Salmon Adjusts, but It’s Tough

HOUSTON —  Tim Salmon got his first taste of life as a pinch-hitter during a six-game tour through Pittsburgh and Houston this past week. It was bittersweet, the stress of it all taking the edge off his success in the new role.

“It’s not fun,” Salmon said. Saturday night, “I got one swing, popped up, I came back, put my stuff in my locker, and my day was over. It was a weird feeling, but it makes you appreciate guys like Orlando Palmeiro,” an Astro reserve and former Angel, “who can do it.”

Salmon’s eighth-inning single had no bearing on Thursday’s 5-2 loss to the Pirates, and though he singled to put runners on first and third in the eighth inning Sunday, pinch-runner Josh Paul was caught stealing to end the inning and the Angels’ last threat in a 3-1 loss to the Astros.

Salmon had two hits in four pinch-hit at-bats, but the experience was confusing for a player who has been an outfielder or designated hitter for 12 years.

“I thought I’d go up there and be aggressive and that the pitchers would come right after you, but that hasn’t been the case,” Salmon said. “I got a lot of junk. You have one at-bat; you don’t want to get in a hole. So I tried to be aggressive, they threw it all over the strike zone, and I chased some pitches.”

Salmon is expected to return as a designated hitter this week against Oakland, if not tonight or Tuesday against right-handers Rich Harden and Tim Hudson, then Wednesday and Thursday against left-handers Mark Redman and Mark Mulder. That should be a much easier adjustment.

“It’s one thing going into a game knowing you’re going to have four at-bats,” Salmon said. “It’s another thing when you know you might have one at-bat after the fifth inning, and every situation that comes up, you’re on the edge of your seat.”

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Closer Troy Percival, on the disabled list because of an inflamed elbow, played long toss for about 15 minutes Sunday. When a reporter noted that it appeared Percival was airing out his throws, Percival’s eyes lit up and he said, “Yeaaaah.”

This was a big step on the road to recovery for Percival, who has been sidelined since June 5 and is shooting for a July 1 return.

“I opened it up completely, and I got back to my old arm angle, one I haven’t used in about two years,” Percival said. “I haven’t thrown like that in a long time.”

Percival also threw a couple of breaking balls off flat ground. His next step will be to throw off a bullpen mound, either Tuesday or Thursday. After two or three side pieces, the right-hander will throw a simulated game or two or make a minor league rehabilitation appearance before returning to the Angels.

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Right-hander Brendan Donnelly took another significant step toward reclaiming his late-inning relief role, retiring the side in order in the seventh inning Sunday. Donnelly spotted a 93-mph fastball on the outside corner to strike out Jose Vizcaino looking and looked strong in his second appearance of the season.

Kevin Gregg continued to struggle, giving up a run and three hits in 1 1/3 innings. Gregg has allowed 11 earned runs in 4 1/3 innings of his last four appearances. That came after he gave up two runs in his previous 15 2/3 innings.

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Shortstop David Eckstein, who did not play in 10 of the previous 14 games because of a strained right hamstring, ran at full speed before Sunday’s game and “felt fine.”

The leadoff batter wasn’t expected to play until tonight, but he felt so strong he was able to enter Sunday’s game in the fifth inning as part of a double switch. Eckstein popped to third and flied to right in two at-bats.