When in a pinch, they seem to be out of luck

OAKLAND -- The Angels’ lack of a trusty pinch-hitter appeared to cost them in several crucial situations this week and could continue to be a weakness in their push for a third division title in four years.

Manager Mike Scioscia used rookie Nathan Haynes off the bench to pinch-hit for Jeff Mathis with the bases loaded and one out in the 11th inning Wednesday against Seattle. Haynes, who had all of 28 career at-bats, struck out and the Angels went on to lose, 8-7, in 12 innings.

On Friday, Scioscia kept first baseman Casey Kotchman on the bench rather than insert him as a late-inning defensive replacement for Robb Quinlan with a one-run lead, reasoning that he might need Kotchman as a pinch-hitter.

That decision proved costly when Quinlan couldn’t handle a throw from right fielder Vladimir Guerrero that bounced past him and allowed the tying run to score during Oakland’s 8-4 victory.

Although the Angels’ bench has been somewhat depleted by injuries to Howie Kendrick, Erick Aybar and Mike Napoli, the team doesn’t have many attractive pinch-hitting options even with a full complement of players.

“Right now a lot of the depth we have is on the disabled list,” Scioscia said. “Some guys are in a situation where maybe they’re not totally comfortable, but they’re going to do their best.”

Help may not be on the way after General Manager Bill Stoneman failed to fortify the bench before the non-waiver trade deadline.

“The smaller deals weren’t going to help our ballclub,” said Stoneman, who could still add a player who clears waivers.

That’s Dustin Moseley, as in M-O-S-E-L-E-Y.

Maybe the clubhouse attendants will get it right now that Moseley has solidified his spot in the Angels’ rotation. Moseley, whose last name was misspelled on the placard above his locker at Safeco Field and McAfee Coliseum on the current trip, earned at least one more start Wednesday against Boston in the wake of his solid start Friday against Oakland.

Moseley gave up four hits and three runs in 5 1/3 innings and received a major boost from reliever Chris Bootcheck, who escaped the bases-loaded mess that Moseley bequeathed to him in the sixth inning.

Scot Shields could offer no theories for his struggles at Oakland, which escalated Friday during his worst outing in 329 relief appearances. He surrendered four hits and five runs in only two-thirds of an inning during the Angels’ 8-4 loss.

“They had an infield hit and a bloop hit and then I started getting hit around a little bit,” said Shields, who is 0-7 with a 5.59 earned-run average in Oakland.

Scioscia suggested that Shields’ problems might be a reflection of the Angels’ struggles against their division rival on the road. The Angels are 24-30 in Oakland since Shields’ rookie season in 2002.

Since the All-Star break, Shields is 1-2 with a 9.64 ERA in 9 1/3 innings. He was 2-2 with a 1.70 ERA before the break.

ben.bolch@latimes.com