Figgins Doesn’t Get Down

After Chone Figgins missed Chris Shelton’s third-inning popup for an error that cost the Angels a run, and misplayed Curtis Granderson’s fourth-inning drive off the wall, turning what should have been a double into a three-run, inside-the-park home run, a derisive cheer rumbled through Angel Stadium when Figgins caught Brandon Inge’s routine fly ball to center to open the fifth inning Thursday night.

And Figgins laughed.

Here he was, in the midst of his worst defensive game of the season, having cost his team two, maybe three, runs in an eventual 8-6 loss in the heat of a pennant race, and all Figgins could do was smile through the pain.

“It’s just my personality,” Figgins said. “I get upset, but I think I’ve done a pretty good job out there. For me to make a mistake, it’s not the end of the world. To dwell on it a lot is not my personality.”

The Angels feel the same way. Though Figgins started at third base Friday night, Manager Mike Scioscia said he would not hesitate using Figgins, who has started at six positions this season, in center field again.

“As talented and athletic as he is, there are some fundamentals in center field that experience will help him with,” Scioscia said. “But we won’t shy away from using him in center field. He has good range and a strong arm, and he’s played at a good level in center field. We have confidence in putting him out there.”

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Vladimir Guerrero probably will be relegated to designated hitter for several days, but the Angels were happy to have the right fielder’s bat in the lineup Friday after Guerrero left Thursday’s game because of a jammed left shoulder.

He dislocated the same shoulder May 20 and spent three weeks on the disabled list, but Thursday’s injury is not nearly as serious.

“This one, it felt more like it was stretched out,” Guerrero said through an interpreter.

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Scioscia said ace Bartolo Colon, who was rocked for seven earned runs in five innings Thursday, would start Tuesday against Texas on regular rest, meaning the Angels will skip rookie Joe Saunders’ spot.

The Angels will have the option of folding injured left-hander Jarrod Washburn back into the rotation at some point, and Scioscia did not rule out the possibility of Kelvim Escobar starting.

If Washburn and Escobar pitch, the Angels could hold Colon for the opener of a four-game series at Oakland on Sept. 26. Or, Scioscia might use Colon on three days’ rest in the final week and a half, enabling the right-hander to start at Oakland on Sept. 28 and against Texas in the regular-season finale Oct. 2.