Scioscia’s Shake-Up Works

Play by the proverbial book, and no one questions the manager. The team might not win, but no one second-guesses a manager who plays by the conventional wisdom.

With the Angels off to their worst start in franchise history, Manager Mike Scioscia tossed the book out the proverbial window Wednesday. Batting third for the Angels: Orlando Palmeiro, an accomplished leadoff hitter and pinch-hitter with three home runs in 1,228 major league at-bats.

For a night, Scioscia was a genius. Palmeiro sparked a 10-6 victory over the Seattle Mariners with three hits and two runs scored. Tim Salmon hit his first home run of the season, Scott Spiezio tied a career high with four runs batted in, and Jarrod Washburn shut out the highest-scoring team in the major leagues over the first five innings, as the Angels ended a four-game losing streak overall and an eight-game losing streak to the Mariners.

“I’m pretty accustomed to getting my butt kicked this year,” Garret Anderson said. “It’s definitely nice to be on the other side.”

In spring training, Scioscia preached the virtues of a set lineup. With the Angels scoring the fewest runs of any team in the majors, Scioscia used a different lineup for the 12th consecutive game.

“We have so many guys who aren’t swinging the bat well that it’s difficult to find the recipe,” Scioscia said. “It’s like you’re trying to make bread without yeast and water.”

The Angels posted season highs in runs and hits. The 16 hits included four from Bengie Molina, tying his career high, and three apiece from Palmeiro, Anderson and Troy Glaus. In determining his lineup, Scioscia ignored traditional roles and simply put the hot hitters at the top.

The hottest hitter is Palmeiro, filling in superbly on offense and defense for injured outfielder Darin Erstad. In the past four games, Palmeiro has collected eight hits--all singles--and scored five runs. He is batting .375 this season.

Palmeiro, who batted third for the first time in his career, said he did not feel particularly comfortable at bat despite his heroics.

“I never feel comfortable,” he said. “I don’t know if anyone does. Maybe Barry Bonds does.”

But Washburn, the winning pitcher in both victories of the Angels’ 2-5 trip, said Palmeiro is the kind of hitter who makes opposing pitchers plenty uncomfortable.

“He’s pretty underrated,” Washburn said. “I bet he averages more pitches per at-bat than anybody in the big leagues. He gets two strikes and fouls off about five pitches. I would never be able to throw enough strikes to him. I’d probably walk him after 13 pitches.”

On a night the hitting sparkled, the defense and relief pitching did not. The Angels committed three errors, including two by second baseman Adam Kennedy. Al Levine, trusted to set up closer Troy Percival, pitched to six batters and retired one. In his past three outings, Levine has given up six runs over 32/3 innings.

The Angels scored five runs in the first inning, the most productive inning this season from a team that failed to score more than five runs in 15 of its first 20 games.

Salmon, whose 248 home runs are the most in franchise history, hit a career-low 17 homers last season and did not homer in his first 69 at-bats this season.

The Angels ended their first stretch of games within the division with a 6-12 record, including a 3-11 mark against American League West powers Seattle and Oakland. The Angels are 91/2 games behind Seattle already, and none too sorry to see the Mariners disappear from their schedule until July.

The schedule resumes Friday, with 12 of the Angels’ next 18 games against teams with losing records, including six against the worst team in the majors, the Detroit Tigers.