Slumping Glaus Is an All-Star Starter

In the year after they won their first World Series, the Angels will be represented by at least three players in the All-Star game, their largest delegation in eight years.

Troy Glaus, the World Series MVP, has won election as the American League third baseman, the first Angel voted into the starting lineup since Wally Joyner in 1986. Outfielder Garret Anderson and reliever Brendan Donnelly also are expected to be selected to the American League team today, with catcher Bengie Molina and closer Troy Percival under late consideration.

The Angels have not had more than two players selected for the All-Star game since 1995, when Gary DiSarcina, Jim Edmonds, Chuck Finley and Lee Smith represented the team. In 1979, the Angels sent a record five players to the All-Star game -- Don Baylor, Rod Carew, Brian Downing, Bobby Grich and Nolan Ryan.

Angel ace Jarrod Washburn will not be selected, although that didn’t stop him from jokingly asking Manager Mike Scioscia whether he would be picked “for the home-run hitting contest.” Washburn has given up a league-high 22 home runs.

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Glaus is not heading into the All-Star game on a roll. In the Angels’ first 60 games, he hit .302 with 14 home runs and 43 runs batted in. In the last 25 games, he is hitting .153 with one home run and three RBI.

“It’s always an honor to go,” said Glaus, who will play in his third All-Star game in his five full major league seasons. “I’ve had some down time recently, but the first two months were pretty good. The last month wasn’t so good. That happens.”

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Center fielder Darin Erstad did not play Saturday, again bothered by soreness in his right hamstring. Erstad said he experienced discomfort Friday, one day after the Angels flew here, and he said sitting on plane flights appears to aggravate the hamstring. He expects intermittent soreness through the season, until the off-season provides extended rest.

“I’ll try to stay on top of it as much as I can,” he said. “I’m still more cautious than normal.”

A severe hamstring strain forced him to the disabled list for seven weeks. In the 23 games since he returned, he is batting .231 with two extra-base hits, two walks and 14 strikeouts.

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Molina did not play Saturday because of stomach flu.... Scioscia got his 300th victory, joining Bill Rigney and Gene Mauch as the only Angel managers to win that many.... Second baseman Adam Kennedy struck out three times and is in a 2-for-24 slump.... Jorge Fabregas, the Angels’ backup catcher this time last year, was recently released by the Durham Bulls, the triple-A affiliate of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.... Alfredo Amezaga, the Angels’ triple-A shortstop, is on the disabled list because of a hamstring injury for the third time this season. Amezaga, hitting .354 at Salt Lake, is expected to compete for a job with the Angels next season.