Erstad Out, but Options Open

Darin Erstad, who strained his right hamstring legging out a two-run double Wednesday night, is going to sit out some games--the question is how many--and in his absence, Manager Terry Collins has numerous options to replace his first baseman and leadoff batter.

He could move catcher Jim Leyritz to first base and have Jorge Fabregas catch, which would strengthen the Angels defensively behind the plate but leave them without a natural leadoff hitter.

He could move center fielder Jim Edmonds to first and put Orlando Palmeiro in center, which would give the Angels a good leadoff hitter in Palmeiro but may raise questions at first, where Edmonds hasn’t played since 1994.

Eddie Murray could move from designated hitter to first, and Palmeiro could DH at the top of the order, but Murray is 41 and not the defensive player he was a few years ago.

Jack Howell could play first, and if Erstad goes on the disabled list, the Angels could call up triple-A first baseman Chris Pritchett, who impressed Collins in spring training.

As for the leadoff spot, Luis Alicea, a reluctant leadoff hitter in St. Louis in 1996, could give it another try. Yet another option is left fielder Garret Anderson, an idea Collins got Wednesday night based on “the way Garret is hitting the ball.”

Anderson, who hit 16 home runs in 106 games as a rookie in 1995, has become something of a slap hitter this season--27 of his 29 hits have been singles--and he also has three stolen bases. He led off twice in 1996, going two for eight, but he felt uncomfortable in that spot.

Though Anderson, who usually bats in the run-producing sixth spot, has only three runs batted in, Collins is not about to tell a guy batting .354 to swing for the fences.

“He takes what the pitchers are giving him, and I like that,” Collins said. “When the pitch is outside, he goes with it; when it’s inside, he pulls it. Rod [Carew, Angel batting instructor] said Garret could end up being the best hitter on this team, and that’s a pretty strong statement.”

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The more Edmonds tries to figure out this game, the less he understands it. Edmonds ended a 0-for-16 drought with a fourth-inning single Wednesday night and then homered in the 10th to lift the Angels to a 5-4 victory over Toronto, but he had trouble explaining his recent failure and success.

“I felt terrible for two weeks and I was hitting everything that was thrown to me,” Edmonds said. “My average was .340 and I figured if I was hitting that good while I was feeling that bad it was going to be a great season for me.

“Then just when I felt like I was getting locked in and feeling good, I didn’t get a hit for four days.”

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Rich DeLucia was excess baggage in San Francisco’s bullpen, and the Giants had been trying to trade him since spring training when they finally dealt him to the Angels last week, but the Angels may have found a treasure in the discard pile.

DeLucia has not given up an earned run in four Angel appearances, and the right-hander pitched three impressive scoreless innings Wednesday night to gain the victory against Toronto, improving to 2-0.

“He gave us more innings than he usually goes, and he used a lot of stuff,” Collins said. “He even used a split-fingered fastball that he’s been working on since spring training. That was something we needed because [relievers] Pep [Harris] and [Mike] James were not available.”

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ON DECK

* Opponent--Detroit Tigers, three games.

* Site--Anaheim Stadium.

* TV--Fox Sports West, Saturday.

* Radio--KTZN (710).

* Records--Angels 9-10, Tigers 9-13.

* Record vs. Tigers (1996)--6-6.

TONIGHT’S GAME

ANGELS’ JASON DICKSON (3-0, 2.45 ERA) vs. FELIPE LIRA (0-1, 8.44 ERA)

* Update--Dickson, the rookie right-hander, has struck out 21 and walked only four in 29 1/3 innings. He has been outstanding in his last two starts, a 5-1 victory over the New York Yankees on April 14 and an 11-1 victory over the Kansas City Royals on Sunday. Close games have become the norm for the Angels--seven of their 10 losses, and six of their nine wins, have been by two runs or fewer. Poor pitching continues to plague the Tigers, who rank 13th in the league in team earned-run average (5.87), but Detroit has a rejuvenated offense led by young first baseman Tony Clark, who is batting .322, is tied for third in the league in homers with seven and third in RBIs with 24. The Tigers also lead the league in stolen bases with 29 and have been caught stealing only seven times, a success rate of 81%.

* Saturday, 7 p.m.--Chuck Finley (0-0, 8.31) vs. Brian Moehler (1-1, 3.38).

* Sunday, 1 p.m.--Allen Watson (0-2, 7.71) vs. Willie Blair (2-2, 5.85).