ON THE ANGELS

The Angels continued to play “Star Search” on Saturday, auditioning a rookie for a spot in their starting rotation for the second time in three days.

And after some first-inning jitters, Anthony Ortega performed well enough that the judges -- or at least the only judge that counts -- said he’ll be asked to come back next week for an encore at Yankee Stadium.

“He’ll get another start for sure,” said Angels Manager Mike Scioscia. “His stuff is going to play well in the major leagues.”

Unfortunately for Ortega, those kind words, a little hard-earned experience and the four game balls he collected in his locker were the only parting gifts he took home from his major league debut. That’s because he was outpitched for five innings by fellow Venezuelan Carlos Silva, then watched a valiant comeback by his teammates fall just short as the Mariners held on for a 9-8 victory.

“It was really emotional,” a wide-eyed Ortega said in Spanish. “My first time and I’m facing Ichiro Suzuki.”

In fact, two of the first three batters Ortega faced are headed to the Hall of Fame and he failed to retire either one, giving up a leadoff single to Suzuki -- his first of three hits -- then walking Ken Griffey Jr. But the blow that really hurt came from a journeyman, Russell Branyan, who blasted a pretty good curveball into the right-center-field seats for a three-run homer.

The Angels got two of those runs back in the third before the teams exchanged homers, the Mariners getting a solo shot from Wladimir Balentien in a two-run fourth and the Angels answering with a leadoff shot by Kendry Morales in the bottom of the inning, cutting the Mariners’ lead to 5-3.

Ortega, pitching with his wife, Yurimer, and 11-month-old daughter, Yohelimar, in the stands, lasted only three more batters, though, leaving after retiring the side in order in the fifth having given up five runs -- four earned -- and five hits while striking out five.

But his bullpen let him down, giving up more hits and as many earned runs in the span of three outs. So when Howie Kendrick and Torii Hunter tried to bring the Angels back -- with Kendrick doubling to spark rallies in both the seventh and eighth and Hunter belting a two-run homer in the ninth -- the comeback fell just short when Morales’ long fly died on the warning track.

Yet despite the outcome, Ortega, who was struggling in the minors, thinks he belongs in the majors.

“I have the pitches,” he said. “I have the heart to pitch in the major leagues. When I got the call [to Anaheim], it was a surprise. But they gave me the opportunity and when you get the opportunity, you have to take full advantage.”

Ortega, 23, was born in Ocumare del Tuy, a pastoral and baseball-rich patch of Venezuela best known as the birthplace of Chicago White Sox Manager Ozzie Guillen.

Signed at 18, the right-hander made steady progress up the minor league ladder. But he kept such a low profile that when Angels shortstop Maicer Izturis faced him in Venezuela last winter, he wasn’t aware they were in the same organization.

Though when Ortega got Izturis to pop out and ground out the only two times they faced each other, the major leaguer took notice.

“He has what it takes to be a good pitcher,” said Izturis, one of seven Venezuelans to start Saturday’s game. “He just needs the opportunity.”

On Saturday, he earned another one.

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kevin.baxter@latimes.com