Aneurysm Sidelines Reliever DeLucia

Pitcher Rich DeLucia probably will sit out the rest of the season after tests revealed an aneurysm in the artery leading into his right arm. He is seeking a second opinion but will undergo surgery to correct the problem.

DeLucia will leave for Chicago today to be examined by Dr. James Yao, a vascular surgeon at Northwestern Medical Center. A date for the surgery probably will be set at that time.

“It is something that needs to be taken care of in a reasonable time period,” trainer Ned Bergert said.

DeLucia has been experiencing numbness in the middle finger of his right hand for three weeks. He said the problem worsened in his last three appearances. DeLucia gave up two home runs in two-thirds of an inning against Texas on Monday.

He underwent an arteriogram at St. Joseph’s Hospital on Friday, which revealed the aneurysm.

“The doctor said that it was probably caused by throwing a lot over the years,” DeLucia said. “The artery has been weakened because it has been rubbing the collarbone. It’s not that uncommon with pitchers.”

Last season, New York Yankee pitcher David Cone had an aneurysm removed from his right arm and sat out four months. Chicago White Sox relief pitcher Roberto Hernandez had an aneurysm removed in 1991 and sat out three months.

“I’m told it is similar to what David Cone had, but not as serious,” said DeLucia, who was put on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to July 15.

“This is a little speed bump. I’ve been through tough times before. It just makes you work harder and appreciate things more.”

Said Manager Terry Collins: “Fortunately our training staff stayed on top of this. If it had broken loose, it could have been a real problem.”

DeLucia was having the best season of his five-year career. He is 6-3 with three saves and a 2.41 earned-run average since being acquired from the San Francisco Giants in April.

“This is the first time I’ve been on a team that was still in the race in July,” said DeLucia, who has pitched for Seattle, Cincinnati, St. Louis and San Francisco. “I’ve been having fun.”

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Relief pitcher Mike James will throw for 10-15 minutes today, Collins said. James, who is on the 15-day disabled list because of an inflamed right elbow, is hoping to return next week.

In his absence, DeLucia had been the Angels setup man. The job may now be filled by committee.

“We can use a lot of different guys in that role,” Collins said. “We have used Kevin Gross a couple times and we have Shigetoshi [Hasegawa] if we need a ground ball. Pep Harris has done that role. We have a lot of options.”

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The Angels’ four-man rotation will be altered a bit on their 11-game trip through New York, Boston and Cleveland. They have doubleheaders next Saturday in Boston and July 28 in Cleveland. Collins said Gross and Matt Perisho are tentative starters for those extra games. Gross is currently in the bullpen and Perisho is currently in Vancouver, where he is 1-1 in two starts. . . . Shortstop Gary DiSarcina was given Saturday night’s game off to rest. Craig Grebeck started in his place.

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TODAY’S GAME

ANGELS’ CHUCK FINLEY (7-6, 4.66 ERA) VS. BLUE JAYS’ LUIS ANDUJAR (0-4, 6.18 ERA)

Anaheim Stadium, 1 p.m.

Radio--KTZN (710)

* Update--Finley has reestablished himself as the Angels’ top starter. He has given up five earned runs in the last 29 1/3 innings, covering four starts--all victories. Finley has struck out 32 batters in that time. This is the Angels’ last home game before going on an 11-game trip to New York, Boston and Cleveland. The Angels, who have not faced Roger Clemens and Pat Hentgen in this series, seemingly face a perfect pitcher to close the home stand in the winless Andujar. However, in 1995, Andujar beat the Angels in his second career start, giving up one run in seven innings while with the Chicago White Sox.