ANGELS NOTEBOOK: STRAINS, PAINS AND REHAB GAMES.

Byline: Gabe Lacques Staff Writer

NEW YORK - An MRI revealed Angels first baseman Darin Erstad suffered what manager Mike Scioscia called ``two significant strains'' to his right hamstring when he tried to score on a single Saturday night. The injury will likely sideline Erstad at least four weeks.

Meanwhile, left fielder Jose Guillen was forced to the bench Tuesday with a sore right knee he injured sliding into second base Sunday. In the Angels' strange, injury-riddled world, this qualifies as good news because Guillen, though he would not rule out a trip to the disabled list, said he hopes to play soon.

``Don't be surprised if you see me pinch hit today,'' said Guillen, who was carted off the field Sunday.

Guillen took batting practice Tuesday but admitted he did not ask Scioscia to put him in the lineup, significant given that he played after twice taking a fastball off his wrist.

On April 22, when Scioscia tried giving Guillen a day off, he played anyway when Garret Anderson was scratched with the upper back stiffness that's knocked him out for 18 games.

``Garret was unable to play, I told him, that's it. I'm playing 162,'' Guillen said.

It was not to be, of course, though Guillen admittedly was relieved his slide did not result in something more serious. He eschewed an MRI Monday in Los Angeles so he could travel with the team but said he might have an MRI today.

The injury came at the end of a week in which he hit .583 with four homers and 11 RBI to earn AL Player of the Week honors. With four other regulars injured and Guillen hitting everything at the plate, the timing is bad. Still, it could have been worse for the Angels.

``We dodged a little bit of a bullet,'' Scioscia said. ``The pain he was feeling on the field, he was scared, we were scared.''

--Add injuries: Reliever Brendan Donnelly has been diagnosed with tendinitis in the flexor tendon of his right elbow, which will delay his return to the Angels indefinitely.

Donnelly removed himself from Sunday's game with Triple-A Salt Lake at Tacoma, complaining of elbow stiffness. His scheduled appearance Tuesday was scratched, and he will be treated by the Salt Lake medical staff.

The Angels originally hoped Donnelly would rejoin them Friday in Baltimore.

``A setback is something you don't anticipate,'' Scioscia said, ``but it's not abnormal. We'll have to wait for the thing to be calmed down.''

--Coulda been: Vladmir Guerrero made his first appearance in New York since he nearly became a Met last winter. When the Mets expressed concern over a herniated disk in his back, they offered a three-year, non- guaranteed deal and Guerrero shortly thereafter signed a five-year, $70 million deal with the Angels.

``My back has been great,'' he told a large throng of media. ``The only thing I've felt is my knee. I don't have anything to say about (the Mets). New York is a good community, but being in Anaheim, I'm much more comfortable.''

--Salmon update: Tim Salmon ran the bases Tuesday for the first time since going on the disabled list with a left knee injury. He anticipates joining Single-A Rancho Cucamonga this weekend for a rehab assignment, and May 18 remains his target for a return.

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ANGELS at N.Y. YANKEES

- Gabe Lacques