ANAHEIM, Calif. –– Justin Masterson wasn’t supposed to rejoin the Red Sox staff until the team returned from its current road trip. But circumstances may hasten his return.

Masterson could join the Sox as early as today, or perhaps tomorrow, if the Sox end up placing David Aardsma on the disabled list with an unspecified leg injury. Aardsma had his thigh heavily taped yesterday and got treatment for what was probably either a hamstring or quad pull.

“It’s a little bit sore,” Aardsma said yesterday before going out to test the injury, which he said first arose Friday night when he pitched a third of an inning in relief. “We’ll just keep working it out, working it out. We’ll see how it is (today).”

Masterson, who was sent to Pawtucket this month to transition him from the starting rotation to the bullpen, has made three relief appearances in Triple A.

Whether he arrives today, tomorrow in Seattle or Friday for the start of the homestand, the Sox see Masterson as someone who could pitch multiple innings out of the bullpen and be particularly tough against right-handed hitters.

As a starter, he limited righties to a .170 batting average with a .255 on-base percentage and a .261 slugging percentage.

Francona defends Manny

Manager Terry Francona was asked whether he was troubled by Manny Ramirez’s reaction to Friday night’s mishap in left field.

Ramirez misplayed Maicer Izturis’s blooper into a triple in the sixth inning, then compounded things by rolling onto the ball and later laughing as the Sox fell further behind.

“I don’t think I was laughing (in the dugout),” said Francona, “but I also have been around Manny enough to know it’s not malicious. It’s not malicious –– it’s just how it is. I don’t know how else to say it.”

Coco’s remarkable grab

Coco Crisp turned in the defensive highlight of the afternoon in robbing Casey Kotchman of extra bases with a spectacular leaping catch into the center-field wall in the seventh.

Crisp was slow to get up, but said later that he had had the wind knocked out of him.

“My back will probably be a little sore (today),” he said. “But I’ll be all right.”

“He’s (made standout catches) so many times when I’m out there,” said starter Josh Beckett, “that I pretty much have a highlight reel with my arms up in the air (reacting to the catches). He’s such a great athlete.”

“A great play,” Francona said. “There’s not a lot Coco doesn’t get to.”

Francona in praise of Lowrie

Francona spent the morning media session extolling the virtues of Jed Lowrie, who will play mostly at shortstop in the coming weeks.

“I want to play this kid a little bit,” said Francona, “because I’m excited. He’s steady and has good at-bats.”

Francona compared Lowrie to former Red Sox third baseman Bill Mueller –– a switch-hitter who will hit a lot of doubles — if not for much power –– and “grind out at-bats.”

But yesterday was not Lowrie’s best showcase. He was eaten up by a smash off the bat of Torii Hunter in the seventh, which helped kick-start the Angels’ big inning, and while he had a leadoff single in the fifth, he struck out with the bases loaded in the eighth against Scot Shields.

Meanwhile, shortstop Julio Lugo, out until September with a strained quad, has yet to begin any rehab work and continues to rest.

Pedroia’s streak unbroken

Dustin Pedroia had yet another multi-hit game — singles in the first inning and ninth inning — and extended his road hitting streak to 20 straight games. That’s the fourth-longest such streak for a Red Sox player since 1956. Overall, Pedroia has hit safely in 21 of his last 22 games at a .444 clip (56-for-126) and is second in the American League with 128 hits. Pedroia has multi-hit games in four straight, six of his last seven, and eight of his last 11 games.

smcadam@projo.com