Angel Bullpen Trying to Get Its Act Together

ANAHEIM â€”  The Angel bullpen, an albatross the past week, got back to its high-flying ways Thursday.

Rich DeLucia and Mike Holtz got key outs. Mike James pitched a scoreless eighth inning and was tough in the ninth, giving up only an unearned run. As a result, the Angels came away with a 4-3 victory over the Oakland Athletics at Anaheim Stadium.

“We haven’t been playing good baseball; this team is capable of a lot more,� said closer Troy Percival, who was a spectator Thursday. “We’ve been busting our [butts], but when the bullpen is struggling and everything else is clicking, it’s not going to work.�

The bullpen, a pillar through much of the season, had crumbled lately.

Holtz gave up a game-winning home run Wednesday to the Dodgers’ Billy Ashley.

James gave up three runs in a third of an inning last Friday in a loss to the San Diego Padres. He also gave up three consecutive hits against the Dodgers Tuesday--a game that ended when a Percival gave up a game-winning home run to Todd Zeile in the ninth.

Such handiwork could hardly be called relief. It was little wonder the Angels had lost five consecutive games to fall 3 1/2 games behind the Seattle Mariners.

“We all hit a wall at the same time,� James said. “It happens.�

Injuries played a part. James and DeLucia have had sore arms lately. DeLucia also missed Tuesday’s game with the flu.

But Manager Terry Collins didn’t believe it was from overwork.

“You see fatigue in late July or early August,� Collins said.

Tired or not, Percival said the bullpen has to produce.

“We’re seen that if the pen doesn’t falter this past week, we’d be tied for first place,� Percival said.

“Everything has to click together to be in first place.�

Everything did Thursday.

Starter Matt Persiho gave the Angels 6 1/3 strong innings, striking out eight batters. He left with the score tied, 2-2, and the bullpen took it from there.

DeLucia struck out Damon Mashore with one out and a runner on second in the seventh. Holtz then got pinch hitter Matt Stairs to ground weakly to first, ending the inning.

James entered in the eighth and gave up two hits, but struck out two, including George Williams to end the eighth. James pumped his fist before leaving the mound, a little personal relief.

“I was getting the movement on the ball that I wasn’t getting the other night,� said James (4-2).

James got out of the ninth cheaply, despite an error by first baseman Jim Leyritz that allowed Rafael Bournigal to score for a 3-2 Oakland lead. But James got the last two outs and the Angels rallied for two runs for the victory, taking Leyritz off the hook.

“Everyone in the league is surprised on how our starting pitching is keeping us in games,� Percival said “I think the bullpen helped hold the staff together for the first five weeks of the season. Now [Chuck] Finley is throwing good, [Jason] Dickson has kept us in every game. We just have to get our act together down in the bullpen.�

On Thursday, the act played fine.