Injury Forces Eckstein to Sit

Angel shortstop David Eckstein was a scratch Tuesday because of a strained left knee that he suffered in Monday’s 6-3 victory over the Kansas City Royals. He was injured trying to avoid a tag at first base in the fourth inning.

“It was a stupid mistake,” Eckstein said. “It feels OK. I mean I played on it last night.

“This is just precautionary. There was just a little swelling.”

Nevertheless, Eckstein’s knee was placed in a brace after being examined by trainer Ned Bergert on Tuesday. He was to be examined by Dr. Lewis Yocum during the game.

Eckstein has been the Angels’ catalyst as the leadoff batter. He is batting .275 and is second on the team with 33 runs scored. He singled to start a three-run first inning Monday, was hit by a pitch in the second and scored when Darin Erstad followed with a triple.

In the fourth, he had grounded to second baseman Carlos Febles, whose throw was wild. Eckstein tried to duck under a tag of first baseman Mike Sweeney and hit the bag awkwardly.

Manager Mike Scioscia downplayed the injury.

“I’m sure he could have played tonight,” Scioscia said. “But we decided it would be better to give him a day of rest.”

But a moment later, Scioscia contradicted himself.

“For him to not being in the lineup, it has to be something,” Scioscia said.

A case in point: Eckstein fouled a pitch into his face against Chicago on Friday, yet stayed in the game. He played in 153 of 162 games last season.

“This [injury] isn’t too bad,” Eckstein said. “It was a little stiff when I woke up this morning, but it loosened up as I walked around. I got to the ballpark and expected to play.”

*

With Eckstein out, Jose Nieves started at shortstop and second baseman Adam Kennedy was moved into the leadoff spot Tuesday.

It was only the second time in his Angel career that the free-swinging Kennedy was at the top of the batting order.

“I don’t think I had a hit the other time,” Kennedy said.

Kennedy said he would change his approach some and take a few more pitches, especially in his first at-bat.

The Angels faced Miguel Asencio, who was making his first major league start.

“The guys will want to see what his delivery is like, how his pitches move, so I’ll take a few,” Kennedy said, then smiled.

“Or I’ll just hit the first pitch and [tick] off [No. 2 batter] Darin.”

In his first at-bat, Kennedy worked the count to 2-2 before popping up to shortstop Neifi Perez.

TONIGHT

ANGELS’

SCOTT

SCHOENEWEIS

(3-4, 5.29 ERA)

vs.

ROYALS’

PAUL BYRD

(7-2, 2.56 ERA)

Edison Field, 7

TV--ESPN 2

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

Update--Byrd has nearly half the Royals’ victories. His 2.56 earned-run average is the third lowest in the American League. The Angels are 15-3 in May and with eight games left could eclipse the best May in club history. They went 18-7 during May in 1989. The best month in club history was June 1998, when the Angels went 22-6.

Tickets--(714) 663-9000.