Erstad Takes Aim at Sisler’s Record

Darin Erstad had no idea who Heinie Manush was when he came within one game of breaking Manush’s 66-year-old record for being the fastest player to reach 100 hits in a season.

But Erstad knows who George Sisler was, and Erstad is threatening to wipe Sisler’s name from baseball’s record book. Sisler’s name and record are not obscure--he had 257 hits for the St. Louis Browns in 1920, a mark that has stood for 80 years.

With two singles Friday night against the Oakland Athletics--in the 79th game of the season--Erstad has 128 hits, putting him on a pace for 262 hits.

“The key words there are ‘on pace,’ ” said Erstad, the team’s leadoff batter. “There’s a long way to go, and who knows? I may walk 50 times in the second half, and that could lower my hit total. Even though I don’t walk much, to me it’s as good as a hit, because all I’m trying to do is get on base.”

Erstad has a .374 average, second-best in the American League, 16 home runs, 60 runs, 59 runs batted in and a major league-leading 41 multiple-hit games. He has power and is an excellent gap hitter, but 94 of his 128 hits are singles.

Erstad’s average is 121 points higher than last season’s .253 because he is doing a much better job of hitting tough outside pitches into shallow left field, where a good portion of his singles have landed. He did that again in the first inning Friday night, poking hit No. 127 over shortstop Miguel Tejada’s head.

“Those are the pitches I rolled over on and grounded to second base last year, which is exactly what pitchers wanted me to do,” Erstad said. “You have to take what the pitchers give you.

“Those riding fastballs, those sinkers away, are not pitches I can drive. Rod [Carew, former Angel batting instructor] always taught that, but I never grasped the concept until this year. Some of us are a little more thick-headed than others.”

*

Third baseman Troy Glaus’ offensive production has rivaled Erstad . . . until this week. Glaus missed games Sunday and Monday because of lower back stiffness and then went one for 14 with 10 strikeouts in his last four games, his average slipping from .318 to .305 Friday.

Glaus, who leads the team with 23 home runs and 21 doubles, does not believe his lower back has caused a subtle change in his mechanics at the plate. He said he’s getting good swings but has just missed several good pitches, fouling them off.

“I don’t know if he’s pressing,” Manager Mike Scioscia said. “Sometimes when a guy’s been as steady as Troy has, he tends to spoil you. He’s been so good for so long, you expect it every series. But it’s not going to happen every time. You’re going to have some lulls.”

*

Angel shortstop Kevin Stocker, on the disabled list since June 22 because of tendinitis in his left knee, said pain has subsided considerably this week, and he plans to begin running by Monday. If Stocker, who has been throwing and hitting in the batting cage, feels no pain Wednesday and Thursday, he should be ready when he’s eligible to come off the disabled list Friday. . . . Pitcher Scott Schoeneweis, on the disabled list since June 17 because of a strained rib-cage muscle, has begun playing catch and said Friday that he “feels fine,” but the Angels are being cautious with his rehabilitation. No bullpen workouts have been scheduled.

TONIGHT

ANGELS’

JARROD WASHBURN

(3-2, 4.39 ERA)

vs.

ATHLETICS’

ARIEL PRIETO

(1-0, 6.00 ERA)

Edison Field, 7 p.m.

TV--Fox Sports Net. Radio--KLAC (570), XPRS (1090).

* Update--When Stocker returns, he won’t be handed the starting shortstop job, which he appeared to take from Benji Gil in early June. Gil has three hits in two of his last six games, and he lifted his average from .196 on June 16 to .221 entering Friday. More important, he has not committed an error since May 30, a span of 16 starts--Gil made 13 errors in his first 38 starts. “Whoever is playing best will get the lion’s share of playing time,” Scioscia said. Washburn, the Angel left-hander, will attempt to rebound from his last start, in which he gave up seven earned runs on eight hits in 3 1/3 innings against the Twins Monday. He will face an Oakland lineup that is batting .226 against left-handers.

* Tickets--(714) 663-9000