Hot-Hitting Gil Stays in the Lineup

After reaching base four times with a triple, two singles and a walk in Wednesday night’s 4-3 victory, Angel infielder Benji Gil was asked if three hits would be enough to earn another start Thursday night.

“No way,” Gil said. “That’s not happening.”

Imagine how stunned Gil was to arrive at the Ballpark in Arlington Thursday and see his name in the lineup. He batted ninth and played second base.

“Yeah, I was surprised,” Gil said. “Weren’t you?”

Gil is batting .366 after going two for three Thursday night but has only 112 at-bats, so he knows not to get his hopes up. But with Adam Kennedy starting 18 of 19 games at second and the Angels having no true designated hitter, Manager Mike Scioscia gave Kennedy a break, using him at DH Thursday and Gil at second.

“We have two guys who play Benji’s positions who are doing a terrific job,” Scioscia said, “so we have to be creative finding ways to get Benji in the lineup.”

Gil opened the season as the Angels’ starting shortstop but lost that job to David Eckstein in late April. With Kennedy responding well to his new role as No. 2 hitter, Gil’s playing time has been pinched some more.

“Eckstein has filled a void for us in the leadoff spot, and Adam is an excellent second baseman who’s hitting .300 and doing a tremendous job in the two-hole,” Gil said. “If I’m going to complain, who do I complain to? I can be frustrated, but I can’t be upset.”

The Angels were 36-34 after 70 games last season and 5 1/2 games off the American League West lead. They are 34-36 after 70 games this season and 19 1/2 games behind first-place Seattle.

“We’re not too different from where we were last year,” Scioscia said. “The only variable is that Seattle is out of sight.”

Catcher Bengie Molina, rehabilitating his strained right hamstring, had three hits for triple-A Salt Lake Wednesday night. He rested Thursday, will DH tonight and catch Saturday and Sunday for Salt Lake before returning to the Angels, probably Monday. . . . After a downpour caused a 12-minute rain delay Thursday night, the Ranger grounds crew removed the tarpaulin . . . and watered the field.

ON DECK

Opponent--Seattle Mariners, three games.

Site--Safeco Field, Seattle.

Tonight--7.

TV--Channel 9 tonight, Saturday night and Sunday.

Radio--KLAC (570), XPRS (1090).

Records--Angels 34-36, Mariners 54-17.

Record vs. Mariners--1-6.

TONIGHT

ANGELS’ JARROD WASHBURN

(4-4, 4.29 ERA)

vs.

MARINERS’ AARON SELE

(8-0, 3.49 ERA)

Update--Washburn has not lost a decision in his last seven starts, going 3-0 with a 3.28 ERA in those games. The left-hander would do well to keep leadoff batter Ichiro Suzuki and Mark McLemore off the bases. Suzuki has been successful on 25 of 30 stolen-base attempts, and McLemore has 23 stolen bases in 23 attempts.

Saturday, 7 p.m.--Pat Rapp (1-7, 4.55) vs. Jamie Moyer (8-2, 4.54).

Sunday, 1:30 p.m.--Scott Schoeneweis (6-5, 4.06) vs. Paul Abbott (6-2, 4.58).