Kotchman contributes on defense

The superb play of rangy center fielder Gary Matthews Jr. and the improved play of shortstop Orlando Cabrera are the primary reasons the Angels have been so much better defensively this season than in 2006, when they committed a league-high 122 errors and gave up 80 unearned runs.

More subtle has been the consistent play of first baseman Casey Kotchman, who may not show up on ESPN’s “Web Gems” segments as often as his more decorated teammates but has solidified what was a sore spot for the Angels last season.

“He’s a great defensive first baseman -- you can’t get better than that,” Cabrera said. “When I won my Gold Glove with Montreal [in 2001] I gave a lot of credit to [first baseman] Lee Stevens. He was picking everything I threw. It’s important to have that kind of guy out there all the time, a guy you feel comfortable throwing the ball to.”

Kotchman missed all but 29 games last season because of a viral syndrome, and the Angels filled in -- not very effectively -- with Kendry Morales, Robb Quinlan and Howie Kendrick, who combined for 10 errors and didn’t regularly save their fellow infielders from errors.

Kotchman has not committed an error in 40 games, and in the last week alone he saved third baseman Chone Figgins two errors, digging out low throws Tuesday in Seattle and Friday against the Dodgers.

He also saved a run Friday with a leaping catch of Andre Ethier’s two-out liner with a runner on second to end the fourth inning, preserving the Angels’ 2-1 lead.

“It’s very gratifying to save an error or run or just to be able to help the team out,” said Kotchman, who is batting .262 with three home runs and 19 runs batted in. “You’re picking someone up when you’re able to do that.”

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Figgins’ throw to first on Luis Gonzalez’s second-inning grounder Saturday was chest-high to Quinlan, an encouraging sign for the struggling third baseman who sat out the first month of the season because of fractures on the index and middle fingers of his throwing hand.

Figgins has said the slight discomfort in his fingers is not enough to affect his play. Several of his throws, which have bounced to first or sailed over the first baseman’s head, speak otherwise -- Figgins is tied for the team lead with four errors, despite missing a month.

Manager Mike Scioscia, though, sides with Figgins, who is also scuffling at the plate with a .108 average and no hits in his last 22 at-bats.

“I’m convinced he’s healthy enough to play at a level we need,” Scioscia said. “I’m sure there are some rough edges he’ll work though, but there’s nothing physically holding him back from playing well. His confidence will improve when he gets some hits to fall and starts making the plays he can make.”

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mike.digiovanna@latimes.com