Erick Aybar makes return for Angels
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Erick Aybar, out since the season’s opening weekend with a strained muscle in his ribcage, was back in the Angels’ lineup Wednesday against the Texas Rangers in the final game of the team’s six-game road trip.
“He’s fine,” Angels Manager Mike Scioscia said. “He’s been running 100%. Swinging from both sides 100%. And he hasn’t been out that long. He’s been out two weeks. So he should be close enough to be able to put the bat on the ball, make the plays he needs to on the defensive side.
“Two weeks in some ways isn’t a long time. In some ways it’s a lifetime. You have to get back in the feel of the major leagues. There’s always that little adjustment you have to make getting into a game again. But it shouldn’t be too much for Erick.”
With left-hander Matt Harrison pitching for the Rangers, Scioscia sat designated hitter Bobby Abreu, started Aybar at short and moved Maicer Izturis, the American League’s leading hitter at .388, from shortstop into the DH role.
Izturis also started Wednesday with a share of the league lead for hits with 26.
On the mound for the Angels will be right-hander Jered Weaver (4-0, 1.30 earned-run average).
The lineups:
Angels
DH -- Maicer Izturis
2B -- Howie Kendrick
RF -- Torii Hunter
LF -- Vernon Wells
3B -- Alberto Callaspo
1B -- Mark Trumbo
CF -- Peter Bourjos
C -- Jeff Mathis
SS -- Erick Aybar
P -- Jeff Weaver
Texas Rangers
DH -- Ian Kinsler
SS -- Elvis Andrus
2B -- Michael Young
3B -- Adrian Beltre
LF -- Nelson Cruz
CF -- David Murphy
1B -- Mike Napoli
RF -- Mitch Moreland
C -- Yorvit Torrealba
P -- Matt Harrison
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