ANGELS LOSSES ADD UP TWO PITCHERS AILING AFTER CLEVELAND RALLY.

Byline: Joe Haakenson Staff Writer

CLEVELAND - The Angels were hit hard Friday night, but the blows they sustained did not end with Jim Thome's game-winning homer in the ninth inning of the Indians' 11-10 victory in front of 43,182 at Jacobs Field.

After closer Troy Percival surrendered the two-run homer by Thome, Percival landed on the disabled list with an inflamed elbow. Percival, who had offseason shoulder surgery, will be examined more thoroughly in the next couple of days.

That wasn't the only bad news.

Starting pitcher Seth Etherton, who gave up eight runs and 10 hits in 2 2/3 innings, will miss at least one start because of a tired shoulder. Matt Wise likely will replace Etherton in the rotation, although Ramon Ortiz remains a possibility.

It was a bad day all around for the Angels, who rallied from a 9-5 deficit and took a 10-9 lead on Adam Kennedy's RBI single in the top of the ninth.

In came Percival, who has come to know Jacobs Field as his personal house of horrors. He began the season with a record of 0-3 with three blown saves and a 19.06 ERA here, but broke the string with a save May 29.

Friday, he began the ninth by getting Roberto Alomar on a liner to center, then walked Manny Ramirez. Then on a 2-2 pitch, Thome hit a 79-mph curveball into the right-center field seats to finish it.

``I was trying to bounce it,'' said Percival, who has nine blown saves this season. ``I've got no feel for what I'm trying to do right now. I can throw hard, that's about it.''

Percival hit 98 mph on the radar gun Friday, but it isn't an indication of how he's feeling. Percival said he hasn't felt right all season as he's compensated for his recovering shoulder.

``I've been guarding my shoulder by throwing with a lot of elbow,'' Percival said. ``It's not sound. I'm trying to do it, I'm trying to be a hero, but it's hurting the team when I can't execute my pitches. I've tried to make adjustments but right now I can't make a quality pitch when I need to.''

Percival said he didn't feel well at all the last time he pitched, on July 30 against the White Sox. But even four days off didn't help.

``It's tough to look at the radar gun and hit 99 and come in here and admit you're not right,'' Percival said. ``The last two years have been a nightmare for me.''

Left-handed reliever Juan Alvarez will be called up from Triple-A Edmonton to replace Percival on the roster.

Etherton's problem doesn't seem as serious as Percival's, but it's still a blow to the team. He pitched in winter ball right up to spring training and said he believes all the work has finally caught up to him. He was checked out by the Indians' team doctor, who suggested he needed to rest the shoulder.

``He said everything was fine, it's just fatigue,'' Etherton said. ``I've been through this before, but this is the extreme. I can't throw my fastball over 85 mph.''

The Angels hope they'll get help soon in the starting rotation from Kent Mercker, who threw four innings (0 runs, 0 hits, 0 walks, 4 strikeouts, 52 pitches) in his rehab start Friday night for Single-A Lake Elsinore. Mercker will make another start Wednesday before joining the club.

CAPTION(S):

3 photos, box

Photo: (1) JACKSON

(2) GLAUS

(3) ANDERSON

Box: Chasing Reggie