Spiezio ‘Floored’ by Ovations

Former Angel Scott Spiezio said he was “totally floored” by the standing ovations he received before and during Tuesday’s game at Angel Stadium, especially the one that accompanied the curtain call he took before the second inning.

The Angels surprised Spiezio by showing a replay of his dramatic three-run homer that ignited a come-from-behind victory over the San Francisco Giants in Game 6 of the 2002 World Series.

“I saw the home run and I’m like, ‘Oh, they must be showing some World Series highlights or something,’ ” Spiezio, a Mariner third baseman, said Wednesday. “Then all of a sudden it said, ‘Thanks, Scott.’ That’s really classy of the Angels to do that in their home opener.”

Seattle utilityman Dave Hansen nudged Spiezio up the dugout stairs and onto the field, where Spiezio put his hand over his heart and repeatedly said, “Thank you.”

“That home run was such a huge moment, and they felt the same emotion that I felt,” said Spiezio, who did not take a curtain call in October 2002 because the Angels trailed, 5-3, in the seventh inning. “I think we’ll always have a bond that way.”

Angel fans also stood and cheered Spiezio when he was introduced before the game.

“I just basically expected to run out, and as I ran out some people would clap and that’d be it,” Spiezio said. “I started running out, and they were cheering pretty loud. I’m going, ‘Oh my God, this is cool.’ I was standing in line and I was kind of waiting for them to call the next guy, and they just kept cheering.

“I just couldn’t believe it. It seemed like it lasted forever.”

Spiezio, who opened the season on the 15-day disabled list because of a soft-tissue injury in the middle of his back, did not expect to travel to Anaheim, but he started feeling better last weekend. He reported to Class-A San Bernardino on Wednesday for a rehabilitation assignment and said he hoped to be back in the Seattle lineup by Sunday.

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Shortstop David Eckstein’s father, Whitey, has been cleared to receive a kidney transplant and has been put on a waiting list, but the first potential donor failed a physical and cannot give the organ.

Eckstein, whose family suffers from a hereditary disease that destroys kidney function, said it could be another year before his father finds an acceptable match. Eckstein and his brother Rick have dodged the condition, but sisters Susan and Christine and brother Kenny have received transplants.

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Vladimir Guerrero, still bothered by a sore knee, was the designated hitter for the second consecutive game and was again replaced in right field by Tim Salmon.

Manager Mike Scioscia said Guerrero could heal more quickly if the Angels gave him several days off, but they consider his bat too valuable to take out of their lineup. Guerrero probably will continue to serve as the designated hitter for the next few games.

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Troy Glaus sat out his third consecutive game because of tightness in his left hamstring, but Scioscia said the third baseman was feeling better and might play tonight. Shane Halter continued to fill in at third in Glaus’ absence.... As expected, catcher Jose Molina replaced brother Bengie in the lineup after Bengie made his season debut Tuesday. Scioscia said he probably would play Bengie, sidelined the first seven days of the season by a strained left hamstring, every other day through the weekend series against Oakland.