Matthews discovers new twist

As if Gary Matthews Jr. didn’t have enough on his plate, shuttling between three positions -- left field, right field, designated hitter -- at which he has limited experience, he discovered another challenge to his new job Thursday in the Metrodome: Lights.

As a center fielder, Matthews rarely dealt with lights, because stadiums don’t position light standards behind home plate.

But in the fourth inning against Minnesota on Thursday, with two on and one out, Matthews, making his first start of the season in right, lost Delmon Young’s soft liner in the lights before recovering to make the catch just before the ball hit the turf.

“It’s completely different, because you don’t have that in center field,” Matthews said. “I didn’t even think about that this spring. I’ll have to get accustomed to the lights in different parks, but it’s hard to prepare during batting practice because the lights aren’t on. It adds to the challenge.”

Matthews started the first two games at DH. He played left field Wednesday, right field Thursday and was back in left against Texas on Friday night.

“No one really likes to DH,” Matthews said. “It’s easier to stay in the flow of the game, to stay sharp, to keep all your senses going when you’re playing the field, rather than turning it on or off.”

Matthews, who hit first, third, fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh last season, is also trying to adjust to his new spot in the order, second, behind speedy leadoff batter Chone Figgins. Those with little experience in the two-hole can find it distracting. If Figgins runs, should Matthews take the pitch, giving Figgins a chance to steal? Should he swing to protect Figgins?

Matthews has opted for a simple approach, which was revealed in the third inning Thursday. With Figgins running, Matthews belted a two-run home run.

“I’m still going to be aggressive, regardless of whether Figgy is running,” Matthews said. “He’s going to do what made him successful, and I’ll do what has made me successful.”

------

Setup man Scot Shields gave up two hits and struck out three in a one-inning, 18-pitch outing for triple-A Salt Lake on Thursday and was expected to be activated off the disabled list tonight.

Shields, who was slowed by a sore shoulder early in spring and struggled with his command before being sidelined by tightness in his forearm, threw first-pitch strikes to all five batters he faced, and his fastball was clocked between 91 and 94 mph.

“I feel I’m ready,” Shields said. “I could have pitched at this level with the stuff I had [Thursday] night.”

------

Shortstop Erick Aybar showed what a fierce competitor he is Wednesday in Minnesota, hanging in at second to turn four double plays despite being pummeled by Twins runners each time.

Manager Mike Scioscia wasn’t surprised. He could tell Aybar was fearless when he started the middle infielder at third base -- Aybar’s only career start there -- last May 30 against Seattle.

“I asked him if he’d ever played third and he said, ‘Sure.’ ” Scioscia said. “I said when? He said, ‘When I was six.’ He went over there and made some nice plays.”

--

mike.digiovanna@latimes.com