The Los Angeles Times from Los Angeles, California • Page 273

LOS ANGELES TIMES SATURDAY. AUGUST 14. I9W D7 Percival's 'Experiment' Blows Up in Angels' Faces wjy report "Troy is one of the best closers in the game," Walbeck said. "If he has confidence that he wants to throw something that badly, who am I to say no? If it was a rookie or something, I would have gone to the mound, but he threw what he thought would be the best pitch to get the guy out with." Percival, who has been trying to mix in more curves and changeups with his 95-mph fastball in recent weeks, said the changeup felt great in the bullpen Friday night, and he tried to throw it down and away to Clark. "But I left it up and out over the plate, and he got it pretty good," Percival said.

"I should have gone with my strength. It's a shame it wasn't a physical mistake, it was more mental." Wasted was the Angels' best offensive output in a week, a game in which Troy Glaus and Tim Salmon each homered, Salmon's two-run shot capping a three-run fifth. The Angels also manufactured runs: Gary DiSarcina bunting Garret Anderson to third and Mo Vaughn knocking him in with a groundout in the first inning, Walbeck hustling to second on Anderson's fly ball to deep center and scoring on DiSarcina's single in the fifth, and Jeff Huson executing a perfect hit-and-run play to move Glaus to third in the sixth. Glaus scored on Walbeck's sacrifice fly to give the Angels a 7-3 lead, but they couldn't hold it. Belcher, who survived a shaky three-run first inning to throw 4V6 scoreless, one-hit innings, was rocked by Palmer's bases-empty homer and Frank Catalanotto's two-run homer in the sixth, as the Tigers cut the lead to 7-6.

Then came the fateful eighth, when Percival gave up his sixth homer of the season, and the 10th, when Hasegawa took the loss. Hasegawa, was sacrificed to second, took third on a fly ball and came home on Dean Palmer's single to center, sending the Angels to their seventh consecutive loss and 23rd in 27 games. But this one was decided in the eighth. Angel reliever Mark Petkovsek had replaced starter Tim Belcher in the sixth and retired five straight batters, but Angel Manager Terry Collins, remembering the game-winning home run Palmer hit off Petkovsek May 4 and the three balls Palmer drilled Friday night a liner for an out, a single and his 28th home run summoned Percival to face Palmer with one out in the eighth. Percival struck out Palmer with a full-count curve, but Clark, batting from the left slide, reached out for a 2-and-2 Percival changeup and lined it into the left-field bleachers for a home run that tied the score, 7-7.

It was the first earned run the Tigers had ever scored against Percival, snapping a 23-inning scoreless streak. Catcher Matt Walbeck had called for a fastball against Clark, and when Percival shook him off, Walbeck called several other pitches before Percival agreed to the changeup. Baseball: Closer gives up tying home run in eighth inning on changeup to Clark and Tigers go on to win in 10th, 8-7. By MIKE DiGIOVANNA TIMES STAFF WRITER DETROIT Troy Percival calls his changeup "an experimental pitch," and when the Angel closer threw one to Tony Clark in the bottom of the eighth inning Friday night he probably wished he was wearing protective goggles. The ensuing meeting of baseball and bat produced an explosion that resulted in Clark's tying home run, and the Detroit Tigers went on to defeat the Angels, 8-7, in 10 innings before 32,003 in Tiger Stadium.

"That's my third-best pitch, and that was a bad time to throw it," Percival said. "I didn't stay aggressive, which is against what I normally do. It was a stupid mistake, and it won't happen again." Detroit scored the winning run when Brad Ausmus opened the 10th with a single off Shigetoshi I COME BY-DRIVE BrSWSjl I THE ALL NEW BEIEM SHOT SMS EUERY FOOTBALL GAF.1EH laic- Erstad Put on 15-Day Disabled List, but Collins Finds the Silver Lining Darin Erstad was put on the 15-flay disabled list Friday because of a strained ligament in his right knee, and Angel Manager Terry Collins called it "great news." That's how sick and twisted this Angel season has become. A player gets hurt, but the injury isn't as serious as Collins fears, so it's viewed as a positive development. Can you blame Collins? He thought Gary DiSarcina would be ready for opening day, but the shortstop wound up needing surgery on his left forearm and missed almost three months.

Tim Salmon was listed as day to day after spraining his left wrist May 3. Day to day became month to month, and Salmon didn't return until July 17. When doctors sent Erstad to a specialist for further tests after an abnormality was discovered in the ligament Thursday, Collins thought for sure Erstad had suffered a season-ending tear. "But now they say he'll only be out for two weeks," Collins said. "That's a lot better than we thought." Erstad suffered the injury when he twisted his front knee on a swing Tuesday night, but Collins didn't find out until Wednesday afternoon.

"I went to the park thinking I was going to write the lineup I had written in last January, minus Randy Velarde," said Collins, who has been able to start Salmon, DiSarcina, Erstad, Mo Vaughn, Jim Edmonds and Garret Anderson in the same game only once, Tuesday against Cleveland. got to batting practice, and Darin couldn't run. "I laughed, and then I cried. I got to write the lineup down. I never got to use it." Tigers obviously knew who their leaders were when they named catcher Brad Ausmus, third baseman Dean Palmer and reliever Doug Brocall team captains earlier this season.

The trio was at the forefront of a recent barrage of clubhouse Criticism, each ripping the underachieving Tigers within a span of a few weeks. Said Brocail: "At times this isn't a major league clubhouse." Said Ausmus: "Maybe it's the obvious. Maybe we're just not 'good." And Palmer: "Why do people always ask why we're bad? Why 'can't we just be a bad team?" Like the Angels, the Tigers rank at or near the bottom of the league in almost every offensive category. Like the Angels, the were picked to finish a lot higher than their current standing dead last. "It's strange and unfortunate that we're both on the same paths," said Tiger second baseman Damion Easley, a former Angel.

"It hasn't been just pitching or hitting or defense with us. We've found all kinds of ways to lose. We have talent, just like the Angels do. It's not that we should be knocking out Cleveland or anything, but we should be better than this." The Angels signed right-handed pitcher Phil Wilson, the team's third-round pick. The 18-year-old Wilson, who pitched at Poway High School, will report to Class A Boise.

-MIKE DiGIOVANNA 1 3010 Pacific Coast Hwy. Torrance Offer Ex pliS-lS-M lwww.southbayvolvo.com I 3 1 0-588-3855 888-98-LEASE r.kr tora anranmo AtrairatKtafi mat 1 TJIjfll 145SR-12 P16580R13 P18575M4 P20575R14 17570R13 1 9570R14 P22575R15 yil I 155SR12 P17580R13 P19575R14 P21575R14 18570R13 P20575R15 P23575R-15 P15580R13 P18580R13 18570R14 P21575R15 Wl'llftffg 30,000 MILE WARRANTY 30,000 MILE WARRANTY 30,000 MILE WARRANTY fit -A ANGELS' KEN HILL (4-11, 4.86 ERA) vs. TIGERS' BRIAN MOEHLER (8-11, S.39 ERA) i 30X9.50R15 $55 31X10.50R15 $60 LT23575R15 $60 LT23585R16E $65 LT265r75R16C $69 P17570R-14 P20570R-15 P18570R-14 P21570R-15 P19570R-14 P17565R-14 P20570R-14 P18565R-14 P21570R-14 P20565R-15 Ken Hi ill Brian Moehler IS P23570R16 2HDCLD ANY SIZE LISTED Tiger Stadium, Detroit, 1 p.m. Radio KLAC (570), XPRS (1090). Update To replace Erstad, the Angels Friday recalled utility infielder Andy Sheets from triple-A Edmonton.

Hit! has given up only five earned runs in 19 innings of his last three starts but has one win, a loss and a no-decision in the three games. The right-hander has a 5-0 career record and 2.17 earned-run average against the Tigers with two shutouts. Vaughn's RBI groundout in the first inning Friday night was his first run batted in since July 27. "DiSarcina is 6 for his last 49. -MIKE DiGIOVANNA 18560R14 $33 19560R14 $37 19560R15 $37 19550R15 $49 22560R16 $42 20555R16 $49 185r70R14 $35 P20570R14 $35 P21570R14 $35 P20570R15 $40 P21570R15 18570R13 P17565R14 6 3 'Idr VJgfc KjsJsJ P18570R-14 VS3Q6 I TIGERS 8, ANGELS 7 (10) Afi Bl BB SO Avg.

BIBB SO Avg. 5 1 1 0 0 0 .291 1 0 .284 1 0 0 0 2 2 0 0 .267 0 1 .267 0 1 .265 0 1 .274 Angefs GAnderson If PiSarema ss MVaughn lb Salmon rf "Edmonds cf TGreene dh Glaus 3b Huson 2b Walbeck Totals P18560R-14 P15580R-13 200 .265 267 .225 241 .244 .281 .242 Detroit Ausmus DCruz ss Encamacion cf Palmer 3b TCIark lb Easley 2b Catalanotto dti Alvarez rl Kapler rf KGarcia If Totals 0 .259 1 2 1 1 1 1 P19560H-14 $53 P19560R-15 S57 P20560R-15 $59 P20565R-15 $58 P20555R-16 $98 .277 222 .225 209 P17570R-13 $41 P185(70fl-14 S47 P19575R-14 S35 P20570R-15 S59 P20565R-15 S55 TREAD DE'GNS MAY 5B1d ft 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 7 P18575R-14 $56 P20565R15 $69 P21570R14 $68 P21570R15 $72 P20570R15 $69 P21565R15 $72 AngHs Detroit 110 131 000 0-7 10 300 003 010 1-8 9 Vvv- fi -mm 5 Two outs when winning run E-Wuson (3). LOB-Angels 5. Detroit 3 2B-GAnderson (2) Edmonds (1). HR TCIark (201 oft Percival; Catalanotto 1 10) EAGLE RH PI 5580R1 3 XW4 OUR 65,000 MILE WARRANTY P18575R14XH4 $50 P21575R14 XH4 $60 P19575R14 XH4 $55 P20575R15 XH4 $74 P20575R14 XH4 $58 XH4 80,000 MILE WARRANTY SYMMETRY P17570R13 S64 P18565R15 $76 P17565R14 S64 P21560R16 $89 P18565R14 $70 P23560R16 $98 off Beteher.

Palmer (28) off Belcner; Salmon (9) off BorKowshi; Glaus (19) off Borkowskr RBIs-DiSarcina 114). MVaughn (651, Salmon 2 (35), Edmonds (4). Glaus (51). WalDeck (16). Palmer 2 (75).

TCIark 2 (71). Easley (51). Catalanotto 2 131). SB-Huson (6) CS-Palmer (2). S-DiSarcina.

DCrui, SF-Waloeck. Runners left In scoring posttlon-Angels 3 (GAnderson. Husdn. Waloech); Detroit 1 (Alvarez). flunnm moved up-GAnderson, MVaughn.

Encamacion. Of-Angels 1 (Walbeck and Huson). P17570R13 27X8.50R14 LT23575R15C $90 31X10.50R15 $100 30X9.50R15 33X12.50R15 $125 P2OT0HM $50 P2456M15 $65 KJ560R15 $60 P275rfi0fl15 $75 P18560TR14 Angels IP RERBBS0 NP ERA Belcher 6 6 5 2 2 80 6 91 Pettovsek Vh 0 0 0 0 2 20 2 34 'Percival l'A 1 1 1 0 3 31 242 1-5 2 1 1 0 0 11 4.71 ENERGY MXV4 PLUS IP RERBBSO HP ERA tVi 7 6 6 1 4 82 821 2 1 1 0 I 27 5.13 1 0 0 0 0 0 12 545 1 0 0 1 1 15 0 00 1 0 0 0 0 0 17 2.59 1 0 0 0 0 2 11 421 Detroit Borkowski Kida Nitkowski FCordero Brocail ToJones 2 4 P1 9560TR1 4 $60 P22560TR1 6 $77 P19560TR15 $61 P20555TR15 $75 P20560TR15 $64 P20555TR16 $87 iM-TerrainTAKO' PHASE CALLFOR LOW, LOW PRICES 80,000 MILE WARRANTY 60,000 MILE WARRANTY HBP-By Belcner (Encamacion). U-Hickoi, Foster. Marty, Kosc.

Mofflson. T-310. Tickets HOW THEY SCORED WMSW MB FIRST INNING: Angels 1, Tigers O-Anderson doubled to center. DiSarcina sacrificed, Vaughn grounded AMERICA'S LARGEST INDEPENDENT TIRE CO. HOURS MON-FRI SAT.

Visit our web site at www.dlscounttlre.com ASK ABOUT OUR "Free Replacement" CERTIFICATE Layaways Welcome over 400 stores nationwide! 90 Days SAME AS CASH first, Hnoetson sconng. aaimon sirucn out. une run, one nil. Tigers 3, Angels 1-Ausmus walked. D.Cruz singled to left, Ausmus stopping at second.

Encamacion i was hit by a pitch, loading the bases. Palmer lined to third. Clark singled to left, Ausmus scoring, D.Cruz to j-thitd, Encamacion to second. Easley forced Clark at second, D.Cruz scoring, Encamacion to third. On error, Encamacion scored, Easley to second.

Catalanotto walked. Alvarez struck out. Three runs, two Tiits, one error, two left, i SECOND INNING: Tigers 3, Angels 2 With two out, Glaus homered to left, hid 20th. Huson grounded to "thim One run, one hit. FREE Roariitdt AMtttancs FINANCING AVAILABLE ON APPROVED CREDIT 2 Minute Application FOURTH INNING: Tigers 3, Angels 3-Salmon singled to right.

Edmonds tripled to center, Salmoo Ventura County Simi Valley 2383 First Street (805,1 579-7921 Camarillo 323 Carmen Dr. (805) 484-3336 Ventura 918 E. Thompson (805) 648-5335 East Pomona 1975 N. Indian Hill Blvd. (909) 398-4993 Chino 11925 Central Ave (909) 591-4501 Montclair 8995 Central Ave (909) 621-7847 Corona 355 No.

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(626) 584-6770 Glendora 705 S. Grand Ave (626) 335-2883 Riverside East 3553 Merrill Ave (909) 683-0570 Upland 1099E. Foothill Blvd. (909) 946-4004 Ontario Mills 4583 Mills Circle (909) 484-0361 Orange County Fullerton 1321 South Euclid Street (714) 680-9510 Garden Grove 10101 Chapman Ave (714) 534-7220 Lake Forest 22765 Aspan Street 714) 472-8840 Westminster 6872 Westminster Blvd. (714) 894-1391 Fountian Valley 9880 Warner Ave (714) 964-6866 Mission Viejo 24512 Alicia Parkway (949) 951-2031 Mission Viejo 28595 Marguerite (949) 364-9505 sconng.

Greene and Glaus struck out. Huson grounded to second. One run, two hits, one left, FIFTH INNING: Angels 6, Tigers 3-Walbeck walked. Anderson died to center, Walbeck taking second. DiSarcina singled to right, Walbeck sconng.

Vaughn died to right. Salmon homered to left, his ninth. Kida pitching. Edmonds grounded to second. Three runs, two hits.

SIXTH INNING: Angels 7, Tigers 3-With one out, Glaus singled to left. Huson singled to left, Glaus taking third. Huson stole second. Walbeck filed to left, Glaus sconng, Huson taking third. Anderson grounded to the pitcher.

One run, two hits, one left. Angels 7, Tigers 6-With one out. Palmer homered to left, his 28th. Clark grounded to first. Easley singled to center.

Catalanotto homered to right, his 10th. Petkovsek pitching. Alvarez struck out. Three runs, three hits. EIGHTH INNING: Tigers 7, Angels 7 With one out, Percival pitching.

Palmer struck out. Clark homered to left, his 20th. Easley Hied to center. One run, one hit. 10TH INNING: Tigers 8, Angels 7-Hasegawa pitching.

Ausmus singled to center. D.Cruz sacnficed. 'Encamacion filed to nght, Ausmus taking third. Palmer singled to center, Ausmus scoring. One run, two hits, one left! Huntington Beach 15672 Springdale (714) 901-8226 775-5366 Hemet (909) 929-2130 Temecula (909) 694-3915 Also Sewiim Lancaster (805) 940-0042 Victorville (760) 241-3323 Cathedral City (619) 770-0572 Indio (619).