ANGELS REPORT : Percival, Justice Get Same Penalty

The American League issued three-game suspensions to Angel closer Troy Percival and Indian left fielder David Justice for their parts in Tuesday night’s bench-clearing brawl.

The penalty seemed harsh for Percival and lenient for Justice. Percival hit Justice with a pitch after giving up Richie Sexson’s game-winning, three-run home run in the eighth inning, but there were no warnings issued before his ejection. Percival was tossed the moment the pitch hit Justice.

Justice, on the other hand, charged the mound and hurled his batting helmet at Percival, hitting the reliever in the upper back. Three-game suspensions have become standard for players charging the mound, and games have been tacked on for violent acts.

Justice even admitted he expected to get at least a five-game suspension. “I knew I’d get something,” said Justice, who had never been fined, suspended or ejected from a game in his career. “But I thought it would be a lot worse.”

Percival, who declined comment on the penalty, appealed the suspension, which is supposed to begin today. He will be available pending the results of a hearing on the matter. Justice will decide today whether to appeal.

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Shortstop Gary DiSarcina walked up the dugout steps for pregame practice Thursday using his bat as a cane, his legs wobbling with each step. It was a joke, but the image DiSarcina projected wasn’t too far from reality.

DiSarcina did not start Thursday night, but not because the throwing shoulder he injured in August was acting up. His legs were sore from his participation--for lack of a better word--in Tuesday night’s brawl.

DiSarcina didn’t exactly throttle any Indians during the fight. He got caught at the bottom of the pile, “And I got stepped on, kicked . . . pulled on. My legs are as sore as my shoulder was. But I’d do it again, man.”

*

Add this to the freak-injury department: Angel center fielder Jim Edmonds lost part of a front tooth Wednesday when he missed a piece of chicken and bit into a fork. “I looked like a hockey player,” said Edmonds, who had the tooth bonded by a Cleveland dentist Thursday.

* Opponent--New York Yankees, four games.

* Site--Edison Field.

* Tonight--7.

* TV--Fox Sports West tonight and Monday night, Channel 11 Saturday, ESPN Sunday night.

* Radio--KLAC (570), XPRS (1090).

* Records--Angels 51-82, Yankees 82-51.

* Record vs. Yankees--4-2.

TONIGHT

ANGELS’

TIM BELCHER

(5-8, 6.79 ERA)

vs.

YANKEES’

ANDY PETTITTE

(12-9, 4.49 ERA)

* Update--The Yankees are giving David Cone a few extra days to rest a tired arm, so reliever Ramiro Mendoza or minor league call-up Ed Yarnell likely will start Sunday night’s game in Cone’s place. The Yankee offense has been powered by MVP candidates Derek Jeter, the shortstop who is batting .346 with 21 homers and 88 RBIs, and center fielder Bernie Williams, who is batting .346 with 22 homers and 98 RBIs. Pettitte, who struggled in the first half, is 5-1 with a 1.76 earned-run average in his last six starts.

* Saturday, 1 p.m. PDT--Ramon Ortiz (1-1, 3.00) vs. Hideki Irabu (10-5, 4.60).

* Sunday, 5 p.m. PDT--Chuck Finley (8-11, 4.74) vs. TBA.

* Monday, 5 p.m. PDT--Jarrod Washburn (0-3, 9.15) vs. Roger Clemens (12-7, 4.54).