ANGELS NOTEBOOK: MISSED PITCH THROWS PERCIVAL A CURVE.

Byline: Joe Haakenson Staff Writer

ANAHEIM - Closer Troy Percival's success this season (31 saves in 33 chances entering Friday) has been a result of a 97-mph fastball coupled with a 77-mph curveball, and the command of both pitches.

But Percival has struggled with his curveball recently, causing some harrowing ninth-inning jams. Last week in Boston, Percival gave up a leadoff single to Trot Nixon on a curve and didn't throw another the rest of the game, barely escaping by getting the final out on a deep fly to center with the bases loaded.

Thursday against Chicago, Percival got ahead in the count 0-2 to Magglio Ordonez before throwing a 80-mph curveball that Ordonez hit into the left-field corner for an RBI double with one out in the ninth. Percival escaped again, retiring Jose Canseco and Paul Konerko with Ordonez representing the tying run on third.

``I was trying to bounce it off the plate and I hung it,'' Percival said of the curveball to Ordonez. ``He's too good a hitter for me to get away with that. My curve hasn't been sharp because I'm not throwing it very often.''

Percival, though, is good enough to get by with his fastball alone when he has to.

``(The curveball) is still a big pitch for him,'' manager Mike Scioscia said. ``But for the most part, he has such good command of his fastball he has the confidence to go with that at any time.''

--Washburn examined: An MRI exam of pitcher Jarrod Washburn's left shoulder was normal, and he is scheduled to make his next start Tuesday in Detroit.

Washburn had his worst start of the season Wednesday against Chicago, giving up six runs and seven hits in three innings. He felt discomfort in the shoulder, which led to the MRI and an examination by Dr. Lewis Yocum.

Washburn, who has made a career-high 21 starts this season, was on the disabled three times last season, including the final two months because of a strained left shoulder.

--Scioscia, Angels talking: The Angels are talking with Scioscia about a contract extension. But Scioscia, who doesn't have an agent, has a funny way of negotiating.

``I'm not going to take credit for the team's turnaround,'' said Scioscia, who is in the second year of a two-year contract (the Angels hold an option for a third year). ``The players' attitude, they come out and work hard. That's the key. I don't think it's anything we're doing. Now that we're playing the type of baseball we envisioned, it's not something we're going to take credit for. The guys' approach has been the same whether we've won or lost six or seven in a row.''

--Wooten family emergency: Designated hitter Shawn Wooten has left the team indefinitely to be with his father Bob, who has lung cancer, and the rest of his family in Covina.

ANGELS vs. TORONTO

Time: 7:05 p.m., at Edison Field.

TV/Radio: Fox Sports Net; 570 AM, 1090-AM (Spanish).

Matchup: Ramon Ortiz (10-7, 3.95 ERA) will start for Anaheim against Toronto's Esteban Loaiza (8-9, 5.17). Ortiz beat the Red Sox and Yankees in Fenway Park and Yankee Stadium, respectively, in his past two starts. His 10 wins make him the first Angels starter to reach double-digits since Chuck Finley in 1999.

-Joe Haakenson

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ANGELS vs. TORONTO (see text)