ANAHEIM, Calif. – Angels rookie sensation Mike Trout was scratched from the starting lineup Sunday morning because of a left knee contusion he suffered Saturday night against the Tampa Bay Rays.
Trout was replaced in center field by Peter Bourjos for the series finale against the Rays. Shortstop Maicer Izturis was scheduled to bat leadoff.
Trout, who has played in all 79 games since he was called up from Triple-A Salt Lake on April 28, is leading the American League in batting average (.350), runs (75) and stolen bases (31). He's on pace to join Hall of Famer Rickey Henderson as the only players in major league history to hit .350 or higher with at least 15 home runs and 30 or more stolen bases before Aug. 1.
Manager Mike Scioscia said Trout hit the wall in center field trying to catch a second-inning home run by Ben Zobrist. He stayed in the game but was 0 for 4.
"When he was trying to get up for that home run Zobrist hit, he hit his knee into the wall pretty good," Scioscia said. "He's a little sore today. We'll see what his availability is to do something during the game and hopefully he'll get back in there tomorrow."
The Angels open a 10-game road trip in Texas against the AL West-leading Rangers.
