival was diagnosed with degenerative changes in his hip joint and a strained right gluteus muscle in an examination Friday. Manager Mike Scioscia said it is a “big question mark” as to whether Percival will be able to pitch after serving the minimum 15 days on the disabled list.

As Percival went on the disabled list for the third time in two years, the Angels recalled infielder Chone Figgins from triple-A Salt Lake.

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In Percival’s absence, Scioscia said, Brendan Donnelly would get most of the save opportunities, although left-hander Scott Schoeneweis might get some if matchups dictated.

Percival said the hip “popped out of its socket” during a bullpen workout earlier in the week, causing him to lose his balance and fall. He said he got treatment but did not believe the injury would affect his pitching until Thursday, when the hip “just kind of freaked out.”

After giving up a walk and a single, he said he felt another pop as he delivered the pitch that hit Baltimore’s Geronimo Gil.

Brian Roberts then hit the grand slam that turned a 4-3 Angel lead into a 7-4 loss, the first blown save in Percival’s last 17 regular-season opportunities.

For the first time since June 20, 2000, Percival was yanked in the middle of an inning.

Percival insisted the injury did not explain the blown save and said he could have gotten outs with better command. Still, the injury restricted his leg movement, robbing him of velocity and causing him to limp off the field. The fastball Roberts hit was clocked at 92 mph, down from the usual 95-98 mph.

“I don’t know if I saw a tremendous limp, but I saw him struggling with his delivery,” Scioscia said. “Something was out of kilter.”

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Percival went on the disabled list twice last season.

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One day after new owner Arte Moreno promised to slash beer prices at Edison Field, temporary signs were hastily posted at concession stands with the new prices. Premium import beers are $6.75, down from $8.50. Large domestic draft beers are $6.25, down from $7.

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