ANGELS NOTEBOOK: SCIOSCIA SHUFFLES LINEUP; ERSTAD MOVED TO LEADOFF.

Byline: Gabe Lacques Staff Writer

HOUSTON - Angels manager Mike Scioscia doesn't often spit out statistics with all the ease of a new-age baseball geek, but he didn't need the aid of a stats sheet Friday to recite one grim number.

``We've averaged 3.5 runs our last 20 games,'' he said. ``We want to shake things up to put more pressure on clubs.''

He went to extreme measures to do so Friday, benching smooth-fielding Alfredo Amezaga to give Robb Quinlan, an outfielder by trade, his first major-league start at third base. That Quinlan, hitting a quiet .282, would be seen as the source of lineup rejuvenation says plenty about the state of the Angels' offense.

But with David Eckstein not slated to return until Monday from a hamstring injury, decisive action needed to be taken. So Darin Erstad moved to the leadoff spot, where he hasn't hit regularly since 2000, and Amezaga (hitting .159) and catcher Jose Molina (6 for his past 42) were benched.

That meant Quinlan, whose professional experience at third base consisted of five games this year at Triple-A Salt Lake, started at the hot corner.

``We probably put more stock than anybody into defense,'' Scioscia said. ``But we've got to pressure teams more offensively.''

The ploy did not work. Unheralded Astros starter Pete Munro shut them out into the seventh inning and the Angels had four hits in the 5-0 loss.

Erstad, who has batted near the top of the lineup his whole career, will slide into the sixth spot when Eckstein returns. Scioscia said Erstad's ability to drive in runs will give him greater value than he would have at the first two spots, which will be manned by Eckstein and Chone Figgins.

--Bengie comes home: Catcher Bengie Molina (calf) will be activated from the disabled list today, Scioscia said, and the corresponding move to the disabled list might involve struggling utility player Shane Halter.

Scioscia said Halter, who has 15 at-bats in the past 18 games, is suffering from an injured ring finger on his left hand.

--Brendan's back: Brendan Donnelly (broken nose, elbow tendinitis) made his season debut Friday with mixed results. He hit 92 mph on his fastball, which is his usual velocity, and struck out Jeff Kent with one. He also gave up a massive home run on a 3-1 pitch to Jeff Bagwell, but wasn't concerned about that so much as executing pitches, which he did.

``What'd he hit it, 600 feet?'' Donnelly said of Bagwell. ``(Center fielder Garret Anderson) said he had to dodge it off the ricochet. I don't give up cheapies.''

--Rocket redux: Since last season figured to be Roger Clemens' last, Donnelly made sure to introduce himself to Clemens at last year's All-Star Game. Donnelly also vacated his spot in the bullpen to get a better look at Clemens' appearance at Chicago's U.S. Cellular Field.

But Clemens will face the Angels tonight as a member of the Astros. Even though he's on the other team, Donnelly said it won't diminish his enjoyment in watching the 41-year-old work, presumably for the last time.

``He's still my guy,'' Donnelly said of Clemens (9-1). ``What he's doing now, at his age, there's nothing I don't admire about him.''

Aaron Sele, who was on Boston's staff with Clemens for four seasons, realizes Clemens' skill is as rare as his work ethic.

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- Gabe Lacques