ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) – The Anaheim Angels dispatched their third pitcher in three days when they released struggling right-hander Kevin Appier on Wednesday.

Appier, 35, was 7-7 with a 5.63 ERA in 19 starts this season. On Tuesday night, he threw 43 pitches and didn’t make it out of the first inning against the New York Yankees. Appier allowed four runs on five hits and retired only two of eight batters.

The 15-year veteran came to Anaheim in December 2001 from the New York Mets in a trade for Mo Vaughn. Appier was 14-12 last season with a 3.92 ERA in 32 starts, helping Anaheim win its first World Series championship.

He has a career record of 168-134, including seven seasons of 14 or more victories.

Appier, the ninth overall pick by the Kansas City Royals in the 1987 draft, is just 13 strikeouts away from 2,000 in his career. He made the All-Star team once with the Royals in 1995.

Appier, making $11.5 million this season, still has one year left on his contract at $12.5 million for next season. He won a career-high 18 games in 1993 when he led the AL with a 2.56 ERA.

The Angels purchased the contract of right-hander Greg Jones from Triple-A Salt Lake to take Appier’s place on the roster. Jones was 2-3 with four saves and a 4.40 ERA in 33 appearances with Salt Lake.

On Tuesday, the Angels traded starter-turned-reliever Scott Schoeneweis to the Chicago White Sox for right-hander Gary Glover. That deal came one day after right-handed reliever Mickey Callaway was designated for assignment.

AP-ES-07-30-03 1826EDT