Jose Molina Replaces Injured Brother Bengie

The baton passed from one brother to another Saturday, when the Angels put catcher Bengie Molina on the disabled list and replaced him on the roster with his younger brother, Jose.

Tests confirmed Bengie Molina suffered a partially torn right hamstring while running the bases in Friday’s game. He said he was told he could return in about three weeks. The Angels provided no timetable for his recovery, although General Manager Bill Stoneman said Molina would require more than the minimum 15-day stay on the disabled list.

Veteran Jorge Fabregas will replace Molina as the regular catcher, with Jose Molina and utilityman Shawn Wooten sharing reserve duty, Manager Mike Scioscia said.

“It’s such a high-priority position, and to lose such a talented player is a hurdle,” Scioscia said. “But injuries are part of any season. If you’re a championship club, you overcome injuries.”

With several clubs in search of long-term catching help, Stoneman said he did not anticipate making a trade for short-term help.

“To expect we could go shopping and upgrade, I would say that would be unrealistic,” Stoneman said.

Jose Molina, 25, hit .282 in 20 games at triple-A Salt Lake. After eight seasons in the Chicago Cubs’ organization, he signed as a free agent with the Angels, dreaming of playing alongside his brother. The dream did not include walking into the clubhouse to see his brother hobbling on crutches.

“I’m happy and at the same time I’m sad,” Molina said. “At least he’s got me here to support him.”

The brothers become the first to play for the Angels in the same season, although the team has featured brothers in pitchers Stan (1980) and Stew (‘84, ‘85, ‘88) Cliburn and pitcher Paul (‘70, ‘72) and infielder Denny (‘74, ‘75) Doyle. In the only other brother-for-brother transaction in major league history, in 1997, the Cincinnati Reds called up Aaron Boone from triple-A Indianapolis and sent down Bret.

Bengie Molina played in more than 100 games once in seven minor league seasons, developing a reputation as injury-prone. He thought he had shaken that label for good last year, when he played in 130 games and finished third in American League rookie-of-the-year voting.

“The thing that bothers him is that he’s worked so hard to stay away from injuries, and then this happens,” Jose Molina said. “It just kills him.”

Stoneman said he considered durability before signing Molina to a four-year contract this spring.

“He’s one of our better workers in terms of following a conditioning regimen,” Stoneman said. “Frankly, that was part of our thinking on the contract.

“The thing blew out on him. These things happen. I don’t have a crystal ball.”

TODAY

ANGELS’

PAT RAPP

(1-3, 6.37 ERA)

vs.

TIGERS’

STEVE SPARKS

(1-2, 3.34 ERA)

Edison Field, 1

TV--Fox Sports Net. Radio--KMPC (1540), KMXN (94.3), XPRS (1090).

* Update--Tim Salmon sat out his second consecutive game because of what he called “a sinus infection gone bad.” Said Salmon, guzzling an energy drink and looking drained: “I’m good for 20 minutes, and then I’m zonked. It just knocks you out. My head is in a fog.”

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