ANGELS WIN, BUT MOLINA IS INJURED ANGELS 7, DETROIT 5.

Byline: Joe Haakenson Staff Writer

ANAHEIM - The Angels won their fourth consecutive game Friday night, 7-5 over the Detroit Tigers in front of 36,690 at Edison Field, but it might have come at a steep price.

Starting catcher Bengie Molina fell to the ground in pain as he ran to third base during the Angels' game-winning, three-run rally in the seventh inning. Molina initially has been diagnosed with a strained right hamstring, but he will have an MRI exam today at UC Irvine Medical Center to find out whether the hamstring is torn.

``Bengie's very sore,'' Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. ``He'll be evaluated (today), but it doesn't look good right now.

``He was running and just before he got to the base he pulled up. There was no doubt when it happened.''

Molina was being treated by trainers after the game and not available for comment. Other Angels were cautious about ruling out Molina until after today's MRI, but some said Molina told them he heard a pop when it happened.

``It would be a huge blow,'' Angels starting pitcher Scott Schoeneweis said. ``You don't want to say he's going to be missed, you want to be optimistic about it.

``He's the anchor of our pitching staff as a catcher. He's an important part of our team both offensively and defensively.''

Jorge Fabregas likely would become the starter should Molina be out for an extended period of time. Fabregas has started five games this season.

``(Molina's) our catcher on this team,'' Fabregas said. ``It's a big loss. He knows these guys (pitchers) real well. But I've prepared myself every day like I'm catching even if I'm not in the lineup. I'm ready for whatever comes along. You hate to see it, he's the man here. I've prepared myself in case there's an injury. That's my role and I accept it.''

Shawn Wooten, who played first base and had a career-best three hits Friday, also could catch. Jose Molina, Bengie's younger brother, has caught 20 of 27 games for Triple-A Salt Lake and might get called up.

Painful as it was, the seventh inning was a productive one for the Angels, who entered it trailing 5-4. Wooten led off with a single to right field. One out later, Molina singled to center and Wally Joyner walked, loading the bases for Adam Kennedy.

Kennedy laced a line-drive single to center, scoring pinch-runner Orlando Palmeiro, but Molina pulled up as he reached third, then fell to the ground in obvious pain, clutching his right hamstring. He had to be helped from the field.

After Molina was hurt, David Eckstein drove in a run when he was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded. Later in the inning, Troy Glaus was hit by a thrown ball in the back as he ran to first base.

The Angels finished with 13 hits off four Tigers pitchers. Besides Wooten's big night, Eckstein reached base four times with a single, two walks and the hit-by-pitch. Kennedy had three hits and Scott Spiezio had two.

Schoeneweis started for the Angels and went 6 2/3 innings, though he gave up more than three runs for the first time in seven starts this season.