Peralta Justifies Spot in Bullpen

When Joel Peralta was called up from triple-A Salt Lake on May 23, about all anyone expected from the right-hander was for him to keep Francisco Rodriguez’s bullpen seat warm until the Angel closer returned a week later.

But 4 1/3 scoreless, one-hit innings in two appearances in the last week of May against the White Sox, in which Peralta struck out six of the 15 batters he faced, opened some eyes. When Rodriguez was activated on June 1, the Angels sent Chris Bootcheck back to Salt Lake, retaining Peralta.

In the three weeks since, the 29-year-old, who spent seven years in the minors before getting his first taste of the big leagues, has been so effective he is now fourth in Manager Mike Scioscia’s bullpen pecking order, behind Rodriguez, Scot Shields and Brendan Donnelly, and ahead of Esteban Yan.

With another scoreless inning against Texas on Wednesday night, Peralta has an earned-run average of 0.66 in 11 appearances entering tonight’s series opener against the Dodgers in Angel Stadium.

Mixing a 93-mph fastball with a slider and split-fingered fastball, Peralta has given up one earned run and five hits in 13 2/3 innings, striking out 16 and walking three.

“I would love to have a role like Frankie, Shields and Donnelly some day, but I look forward to any kind of role, doing what I can to help the team most,” Peralta said. “How long I stay here depends on me, I guess. My pitches have been working well, and I like to go after hitters.”

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Donnelly’s appeal of the 10-day suspension he received for having pine tar on his glove is scheduled to be heard next Friday in Kansas City.

Bob Watson, who oversees discipline for Major League Baseball, and John McHale, baseball’s executive vice president of administration, are scheduled to travel from New York for the hearing. Robert Lenaghan, an assistant general counsel for the players’ union, will represent Donnelly.

If the suspension is upheld or reduced, Donnelly will have to begin serving it Friday, and the Angels would play short-handed during Donnelly’s absence. Scioscia said the Angels would recall a reliever from Salt Lake, probably Kevin Gregg or Bootcheck, to replace Donnelly and option a position player, probably outfielder Curtis Pride, to Salt Lake.

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Shortstop Orlando Cabrera, who has missed three games because of an inflamed elbow, is expected to return tonight.

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In his first public comments on the bill that would force the Angels to print a geographical disclaimer on tickets and ads, Angel President Dennis Kuhl slammed the legislation as “blatantly unfair.”

The Senate Business and Professions Committee is scheduled to hear the bill Monday. The Angels did not contest the bill before the Assembly approved it last month.

Kuhl expressed his concerns in a call to committee chair Liz Figueroa (D-Fremont), according to Liz Fenton, her press secretary. Kuhl also submitted a formal letter of opposition to the so-called “Truth in Sports Advertising Act,” introduced by Assemblyman Tom Umberg (D-Anaheim) after the team changed its name to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. Umberg calls the name “deceptive” and “fraudulent” and wants to compel the Angels to warn fans the team plays in Anaheim, not Los Angeles.

In the letter, Kuhl said the Angels hope to make money from the name change, noting the team lost “over $30 million” last season but still paid $1.9 million in revenue sharing to the city of Anaheim, maintained ticket prices below the major league average and increased attendance by 1 million from 2002.

Kuhl called Umberg’s claim that the team has sold out the city of Anaheim and the fans of Orange County “in essence an indictment of our residents and their common sense! Any economic gain will only serve to strengthen our commitment to fielding a yearly perennial contender.”

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Times staff writer Bill Shaikin contributed to this report.

ON DECK

Opponent -- Dodgers, three games.

Site -- Angel Stadium.

TV -- Channel 9, FSN West 2 all three games.

Radio -- 710, 980, 1020, 1330.

Records -- Angels 42-29, Dodgers 35-37.

Record vs. Dodgers -- 2-1.

Tonight, 7 -- John Lackey (5-2, 3.78) vs. Jeff Weaver (6-6, 4.92).

Saturday, 7 p.m. -- Ervin Santana (1-2, 5.73) vs. Brad Penny (3-4, 3.82).

Sunday, 1 p.m. -- Paul Byrd (7-5, 3.87) vs. Derek Lowe (5-8, 3.65).