Molina Still Needs Short Rehab Stint

Bengie Molina’s convalescence stretched into an eighth week Monday, and the Angel catcher, sidelined because of a strained right hamstring, is ready--at least mentally--for it to end.

“I can’t wait to catch nine innings and get four at-bats in a game,” Molina said. “I’m going crazy here.”

The madness probably won’t stop until later this week. Molina hoped to be activated for tonight’s game against Texas, but after a rigorous workout Monday in Edison Field, he was sent to Class-A Rancho Cucamonga for one or two more rehabilitation games.

“He worked out great, and he’s very close,” Manager Mike Scioscia said. “We just want to brush up a few things behind the plate. He should be ready to go in a few days. We want to err on the side of caution.”

Molina, who played parts of five games for triple-A Salt Lake last week, will catch a full nine innings for Rancho Cucamonga tonight and will probably play another Class-A game Wednesday.

He felt he was ready to be activated Monday, but he acknowledged that playing again for Rancho Cucamonga would help him get back into game shape.

Fans who filled Safeco Field for three weekend games against the Angels apparently did a good job of filling ballot boxes too. Seattle’s David Bell, who is batting .250 with seven home runs and 34 runs batted in, passed Troy Glaus and Baltimore’s Cal Ripken Jr. in the race to become the American League’s starting third baseman in the All-Star game.

“That’s a joke--I think that’s just wrong,” Angel reliever Al Levine said. “The All-Star game is supposed to be for the best players, not whoever has the most fans at games. Bell is a good third baseman, but Glaus has a lot more homers and RBIs.”

Angel reliever Shigetoshi Hasegawa, out since May 20 because of a partial rotator-cuff tear, threw 13 pitches in a rehabilitation inning for Rancho Cucamonga Monday night, giving up one unearned run on one hit, striking out none and walking none. . . . Catcher Jose Molina, who suffered a broken left thumb on May 20, will begin a rehabilitation assignment at Salt Lake today.

TONIGHT

ANGELS’

MATT WISE

(1-1, 6.23 ERA)

vs.

RANGERS’

RICK HELLING

(5-7, 5.98 ERA)

Edison Field, 7

TV--Fox Sports Net.

Radio--KLAC (570), XPRS (1090).

Update--This will probably be Wise’s last start before being sent back to triple A. Ismael Valdes is expected to return for Saturday’s game against Seattle.

Tickets--(714) 663-9000.