Sele Is Starting His Case for Spot

Aaron Sele has traveled this road before.

As a non-roster invitee last spring, the former Angel right-hander stuck with the Seattle Mariners. This year, he’s trying to do the same with the Dodgers.

Hoping to make the team as the fifth starter, or perhaps as a middle reliever, he did nothing but bolster his candidacy Saturday, pitching four scoreless innings and giving up four hits, striking out two and walking none in the Dodgers’ 2-1, 10-inning Grapefruit League loss to the Washington Nationals.

“He’s had a lot of success this spring and we know what he’s capable of from his history,” Manager Grady Little said of the 35-year-old Sele, who is 137-104 in 13 major league seasons, including a 6-12 record and 5.66 earned-run average with the Mariners last season. “It’s all something you can’t hardly ignore.

“He knows exactly what’s taking place here and he’s going out and doing the best he can to try to force our hand.”

Sele, whose main competitors for the fifth starter’s spot are Jae Seo and D.J. Houlton, has pitched 8 2/3 scoreless innings in three spring appearances.

“You do what you can do,” he said. “When they pick their 25-man roster, there’s so much that goes into it that the only thing you can worry about is what you can control -- and that’s your pitches. And to be ready when you’re called upon.”

The two-time All-Star said he came to camp with no expectations.

“I had an opportunity to come and play,” he said. “From that point on, it’s basically been, get ready to pitch. We’ll let everything else kind of work itself out.”

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Converted shortstop Joel Guzman had two more hits and is batting .364 as he adjusts to his new assignment in left field. The touted prospect also seemed to misplay a line drive before stretching to catch it.

“I see the kid becoming more comfortable all the time,” Little said. “He’s made all the plays he’s had to make out there. That one out there today got a little ugly, but the end result is what we’re looking at and he caught the ball.”

Said Guzman of his new position: “I kind of like it. I’m not loving it, like McDonald’s.”

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Little said that center fielder Kenny Lofton and hitting coach Eddie Murray would attend Kirby Puckett’s funeral today in Minneapolis.... Shortstop Rafael Furcal has started taking infield and is expected to make his spring debut Wednesday against the Atlanta Braves.... Derek Lowe will pitch in a minor-league game Tuesday, the Dodgers’ only day off during the Grapefruit League season, to maintain his schedule in preparation for his opening-day start April 3 against the Braves.... Olmedo Saenz returned to camp after playing in the World Baseball Classic and Little said the Panamanian infielder would be in the lineup today against the Houston Astros.... Eric Gagne is expected to make his second spring appearance today.... The Dodgers launched a Spanish-language website, losdodgers.com.