ANGELS NOTEBOOK: ERSTAD'S HAMSTRING FLARES UP.

Byline: Gabe Lacques Staff Writer

BOSTON - Darin Erstad's season has hit a wall again, and this time there might not be relief in sight.

The Angels' center fielder removed himself from the lineup Thursday after his right hamstring turned up sore, and he's scheduled to undergo an MRI examination today in Cleveland. Erstad missed 42 games this season with hamstring tendinitis, a nagging injury that was difficult to diagnose.

He has not been the same since returning June 9, and doctors have told him rest is the only way to ensure he will be 100 percent by next season. With the Angels 15 1/2 games behind Seattle in the American League West and 14 games behind Boston for the wild card with 49 games remaining, there would be little reason to rush him back if the injury has worsened.

Erstad aggravated the hamstring Wednesday when he ran down several flyballs into the deepest portions of Fenway Park's outfield. On Thursday, he said his leg was sore and he needed to ``get it calmed down a bit'' after receiving treatment.

The Angels will not consider the possibility of shutting Erstad down for the season until results of today's exam are known.

``When Ersty takes himself out of the lineup, you know it's got to be something that's sore,'' manager Mike Scioscia said. ``It got to a point (Thursday) where we had to take a step back.''

Eric Owens replaced Erstad in center field.

--Caught by surprise: In his first public comments since the Angels released him July 30, pitcher Kevin Appier said he did not anticipate the team would release him and eat his $16 million salary.

``That's an understatement,'' Appier told reporters in Florida, where he'll make his first start today for the Kansas City Royals against Tampa Bay. ``They called me in for a meeting and asked my agent what it could be about. I'm still not totally sure why, but I wound up here, so it's better in the end.''

Appier did not mask his displeasure with Scioscia's criticism of the pitching staff this season, and he occasionally complained about what he felt were premature removals from the game. But Appier doesn't think his clashes with Scioscia were an overriding factor in his release.

``We did butt heads once in a while, but certainly not that bad,'' he said. ``On a day-to-day basis, it wasn't a bad thing at all. To what extent that played, I don't know.''

--A call to arms: Kevin Gregg, who's gone a combined 9-6 at Double-A Arkansas and Triple-A Salt Lake, will make a spot start in Saturday's doubleheader at Cleveland.

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- Gabe Lacques