Kennedy in a Groove in No. 2 Slot in Order

Adam Kennedy probably wasn’t ready to bat second when he was thrust into that role at the beginning of 2000, his first full season in the big leagues. By the end of May, he was hitting .257 and was demoted to the eighth or ninth spot.

This season, when Kennedy was least expecting it, Manager Mike Scioscia moved him from the eighth spot back into the two hole, and Kennedy has responded as if he had been groomed for the role his whole life.

After being promoted June 13, Kennedy went 17 for 49 (.347) in 12 games, raising his average from .282 to .296 entering play Tuesday night. In that span, Kennedy had four sacrifice bunts and advanced runners with ground-ball outs five times. He even drew walks in three straight games.

“He’s much better prepared for it than he was last year,” Scioscia said. “He’s working deeper counts, hitting left-handers and right-handers. He and [leadoff batter David] Eckstein are feeding off each other well and getting on base for [Darin] Erstad.”

Not that Kennedy, 25, is a crusty veteran, but the second baseman thinks maturity has played a role in his success in the two spot.

“I understand situations better, I know what the team needs, and it helps wanting to be part of a role like that,” Kennedy said. “Last year I was still trying to get comfortable with everything, to prove I belong. Maybe I wasn’t going about it the right way.”

When catcher Bengie Molina comes off the disabled list later this week, Scioscia will have another challenge: How to get Shawn Wooten in the lineup as much as possible.

Wooten is batting .344 with five homers and 17 runs batted in in only 96 at-bats, and he has done a solid job behind the plate, sharing catching duties with Jorge Fabregas in Molina’s absence. Wooten has teamed well with Angel left-hander Jarrod Washburn and has thrown out six of nine would-be base stealers.

But when Molina returns, Wooten will go back to his role as third catcher and utility player. He can also play first base, but Larry Barnes and Scott Spiezio have been splitting time at that position.

Scioscia is already struggling to get Benji Gil and his .347 average in the lineup--Gil has started almost exclusively against left-handers at either designated hitter or shortstop--and now he’ll have another potent bat from the right side in Wooten.

“No doubt, Shawn has earned a more prominent role here,” Scioscia said. “We’re going to have to get creative finding ways to get him in the lineup.”

TONIGHT

ANGELS’

JARROD WASHBURN

(5-4, 4.01 ERA)

vs.

RANGERS’

DOUG DAVIS

(3-5, 5.08 ERA)

Edison Field, 7 p.m.

TV--Fox Sports Net

Radio--KLAC (570); XPRS (1090)

Update--Since opening the season with three losses, Washburn has gone 5-1 with a 3.15 earned-run average in his last 10 starts. Davis, the Ranger lefty, has a 2.33 ERA in June, eighth best in the American League.

Tickets: (714) 663-9000