ANGELS NOTEBOOK: DESIGNATED REST WAS PLENTIFUL FOR SALMON IN INTERLEAGUE.

Byline: Gabe Lacques Staff Writer

HOUSTON - Tim Salmon's week of virtual irrelevance ended Sunday. At least he thinks it did.

With a sore left knee preventing him from playing the outfield and the Angels playing six interleague games without the designated hitter, Salmon felt less like the franchise patriarch on this road trip and more like the winner of a ``Tour the National League with the Angels'' promotion.

``It's just been weird,'' said Salmon, who had a pinch-hit single Sunday, his second hit in four appearances off the bench this trip. ``It's almost like a vacation, and you're traveling with the team, not playing. It seems like I've spent more time preparing for at-bats than getting at-bats.''

Salmon spent the past week getting his knee in condition to play the outfield and said he could probably play seven innings a game there soon, and certainly by the time the team goes to Dodger Stadium for a weekend series.

Manager Mike Scioscia is reluctant to play him in the field soon, with his knee still tender.

``If we had to, if push came to shove, in an emergency, a double-switch,'' he said.

--Percival optimistic: Troy Percival emerged from a throwing session Sunday encouraged that he could reach the target return date of July 1 from a bout with elbow inflammation and a strained forearm.

``Way better than expected,'' Percival said of his eight minutes of long toss, followed by simulated pitching on flat ground. ``It was as close to getting back to where I could throw as possible.''

--Eckstein to start: David Eckstein tested his right hamstring by sprinting at full speed in a pregame workout Sunday and then entered the game on a double-switch in the fifth inning. He was hitless in two at-bats, but will return to the starting lineup for the first time in seven games tonight.

Gabe Lacques, [phone]

gabe.lacques(at)sgvn.com

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- Gabe Lacques