Marshall: Two Games Enough as an Angel : Baseball: Former Dodger, still looking for something more than part-time work, is given his release.

Mike Marshall’s Angel career ended after two games and seven hitless at-bats when the 31-year-old former Dodger requested and was given his release.

Marshall said Wednesday he probably was too impulsive in accepting the Angels’ contract offer July 26, five days after he was released by the Boston Red Sox, because moving to the Angels didn’t increase his playing time. Marshall is still being paid the remainder of his $1.2-million salary by the Red Sox.

To fill his spot on the roster--and his role as a backup first baseman with right-handed power--the Angels recalled infielder Chris Cron from triple-A Edmonton. Cron hit .294, with 17 doubles, 19 home runs and 79 runs batted in at Edmonton.

Marshall, who last played Aug. 4, said the lure of returning to Southern California enticed him to sign with the Angels although they never promised him a major role.

“I went from a place where I was a part-time bench player in Boston to where I was going to be (in) kind of the same role with the Angels,” Marshall said. “At this point, if I’m not good enough to be an everyday player with the Angels . . . I just haven’t enjoyed sitting a full season in New York and half a season in Boston. Whether I’ll be an everyday player again I don’t know, but I just wasn’t interested (in being a part-time player).”

Marshall said he had qualms about his decision “the second day” after he joined the Angels. He discussed his doubts with Manager Doug Rader, who arranged for him to meet with Senior Vice President Dan O’Brien Tuesday.

Not even the prospect of inheritting first baseman Wally Joyner’s job, should Joyner leave as a free agent after this season, was enough to keep Marshall with the Angels.

“I looked around and right away I knew things weren’t going to be different for me,” he said. “Rather than let it drag on and become a problem, I made this decision.”

Marshall said he planned to “kick back” the rest of this season before investigating possibilities in Japan. Should he be able to play every day again, he said he would consider coming back to the major leagues. If not, he said: “I would probably move on with my life.”