Eckstein’s Hand Badly Bruised

MIAMI —  Center fielder Darin Erstad is expected to be in the lineup tonight, for the first time in nearly two months, but shortstop David Eckstein is not. Eckstein could miss tonight’s game and several more because of a badly bruised left hand.

He suffered the injury Friday, and an X-ray that night ruled out a broken bone. The Angels sent him for an MRI exam Saturday night, and it ruled out any ligament or tendon injuries.

He received treatment Sunday but did not work out. He did not enjoy spending 40 minutes in a tube, face down, for the MRI.

“The experience was horrible,” he said. “I don’t sleep on my stomach.”

Right fielder Tim Salmon, who fouled a ball off his left ankle and bruised it Saturday, appeared as a pinch-hitter Sunday.

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Closer Troy Percival, working for the second consecutive day since returning from the disabled list, earned the save. The stadium radar gun clocked his fastball at 93 to 95 mph, down from 95 to 97 mph Saturday, a difference Percival attributed to a cautious delivery on a mound made slippery by showers late in the game.

“When you’re not using your body, it’s tough to go out and throw 97,” he said.

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In the Angels’ six games last week, Garret Anderson hit .448, with six home runs and 15 runs batted in.... Shawn Wooten is six for 13 as a pinch-hitter.... Erstad completed his seven-game rehabilitation assignment with triple-A Salt Lake with a .407 batting average, no extra-base hits and one strikeout in 27 at-bats. The Stingers, a .500 club, went 6-1 with Erstad. To clear a roster space for him, the Angels returned reliever Bart Miadich to Salt Lake.... Utilityman Chone Figgins, returned to the Stingers Friday, flew from Miami to Salt Lake City all day Saturday, then started at shortstop Saturday night and doubled twice, tripled and homered.

ON DECK

Opponent -- Philadelphia Phillies, three games.

Site -- Edison Field.

TV -- Fox Sports Net tonight and Wednesday, Channel 9 Tuesday.

Radio -- KSPN (710), XKAM (950)

Records -- Angels 31-29, Phillies 33-29.

Record vs. Phillies -- First meeting.

Tonight, 7 -- Jarrod Washburn (6-5, 3.09) vs. Vicente Padilla (4-7, 4.48).

Tuesday, 7 p.m. -- John Lackey (3-5, 6.14) vs. Brandon Duckworth (3-1, 5.21).

Wednesday, 7 p.m. -- Kevin Appier (4-3, 4.80) vs. Brett Myers (5-5, 3.21).