Spiezio Leaves Bench After All

Life is so rough for the Angels these days that Manager Mike Scioscia benched infielder Scott Spiezio on Tuesday, then had to rush him into the game in the second inning.

Spiezio replaced third baseman Troy Glaus, who left because of tightness in his left hamstring. Glaus said the hamstring had bothered him over the weekend, and he has received treatment to combat the soreness but said he felt something “funny” while running out a ground ball in the first inning.

“It felt tight,” he said. “It wasn’t a pull. It wasn’t an explosion. It wasn’t anything like that.”

The Angels removed Glaus for precautionary reasons and listed him as day to day, although neither he nor Scioscia sounded overly concerned. Glaus never has been on the disabled list.

Scioscia started Shawn Wooten at first base, intending to give the day off to Spiezio, who had been batting .095 (2 for 21).

“I’m guessing it’s probably because I stink right now,” Spiezio said. “I did shower, but I still stink.

“For me to start hitting again, I’m going to have to have success in games, so I have to play.”

Spiezio went hitless in three at-bats to drop his average to .083. The Angels considered platooning Spiezio and Wooten last spring, but Scioscia said Spiezio earned his job as the everyday first baseman this season.

“He’s going to have every opportunity to battle through the rough spots,” Scioscia said.

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Reliever Scot Shields has pitched eight innings, giving up one hit and striking out seven.... Aaron Sele reported no discomfort after his first minor league rehabilitation start Sunday. He’ll make another Friday at Class-A Rancho Cucamonga.... Nathan Haynes, once considered the Angels’ top outfield prospect, was assigned to double-A Arkansas so that Jeff DaVanon could play center field at triple-A Salt Lake. Haynes and DaVanon are two of the three prospects the Angels acquired in the 1999 trade for veterans Randy Velarde and Omar Olivares. The other, pitcher Elvin Nina, never appeared in the majors and was released this spring.