Hasegawa Wants to Return This Blockbuster Tape

More than three hours before game time, and 17 hours after Barry Bonds hit his changeup 408 feet, Shigetoshi Hasegawa poked the rewind button, then play.

Changeup--home run.

Rewind. Play.

Changeup--home run.

Angel hitters have had their chances to clean up after Angel starters in part because of the bullpen. Hasegawa is 4-1 with a 3.13 earned-run average in 19 appearances, and along with Mike Fyhrie, Al Levine and Troy Percival, has been sturdy lately.

Except for that changeup, though. With two out in the 11th inning on Monday night, Bonds hit it 408 feet and into the bleachers in right-center field. It turned out to be the game-winner in the San Francisco Giants’ 5-4 victory.

Tuesday, Hasegawa appeared from the video room, affable as always.

“I wanted to know why I pitched like that,” Hasegawa said. “I’m checking mechanics on the video. At home last night, I was thinking of my mind. Maybe I had too much confidence.”

He hardly seemed shaken by the pitch. Asked if one bad pitch could undermine weeks of fine performances, Hasegawa shook his head.

“Maybe if I’m a rookie,” he said, “maybe it would make a difference.”

*

Two pitches before the loud one, pitching coach Bud Black jogged to the mound and reminded Hasegawa that Bonds should be pitched low and away. It was part of a promise Angel Manager Mike Scioscia made half-jokingly to Bonds before the game, that Bonds wouldn’t get a decent pitch to hit in the series.

A game into the series, Bonds had a single, double and a game-winning home run.

“I guess I was wrong,” Scioscia said, smiling.

Scioscia said he did not consider walking Bonds.

*

Gary DiSarcina, who had shoulder surgery and is out for the season, has started light rehabilitation work. He has taken the sling off. . . . Left-hander Kent Mercker is expected to return to Los Angeles in about 10 days for further tests that could lead to his first baseball activity since suffering a cerebral hemorrhage. . . . Right-hander Ramon Ortiz is 1-2 with a 6.86 ERA in five starts for triple-A Edmonton. He has 23 strikeouts in 21 innings, but also 15 walks. . . . The Angels outrighted infielder Keith Luuloa to Edmonton, clearing a place on the 40-man roster for pitcher Tim Belcher, who is on the 60-day disabled list. Belcher is expected to make at least one more minor-league rehabilitation start. Mark Petkovsek will make a rehabilitation appearance tonight at Class-A Lake Elsinore.