Struggling Shields Is Seeking Relief

Scot Shields has hit a fair number of bats lately, several in the sweet spot, but he swears he hasn’t hit a wall.

Unlike last summer, when the heavily worked set-up man went through a distinct “dead-arm phase,” giving up seven runs and 16 hits in 11 1/3 innings of his last 10 August appearances, Shields said his arm feels great and he’s getting good movement and “pop” on his pitches.

But an uncharacteristic stretch in which Shields surrendered 10 earned runs and 17 hits, including three home runs, in 14 1/3 innings from July 29 through Tuesday -- an earned-run average of 6.28 in 13 games -- sent the reliever and pitching coach Bud Black to the video room Wednesday afternoon searching for answers.

They believe they found one, a mechanical flaw in Shields’ delivery that may have altered his arm angle and affected his command.

“When I lift my front leg, I’m leaning back, and my body isn’t going toward the plate,” said Shields, who before Wednesday had a 3.00 ERA in 58 games and had limited opponents to a .223 average.

“My arm angle wasn’t exactly the same, and that may have led to some of my recent results. Hopefully, I can clean that up and get some one-two-three innings.”

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After going through another simulated-game workout, which left his uniform covered with dirt and grass stains, first baseman Darin Erstad said he would start a minor league rehabilitation assignment this weekend, probably with Class-A Rancho Cucamonga.

Erstad, who has sat out all but five weeks of the season because of a bone spur and torn cartilage in his right ankle, will play two or three innings a game on defense to start before working his way up to a few at-bats.

The Angels hope to use the Gold Glove winner as a late-game defensive replacement for first basemen Robb Quinlan and Howie Kendrick in September.

“You can simulate all you want, but I’ve got to get on the field and go through some normal actions,” Erstad said.

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A long run and sliding catch try in the outfield Tuesday night and two singles, including the game-winner in the seventh inning, took a toll on Garret Anderson, who has 16 runs batted in over his last 16 games.

The Angels’ left fielder, slowed by foot, hamstring and lower-back problems, did not start Wednesday night against the Boston Red Sox because of tightness in his left hamstring.

Anderson walked as a pinch-hitter in the sixth inning and was replaced by a runner.

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Dallas McPherson, sidelined for two weeks because of a rib cage injury, has been cleared to run the bases and could resume his rehab assignment at triple-A Salt Lake this weekend.

The Salt Lake season runs through Sept. 4, “so he still has time to get his legs under him,” Angels Manager Mike Scioscia said.

If he is sound, McPherson is expected to be recalled when teams can expand rosters after Sept. 1.

Among the others expected to be recalled are pitchers Chris Bootcheck and Dustin Moseley, catcher Jeff Mathis, infielder Erick Aybar and first baseman Kendry Morales.