CLOSER CLOSED DOWN PERCIVAL SENT TO DL; ANGELS GET SHUT OUT CLEVELAND 7, ANGELS 0.

Byline: Joe Haakenson Staff Writer

ANAHEIM - That warm and fuzzy feeling the Angels surely had watching Garret Anderson work out Sunday morning lasted only a couple of hours. Those feelings were later washed away by more bad news.

On the same day the Angels decided their All-Star outfielder is ready to begin a rehabilitation assignment, the team placed closer Troy Percival on the disabled list with inflammation in his right elbow.

It will be at least a week and maybe two before Anderson rejoins the Angels lineup, and it couldn't come quickly enough considering the Angels were shut out 7-0 by three Cleveland Indians pitchers Sunday afternoon in front of a subdued sellout crowd of 43,337 at Angel Stadium. After winning the first game of the series, the Angels lost the last three.

Indians starter C.C. Sabathia (3-3) went seven innings and allowed four hits. He didn't allow a hit until Chone Figgins' one-out infield single in the sixth inning.

Vladimir Guerrero's mini-slump continued - he went 0 for 5 - remaining hitless in his past 14 at-bats. The Angels never had a baserunner get as far as third base, but offense wasn't their only problem Sunday. Bartolo Colon, who signed a four-year $51 million contract to be the team's ace, struggled again.

Colon gave up seven runs and nine hits in 4 1/3 innings, falling to 4-4 and watching his ERA rise to 6.00, the highest on the Angels' staff, starters and relievers included. In his past eight starts, Colon is 1-3 with four no-decisions and an ERA of 8.16.

Colon said ``there is nothing wrong with me physically, nothing bothering me,'' but one former teammate of his saw a difference in Colon.

``I don't know if he's throwing as hard as before,'' Indians shortstop Omar Vizquel said. ``When he was younger he was throwing much harder. He's pitching now, not overpowering people. He's throwing a lot of sinkers and changeups.''

Colon had a long discussion with pitching coach Bud Black after Sunday's game, and Colon told Black and manager Mike Scioscia the same thing - he's fine.

``We've talked to Bart, Buddy's talked to Bart virtually every day,'' Scioscia said. ``His bullpen (sessions) have been good, he's showing good arm action. He says he's fine. Whether it's something mechanical or something physical, Bart's not in the groove he can be in, and will be in.''

The Angels had no need for a closer Sunday, but when they do, those duties will fall to Francisco Rodriguez. Percival will have a bone scan and maybe a CT scan on Tuesday in an effort to figure out what's wrong with his elbow.

``The last two nights the elbow swelled up again,'' Percival said. ``In the middle of the night it woke me up, and I had it in an ice bucket all day today. It's frustrating because I don't know what it is. There's concern because we haven't figured out what it is. At this point, we don't have a game plan because we don't know what it is.''

What Percival and the Angels do know is that it's not good. Percival, who won't be eligible to return from the DL until June 17, might be out much longer than that. During his professional career, he has had surgery on both his right elbow and right shoulder, and surgery at this point might cost him the rest of the season.

And as a free agent at season's end, Percival's Angels career could be nearing an end.

``I'm hoping to get back in 10 days,'' Percival said.

Joe Haakenson, [phone]

joe.haakenson(at)sgvn.com

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Photo:

Shortstop Alfredo Amezaga, left, stretches for the throw as Cleveland's Omar Vizquel is safe at second base Saturday in the Angels' 7-0 defeat.