Figgins Starts, Percival Finishes Angel Victory

It started with five shutout innings by Aaron Sele and ended as most close-game Angel victories over the Minnesota Twins have in the last 10 years -- with a scoreless ninth by closer Troy Percival.

Extending a streak that is improbable and unexplainable, Percival worked a one-two-three ninth Saturday night to punctuate the Angels’ 1-0 victory over the Twins in front of 26,180 in the Metrodome.

Chone Figgins’ two-out run-scoring single in the ninth ended a scoreless tie, and Percival, who hadn’t pitched since April 25, retired the heart of Minnesota’s order -- No. 3 batter Corey Koskie, cleanup hitter Torii Hunter and No. 5 batter Jacque Jones -- on eight pitches for his sixth save.

Percival has not given up an earned run to the Twins in his career, a span of 37 games and 38 2/3 innings, the longest current scoreless stretch by a major league pitcher against any opponent.

“The Twins team I faced many years ago is not the team I’m facing now,” said Percival, who suffered a loss and blown save when he gave up two unearned runs against Minnesota last season.

“This is not a team you can just shut down easily, and I don’t go into any game against these guys thinking that way. Those three-four-five hitters are as good as any in the league. I don’t have any more confidence against the Twins than I do against anyone else.”

Saturday, Percival ran the anchor leg in a bullpen relay that included two scoreless innings by Kevin Gregg, who has given up one earned run in 17 1/3 innings this season for an 0.52 earned-run average, and a scoreless eighth by Francisco Rodriguez, who has not given up an earned run in 12 2/3 innings, striking out 19 and walking three.

“I’ll take these guys over anyone because of the way they want the ball regardless of the situation,” Percival said of the Angel bullpen. “We don’t have anyone who is scared to take the ball in any situation.”

Before Saturday, the Angels could include Sele among their bullpen ranks, because the veteran right-hander lost out to Ramon Ortiz in a spring-training battle for the final rotation spot.

But after Sele surrendered only two hits, struck out two and walked one in a sparkling spot start in place of injured right-hander Kelvim Escobar, he could be in line to replace Ortiz, who has a 9.28 ERA in five starts, in the rotation.

“We have some options now -- we’ll take a look at it and make a determination,” Manager Mike Scioscia said after Sele’s 61-pitch performance. “He maintained his stuff through the whole start. He had great command and was as efficient as any starter this year. That’s the way Aaron pitched when he was healthy.”

Sele, who had shoulder surgery in October 2002, had made only one relief appearance in 11 big league seasons and struggled to develop a bullpen routine in April, but he quickly found a comfort zone Saturday.

“It was fun,” said Sele, who allowed one runner to reach second base. “It felt natural, the way it should be.”

Does Sele think he earned another start?

“I thought I earned a starting role in spring training,” he said, “so you never know.”

Sele didn’t figure in the decision because he was matched against Angel nemesis Brad Radke, who began the game with a 12-5 career record and 1.73 ERA against the Angels and dominated them with seven shutout innings Saturday.

But after Jose Guillen bounced into a double play with the bases loaded to end the eighth, the Angels finally got to relievers Juan Rincon and Aaron Fultz in the ninth. Catcher Jose Molina started a two-out rally with a single, and Adam Kennedy’s single to right field advanced Molina to third.

Manager Ron Gardenhire summoned the left-handed Fultz to face Figgins, forcing the switch hitter to bat from the right side, but Figgins, who filled in for injured center fielder Garret Anderson last week but played shortstop in place of injured David Eckstein on Saturday, flared a single to right that scored Molina.

“You love getting put in those situations,” Figgins said. “I’m unlikely to hit a home run, so that situation is better for me than coming up with none on and two outs.

“And when they call to the bullpen, you take a little pride in that. It makes you eager to get the job done even more.”