Erstad Scratched From Lineup With Leg Pain

Center fielder Darin Erstad was a late scratch from the lineup because of what was described as fatigue in his right leg.

Erstad left Monday’s game in the fifth inning and was taken out of the lineup Tuesday after his leg bothered him running in the outfield during batting practice.

Trainer Ned Bergert was not overly concerned and said Erstad’s hamstring is not involved--a great relief to Manager Mike Scioscia.

“You don’t ever want to take a chance with a hamstring,” he said.

With Erstad out and right fielder Tim Salmon sitting out a third consecutive game after being hit on his left hand by a pitch Saturday, Orlando Palmeiro started in center and Alex Ochoa started in right.

Erstad and Salmon are both considered “day-to-day,” Scioscia said after a CT scan Tuesday confirmed there is no evidence of a broken bone in Salmon’s hand. Salmon was still not ready to hit, Scioscia said.

“He can grip it but I don’t think he can rip it.”

*

Former Dodger utility man Hiram Bocachica earned a rare start for Detroit, batting leadoff and playing center field.

He made it count at the plate, leading off the game with a single and scoring the first run of the game before adding a solo home run in the third--his third in eight games for Detroit.

Acquired from the Dodgers in a July 25 trade for minor league pitcher Tom Farmer and a player to be named, Bocachica was batting .215 with the Dodgers and was used primarily as a pinch-hitter.

“I’m glad I’m here. I’m in the big leagues,” Bocachica said. “You play in an organization like the Dodgers or Yankees ... to be honest, they never explained why I wasn’t getting a chance to play.”

His start Tuesday was his fifth for Detroit.

“I’m happy. Now I have my family. My daughter [Aliyah] is six months.... I used to get aggravated [about not playing]. Now I realized that attitude never helped. That’s how you learn.”

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The Angels will hold a ceremony honoring Hall of Fame broadcaster Ernie Harwell before tonight’s game.

Harwell--who will retire after the season--is in his 42nd season with the Tigers and his 55th in the major leagues.

TONIGHT

ANGELS’

RAMON ORTIZ

(9-9, 4.16)

vs.

TIGERS’

MIKE MAROTH

(4-4, 4.19)

Edison Field, 7:10

TV--Fox Sports Net.

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

Update--The Angels close out their series with the Tigers and have a day off Thursday before the homestand ends with a weekend series against Cleveland that leads them into next week’s crucial New York-Boston trip. Detroit starter Mike Maroth, a rookie, might be better than his numbers indicate. He is 3-1 since the All-Star break and pitched 8 1/3 shutout innings against Baltimore in his last start before a reliever recorded the final two outs.