Taking the fifth, gladly
ARLINGTON, Texas — Albert Pujols hit 13 home runs last June. Johnny Giavotella has hit 10 home runs in his major league career.
Yet there was Giavotella batting fifth for the Angels on Tuesday, the guy on deck when Pujols bats and opponents say, “Pitch to a Hall of Famer with 569 career home runs, or pitch around him and go after the guy on deck?”
“I wouldn’t mind being that guy to come up behind him and do some damage,” Giavotella said. “If they walk him, I think they have a tough out in me.”
With two on and two out in the sixth inning Tuesday, the Texas Rangers walked Pujols. That loaded the bases for Giovatella, who struck out. He went 0 for 4, ending his 12-game hitting streak. He is batting .270 overall, including .341 over the last 22 games. He was moved to the No. 5 spot on Sunday.
“You want to have a guy swinging the bat well, first of all, behind Albert,” Manager Mike Scioscia said. “I think Johnny fits that bill. He puts the ball in play. He’s hitting the ball very hard. Hopefully, he’ll get some RBI opportunities.”
An unconventional lineup is not unusual for Scioscia. In 2002, the year the Angels won the World Series, their comeback from a 6-14 start coincided with his moving a similar line-drive hitter, Orlando Palmeiro, into the No. 3 spot.
“I know that Scioscia likes to jumble the lineup every once in a while to get things going,” Giavotella said. “Is it a position I see myself lasting the whole season? Probably not. But, wherever I need to be to help the team out is where I’m fine.”
It’s quite an ascent for Giavotella, who hit .238 in parts of four seasons for Kansas City. The Royals traded him for a minor league pitcher who finished last season in the Mexican League, and Giavotella won a four-way battle for the Angels’ second-base job last year.
“Any time you get big league playing time, it’s an opportunity in itself, whether it’s four at-bats or 400,” he said. Ol’ 55
Angels assistant hitting coach Paul Sorrento is not sure what he’ll ask of Tim Lincecum in exchange for the right to wear No. 55.
“A dozen golf balls or something,” Sorrento said.
Sorrento said he plans to switch to No. 44, the number he wore proudly in his major league career, in honor of Reggie Jackson.
Lincecum is expected to make his debut for triple-A Salt Lake next week and make at least two starts there before joining the Angels, perhaps as soon as June 12. Short hops
The Angels, Dodgers, San Francisco Giants and Oakland Athletics each won via shutout Monday — the first time that has ever happened, according to the Elias Sports Bureau . . . . Pitcher C.J. Wilson and infielder Cliff Pennington are set to start minor league rehabilitation assignments Wednesday at Class-A Inland Empire. Pennington could be activated this weekend . . . . Relievers A.J. Achter and Al Alburquerque were assigned to Salt Lake after each cleared waivers.