ANAHEIM, Calif., May 10 (UPI) -- The Anaheim Angels (22-10), who have the best record in baseball, have lost another key performer.
First baseman Darin Erstad was put on the 15-day disabled list Sunday with a strained right hamstring. He was injured while trying to score from second base in Saturday's 7-2 win over the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.
Erstad, 29, is on the injured list for fifth time in his career and fourth time with a hamstring injury. He joins teammates Garret Anderson, Tim Salmon and Brendan Donnelly on the DL.
Erstad, the first overall pick in the 1995 draft, is batting .264 with 19 runs scored and 20 RBI in 30 games this season. He was 0-for-2 on Saturday, snapping his 14-game hitting streak.
The Angels purchased the contract of first baseman Casey Kotchman to fill Erstad's place on the roster. Kotchman, the 13th overall pick in the 2001 draft, was batting .368 with three homers and 18 RBI in 28 games for Double-A Arkansas of the Texas League.
