Angels’ focus is on scoring runs, not hitting home runs

The Angels entered Sunday’s game having hit only 84 home runs in 2016, the fifth-fewest in Major League Baseball and the second-fewest in the American League. They had not launched one for seven games until Albert Pujols did so in Sunday’s first inning at Angel Stadium against the Chicago White Sox.

It was a trait General Manager Billy Eppler recognized and accepted when assembling the roster over the off-season, opting for contact ability over power. Although it has not led to the sort of season that was envisioned, the Angels have struck out less than any other club.

“We’re definitely a team that thinks we can score runs without a home run,” Angels Manager Mike Scioscia said. “We’re scoring runs without hitting home runs, and they’ll come. We have guys in our lineup with some power. They’re just in a little dry spell right now. Those home runs will come, but until they do, you still have to generate offense. We’re doing a good job of that.”

The Angels had homered more than the median major league team in each of the last four seasons, spanning Pujols’ tenure with the team. He said their home run total did not matter, as long as the offense was scoring runs — and they are on pace to put up 77 more runs than a year ago.

“You guys always focus on negative stuff,” Pujols said in response to a question about the homer-less stretch. “Who cares about homers? At the end of the day, who cares if we go deep or not?”

Short hops

The Angels scratched catcher Geovany Soto from their lineup 90 minutes before Sunday’s game and inserted Jett Bandy in his stead. Soto was experiencing left knee discomfort, the Angels announced. He tore the meniscus in his right knee in May and missed nearly two months. … Bullpen coach Scott Radinsky will travel with the Angels on their upcoming trip to Houston and Kansas City, he said. Radinsky had been replaced by triple-A pitching coach Erik Bennett for recent trips after he experienced heart abnormalities after a game in Oakland in April. He underwent subsequent triple-bypass surgery. He resumed coaching while the team was at home last month. … Outfielder Craig Gentry moved his rehab assignment to triple-A Salt Lake on Sunday and could rejoin the Angels shortly. He has been away from the team since May 1, first because of a lumbar spine strain and then because of a “personal medical condition.’

pedro.moura@latimes.com

Twitter: @pedromoura