BASEBALL DAILY REPORT : ANGELS : Winfield Says He Is Ready to Return

Dave Winfield hopes to be back in the lineup tonight, after a strained right hamstring kept him from starting the past five games.

“I’ll probably be in there,” said Winfield, who has started only one of the last seven games and pinch-hit in another. “I’m feeling much better, and to get the extra 36 hours or whatever (until tonight’s game) will help that much more.”

Angel Manager Doug Rader said Winfield was “getting close.” He added, “He probably could have played today at less than 100% but I’m trying to stay away from that if I can.”

Shortstop Dick Schofield returned after being sidelined three games because of a tight right groin muscle. . . . Second baseman Luis Sojo, hitless in his past eight bats and one for his past 17, didn’t play Sunday.

Jack Howell started at third base Sunday, his third start of the season. He has started at first and in right field. . . . Luis Polonia was successful in his first six stolen-base attempts before being thrown out by Minnesota’s Junior Ortiz in the fifth inning. He has hit in 11 of the 12 games he has played this season. . . . Wally Joyner was one for four and has 14 hits in his past 33 at-bats (.424). Overall, he’s hitting .385.

General Manager Mike Port said the club had discussed acquiring a veteran backup catcher, which would allow John Orton to play every day in the minors. The idea was discarded, he said, “because we asked ourselves, ‘Is there anyone reasonably better defensively than John Orton?’ and the answer was no.”

Port said former Angel Bob Boone, who was released this spring by the Seattle Mariners, was never considered.

Right-hander Don Vidmar of the Palm Springs Angels pitched a seven-inning no-hitter Sunday to win his first game of the season, beating Bakersfield, 2-0, in a California League game at Bakersfield.

The 24-year-old Vidmar (1-2) struck out three batters and walked two.