Erstad’s Hard Hit Makes an Impression

Another shaky start by unpredictable Angel pitcher Ervin Santana wasn’t the only performance that left fans, players and coaches scratching their heads Sunday.

In the first inning, first baseman Darin Erstad hit a liner so hard that it struck Seattle pitcher Gil Meche and left a softball-sized bruise on the back of Meche’s right thigh.

The surprising part of the play? Erstad’s bat actually hit catcher Miguel Olivo’s mitt before it struck the ball, and Erstad was awarded first base on catcher’s interference for the fourth time this season.

Asked how he could hit a ball so hard after hitting the catcher’s glove, Erstad shook his head and said, “I don’t know what to say.” Asked how he could reach on catcher’s interference calls four times in half a season, Erstad said, “I have no idea.”

Then there was Seattle third baseman Adrian Beltre’s leaping catch of Vladimir Guerrero’s vicious liner in the third inning, a play Beltre made despite losing the ball “in something white in the stands” just before snagging it. Beltre’s head appeared to be turned toward the outfield when the ball hit his glove.

“That ball caught me,” Beltre said. “He crushed it. It almost took my shoulder off.”

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Orlando Cabrera aired out a number of throws from shortstop before Sunday’s game, the first time he has thrown at full strength since going on the disabled list July 2 because of an inflamed elbow.

“I threw like I would throw in a game, and it felt good,” said Cabrera, who also has several small bone chips in the elbow. “I feel 100%. It doesn’t bother me right now.”

Cabrera, who is eligible to be activated Saturday, will attempt to swing a bat Thursday. Cabrera suffered the injury swinging in the batting cage in June and said his elbow bothers him most when he extends his arm on his swing.

The Angels have not yet determined whether Cabrera will need a minor league rehabilitation assignment before being activated. Steve Finley, who had two hits for Class-A Rancho Cucamonga on Saturday night, will be activated Thursday, and to make room for the center fielder, the Angels optioned left-handed reliever Jake Woods to triple-A Salt Lake after Sunday’s game.

“He needs work,” Manager Mike Scioscia said of Woods, who is 1-1 with a 3.90 earned-run average in 27 appearances. “He’s having difficulty finding his breaking pitch, and I didn’t see regular work for him to find it here. Hopefully, it will be a short stint, because I think there’s a prominent role for him on this staff.”

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With probable All-Star starter Roy Halladay out for a month because of a broken bone in his left leg, Angel right-hander Bartolo Colon could be in line to start for the American League on Tuesday night in Detroit.

Scioscia will adjust his second-half rotation depending on how many pitches Colon throws in the All-Star game, but regardless of Colon’s work load, left-hander Jarrod Washburn will start the Angels’ first game after the break Thursday at Minnesota.