Molina’s Calf Slow to Heal

The tight left calf that was supposed to sideline Bengie Molina for a few days has turned into a perplexing injury that will probably knock the catcher out for at least two weeks.

Molina hasn’t played in a game since March 5, and though he has been able to participate in some drills, he hasn’t been able to run at full speed. He is not expected to return to exhibition play until later this week.

“I didn’t think I would be out this long, but hey, you never know,” said Molina, who was hoping his loss of almost 25 pounds this winter would eliminate the leg problems that have slowed him in recent years.

“I’d rather miss this time now than during the season. I thought the pain would go away fast, but it’s nothing serious, so I’m not worried about it. As long as I come back by this week and catch everyone, I’ll be ready.”

Molina has extensive experience catching four Angel starters -- Bartolo Colon, Kelvim Escobar, Jarrod Washburn and John Lackey -- but the one starter Molina hasn’t caught, newcomer Paul Byrd, was concerned enough about his lack of rapport with Molina that he discussed it with the catcher Monday.

“I’ll need to see him once or twice before we start the season, that’s for sure,” said Byrd, who allowed two runs and four hits in four innings of the Angels’ 10-6 exhibition victory over the Texas Rangers on Monday. “We need to get a couple of innings together so he can get a feel for what I like to do, what I like to throw, and I need to get a feel for how he likes to set up.”

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Adam Kennedy’s graduation to full-speed baseball activities, scheduled for today, will be delayed by several days. The second baseman, rehabilitating from surgery on his right knee, was sent home Monday because of flu-like symptoms.

First baseman Darin Erstad, suffering from bronchitis, remained home, missing a third day of workouts in four days, and batting instructor Mickey Hatcher and catcher Mike Napoli were sent home sick.

Escobar, slowed this spring by shoulder tightness, is scheduled to make his exhibition debut today against the Chicago White Sox in Tucson, but the right-hander was experiencing flu-like symptoms Monday and could be scratched.

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The Angels won for the eighth time in nine games, defeating Texas with a nine-run, seven-hit eighth inning in which the first nine batters reached base. Casey Kotchman drove in the tying and go-ahead runs with a pinch-hit single. Manager Mike Scioscia said he wanted to see how Kotchman would handle pinch-hitting, a possible indication the Angels might be considering the first base prospect for a big league reserve role to start the season.