ARLINGTON, Texas — The Angels won't have designated hitter Kendrys Morales for at least one game, and possibly two, of their most important series of the season.
Morales, who missed all of last season while recovering from a broken left ankle he suffered in May 2010, reported a sore left Achilles tendon and was not in the starting lineup Friday for the Angels' series opener against the Texas Rangers.
Morales said the injury is not related to his ankle injury, although he spoke to the doctor who performed the surgery on his ankle last year. Manager Mike Scioscia said Morales was available to pinch hit, but it's more likely that he won't return to his DH spot until Sunday.
Morales said his Achilles had been bothering him for three or four days, although it wasn't until Friday that he reported the injury to Scioscia. Morales said he spoke with a doctor in the morning, who recommended he rest for a day or two.
Morales has been among the Angels' more reliable hitters, batting .315, including .417 (10 for 24) during the team's recent homestand.
Meanwhile, catcher Chris Iannetta underwent surgery on his broken right wrist Friday in which a small bone called the pisiform was removed.
Iannetta is likely to be sidelined up to eight weeks.
"We're a little thin at the catching spot with some guys being down," Scioscia said. "Six to eight weeks is a long time, but considering if more extensive surgery was needed than just taking a little piece of broken bone out, you could be looking at a lot longer time."
The Angels were expected to call up John Hester from their Triple-A Salt Lake farm team to take Iannetta's place. Hester was hitting .222 with one home run and five RBIs in eight games.
Hank Conger would have been the obvious choice to replace Iannetta, but he's on the disabled list with a sprained right elbow.
