BASEBALL DAILY REPORT : ANGELS : Boskie to Start on Friday

Pitcher Shawn Boskie will help the Angels ring in September when he makes his long-awaited return Friday against the Boston Red Sox in Fenway Park.

It will be his first Angel start since July 5, after which he went on the disabled list because of elbow tendinitis. The former Chicago Cub pitcher, who made four minor-league rehabilitation starts, was asked if this would be his first start in a September game that mattered.

“Are you kidding me? This was the first June that mattered,” said Boskie, who was 6-2 with a 4.81 earned-run average before the injury. “September games usually meant trying to pitch well to win a job for next season. Now I want to do well to get the team into the postseason.”

Boskie, who will take Mike Harkey’s spot in the rotation, will return against one of baseball’s hottest teams, and he’ll probably square off against three-time Cy Young Award winner Roger Clemens.

Harkey will go to the bullpen, but if Mark Langston (shoulder tendinitis) is not ready to pitch Saturday, Harkey could take his spot in the rotation.

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The Walt Disney Co.’s proposed purchase of a minority share of the Angels will not be on the agenda for the Sept. 12 baseball owners meeting in Detroit. Owners will probably vote on the matter during a conference call shortly after the season so the Autry family, Angel owners since the franchise’s inception in 1961, can finish this season without disruption. Disney will then assume operational control of the team.

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Shortstop Damion Easley, who has tendinitis in his rotator cuff, felt some discomfort in his shoulder and was held out of the starting lineup for the second consecutive game. He is expected to return today.

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Darin Erstad, the No. 1 pick in the June draft, is hitting .356 with four home runs and 23 RBIs in 20 games for Class-A Lake Elsinore, but he will not be among the Angels’ September call-ups.