Matthews still gets nod over Rivera

Juan Rivera has gotten 400 at-bats once in a major league season, in 2006. He hit 23 home runs.

Gary Matthews Jr. has gotten 400 at-bats six times. He never has hit 20 home runs.

Matthews went hitless Sunday, dropping his batting average to .215 overall and .175 since April 24. The Angels need some punch, having scored four runs or fewer in 12 consecutive games, but Manager Mike Scioscia said that for now Matthews would remain in the lineup.

Rivera is a career .288 hitter, with a .467 slugging percentage. Matthews is a career .259 hitter, with a .414 slugging percentage.

Matthews hit .313 with 19 home runs, both career highs, for the Texas Rangers in 2006. The Angels then signed him to a five-year, $50-million contract, and the switch-hitter batted .252 with 18 home runs last season.

“He had a terrific year last year, especially from the right side,” Scioscia said. “He’s figured out some things in his swing the last couple years that have made him a better offensive player, and he brings a tremendous presence on defense and running the bases.

“We still have a lot of season left, and we have high expectations for what Gary can bring. It’s not endless [patience] for any player, but right now Gary needs repetitions to get going.”

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Infielder Sean Rodriguez hit his first major league home run, off Toronto star A.J. Burnett. Rodriguez’s father is a minor league instructor for the Marlins, so he got tickets for the whole family when Burnett and the Marlins played in the 2003 World Series.

Rodriguez thanked his father and told him he would stay home.

“I said, ‘My first World Series is going to be when I play, not when I’m watching from the stands,’ ” Rodriguez said.

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First baseman Casey Kotchman has noticed that the Lakers and Boston Celtics are scheduled to play Game 4 of the NBA Finals a week from Thursday, when the Angels have the day off.

He just might have to find some tickets for the game at Staples Center. The Angels had last Thursday off, and Kotchman and his father were in attendance as the Lakers eliminated the San Antonio Spurs in Game 5. Kobe Bryant led the Lakers with 39 points, including 17 in the fourth quarter.

“I saw him take over the game,” Kotchman said. “It seemed like, whenever he wanted to flip the switch, he could. Game over. Series over.”

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Rookie Jose Arredondo worked 2 1/3 scoreless innings for the victory Sunday. Since giving up a home run to the first batter he faced in his major league debut, Arredondo has pitched 8 1/3 scoreless innings, with no walks and seven strikeouts. . . . Second baseman Howie Kendrick did not start but did enter the game in the ninth inning. Kendrick had started Friday and Saturday, his first two games after missing 42 because of a hamstring injury, and Scioscia said he wanted to “let him fold back in.” Scioscia said he hoped Kendrick would play all three games in the series that starts tonight in Seattle.

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bill.shaikin@latimes.com