Injured Guerrero likely to return to lineup Friday

 

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) -Angels manager Mike Scioscia is confident that Vladimir Guerrero will be sidelined only a couple of days recovering from a wrist injury.
The Los Angeles slugger bruised his right wrist when hit by a pitch from Boston’s Josh Beckett in the first inning of Monday’s 7-2 loss to the Red Sox at Fenway Park. Guerrero received treatment all day Tuesday as trainers worked to reduce the swelling before he begins to regaining range of motion.
“Actually he feels much better than he could have been,” Scioscia said Tuesday before the Angels opened a two-game series against the Oakland Athletics. “We’re very encouraged. Hopefully he’ll be ready to go Friday.”
,” Scioscia said.
The Angels are off Thursday, then host the Seattle Mariners for a weekend series.
When asked how he felt, Guerrero said in Spanish, “Not good.”
Guerrero, the team’s right fielder who is hitting .364 with three home runs and 12 RBIs this season, was struck on an 0-2 pitch after Orlando Cabrera hit a one-out homer.
Plate umpire Rick Reed issued a warning to Beckett and the Angels, though Beckett said Reed told him he didn’t think the pitcher had intentionally hit Guerrero – who has no interest in wearing protective body armor like that Barry Bonds sports in the batter’s box.
“Getting hit is part of baseball and always will be part of baseball,” Scioscia said. “Especially with Vlad, it’s a byproduct of trying to pitch him aggressively. He doesn’t give much. He stays in there a long time and occasionally he’s going to get hit. … We’re going to hit our share of guys by pitching inside aggressively. That’s the way I think you accept the hit by pitch.”