CLOSER COMES BACK PERCIVAL GETS THE JOB DONE AGAINST ORIOLES ANGELS 6, BALTIMORE 5.

Byline: Joe Haakenson Staff Writer

BALTIMORE - Troy Percival said it used to take 24 to 48 hours to get over a blown save, but he learned from former Angels closer Lee Smith ``to roll with the punches and go.''

Percival took his licks Tuesday night when he surrendered two runs in the ninth and got the loss, but he came back Wednesday to get the final three outs and save the Angels' 6-5 win over the Baltimore Orioles in front of 37,961 at Camden Yards.

Percival was eager to get back on the mound following Tuesday's game, when he didn't retire any of the five batters he faced and the game ended on Mike Bordick's RBI single. Bordick led off the ninth inning Wednesday and flied out.

With two outs, Delino DeShields walked and stole second, but Percival got B.J. Surhoff on a fly to center to end it, giving Percival his seventh save.

``I like to get back out there as quickly as possible,'' Percival said. ``You're not going to be perfect every night. (Tuesday) night I got beat by some good hitters. Tonight I got good hitters out. . . . I've gotten used to having bad outings. I have 24 or 25 blown saves in my career.''

He also has 146 career saves, which is No. 1 on the Angels' all-time list.

``That situation being a closer is do or die,'' said Angels first baseman Mo Vaughn, one of four Angels to hit a homer Wednesday. ``He's got a great attitude. He wants to be out there. It's like coming to bat in the bottom of the ninth with the tying run on second every night. Very few people have the confidence to do that job. You've got to be cocky and crazy.''

Percival added ``thick-skinned.''

``This guy is really good at keeping short-term focus and turning the page,'' Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. ``I can't think of too many positions in sports with the pressure of a closer.''

The Angels were able to give Percival a lead heading into the ninth by flexing a little muscle. In addition to Vaughn's homer, Matt Walbeck and Benji Gil homered back-to-back in the third inning, and Garret Anderson hit a two-run homer in the sixth that gave the Angels a 6-3 lead.

The Angels have homered in nine consecutive games and have 40 homers this season, tied for third in the American League with Kansas City, behind Toronto (50) and the White Sox (43).

The homers accounted for five of the Angels' six runs - the other scored on a wild pitch - but Scioscia said he isn't concerned that the team is relying too heavily on the big fly.

``I think the little game is still there,'' Scioscia said. ``It's been overshadowed the last series or two because guys are starting to drive the ball more. That's a big part of our club, but I don't think we rely on it. It's nice when it's there, but it's not essential.''

ANGELS vs. BALTIMORE

Time: 12:05 p.m. at Camden Yards

TV/Radio: No TV; KLAC-AM (570), XPRS-AM (1090 Spanish)

Matchup: Ken Hill (2-3, 7.12 ERA) will start for Anaheim against Baltimore's Mike Mussina (1-2, 3.83). The Angels have homered in nine consecutive games and 21 of 28 games overall. They have four players with at least six homers (Troy Glaus, Mo Vaughn, Garrett Anderson and Tim Salmon).

- Joe Haakenson

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Box: ANGELS VS. BALTIMORE (see text)