Erstad Goes Back on DL

Darin Erstad tested his injured right ankle for the first time in six days Friday. Even when the center fielder tried to jog, “it was like a knife going through my foot,” he said.

Erstad, sidelined for six weeks in May and early June because of the injury, went back on the disabled list -- or the “dead list,” as he called it -- and there’s a chance the gritty veteran and emotional team leader could be out for the season.

“I don’t usually look at the big picture, but I’m a little concerned,” Erstad said. “I took six weeks off, and it didn’t help.”

The inflammation in Erstad’s lower-ankle joint is as befuddling as the Angels’ defensive woes -- no one can get to the root of it.

He has undergone X-rays and bone scans, received two cortisone shots, tried an orthotics device and seen several foot specialists in an effort to diagnose and treat his injury.

Manager Mike Scioscia said doctors “found some arthritis down there,” but Erstad does not know if his condition is degenerative.

“They can’t seem to put a finger on it,” Erstad said. “We talked about immobilizing it in a boot; then you’re dealing with atrophy and another set of problems. We haven’t really talked about options.”

One option Erstad has no interest in: surgery.

“You can open it up and look in there,” Erstad said, “but then it’s, ‘See you next year.’ ”

Then again, maybe not. Erstad is in the final year of a four-year contract, and there was speculation this would be his last year in Anaheim even before his injury. If Erstad can’t return this season, he may have played his last game as an Angel.

“I’m not going to concede that right now,” Erstad said.

The Angels recalled outfielder Tommy Murphy from triple-A Salt Lake.

“We all feel for what he’s going through,” Scioscia said of Erstad. “We’re not giving up on his being able to contribute this season, but right now it’s like a black hole. We don’t know when that could be. We have to let it calm down and see where it is.”

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Scioscia described Thursday’s meeting with owner Arte Moreno, General Manager Bill Stoneman and pitching coach Bud Black as “very positive, very constructive.” Even though several trade proposals were discussed, the manager did not come away from the meeting assuming the Angels would make a move to bolster their offense.

“Our job is to look at the team we have and get them to play their best,” Scioscia said. “You never think the cavalry is coming. What we reiterated to Arte is that we’re working with this group every day; we want to move in a positive direction and get the wins up.”

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With his second-inning home run, shortstop Orlando Cabrera has now reached base in 51 consecutive games.... Third baseman Dallas McPherson was scratched from the lineup because of back spasms that flared during batting practice.... Jered Weaver, in his second triple-A start since being demoted from the big leagues, threw a two-hitter with a club-record 14 strikeouts in Salt Lake’s win over Sacramento on Friday night. He had a no-hitter through 6 2/3 innings.