Angels Lose but Might Get Some Help

Despite the best efforts of Vladimir Guerrero, who drove in a franchise-record nine runs Wednesday and has been a force all season, the steady production of Jose Guillen and the solid contributions of David Eckstein, Chone Figgins and Jeff DaVanon, it’s no secret the Angels could use a little more offense.

That point was driven home Saturday night when the Angels managed only one home run and six singles off Cleveland starter Joe Dawley, a right-hander who was claimed off waivers from the Kansas City Royals on May 17, and four relievers in a 3-2 loss to the Indians before a sellout crowd of 43,514 in Angel Stadium.

Help, though, could arrive sooner than expected. Center fielder and cleanup batter Garret Anderson, expected to be sidelined until the All-Star break because of an arthritic condition in his upper back, will work out in the outfield today, and if all goes well, Manager Mike Scioscia said there was “a probability” Anderson would begin a minor league rehabilitation assignment Monday.

Anderson, who has averaged 30 home runs and 120 runs batted in for the last four seasons, has responded well to the oral medication he has been taking for two weeks and has been taking batting practice, running and throwing for several days.

The two-time All-Star has never needed more than 25-30 at-bats in spring training to get ready, so there’s a very good chance Anderson could return for the team’s trip to Pittsburgh and Houston beginning June 15.

“He needs to build up his core strength and his stamina,” Scioscia said. “His hand strength is fine, but the concern we have is, we get him out there, he’s feeling good, but he doesn’t have the strength and stamina he needs, and maybe he pops a rib-cage muscle or something.”

Designated hitter Tim Salmon, out since April 30 because of a strained left knee, could also be activated today or Tuesday, and when he and Anderson return, Scioscia will have a difficult decision regarding center fielder Raul Mondesi, who was signed on May 29 as a replacement for Anderson and Salmon but may be relegated to a reserve role much sooner than he or the Angels expected.

Third base, vacated by the injured Troy Glaus in mid-May, could also be an issue, with the Angels needing to decide over the next month and a half whether to keep the versatile Figgins as their starter or pursue a veteran third baseman.

If the decision was based on offense, it would be a no-brainer: Figgins, an everyday player since April 22, is batting .312 and staked the Angels to a 2-0 lead with a two-run home run in the third inning Saturday night. He leads the American League with eight triples, he has 28 runs and 16 stolen bases and can generate plenty of offense with his speed.

On defense, though, the picture is a little muddled. The inexperienced Figgins made only his 15th major league start at third Saturday night and couldn’t make a key play that resulted in the Indians scoring the tying and winning runs in the sixth inning.

Trailing, 2-1, Cleveland second baseman Ronnie Belliard led off the sixth with a single and took second and third on two groundball outs. The Angels intentionally walked left-handed hitting Travis Hafner to face right-handed Casey Blake.

After Hafner stole second, Blake hit a hard two-hopper down the line at third. Figgins, who was playing deep, took a step or two to his right and appeared to be in position to make a play or at least knock the ball down, hold Blake to an infield single and prevent one run from scoring.

But the ball skipped off Figgins’ glove and into left field, enabling Belliard and Hafner to score and give the Indians a 3-2 lead. The play was generously ruled a double.

“Figgy thought he should have made the play, but it was much tougher than it looked,” Scioscia said. “The ball came up with top spin, he was moving to his right, and as a third baseman, you have to plant your foot as you catch the ball. It’s going to be a long throw, and it has to be accurate. By no means was it a routine play.”

Figgins said it was a play he “could have” made, “but it’s one of the tough ones,” he said. “I haven’t been at third base long enough to know how to approach it. The second hop had a lot of top spin, and once I saw that, I tried to knock it down. It hit my glove and kicked away.”

Angel starter John Lackey (3-7) suffered the loss, giving up three runs and eight hits in eight innings.