Poor throws deject Angels catcher Hank Conger

Hank Conger had a double and a single Tuesday night, but that did nothing to console the rookie catcher after the Angels’ 5-2 loss to the Florida Marlins.

Two more throws to second base on stolen-base attempts sailed high and away from their target — one on a pitchout — and one of those Marlins runners eventually scored in the sixth inning.

Opponents have been successful on 35 of 42 stolen-base attempts against Conger.

“I don’t want to say the hits were useless tonight,” Conger said, “but as a catcher, your four at-bats really aren’t going to affect the game as much as you can behind the plate calling pitches, blocking balls in the dirt and throwing the ball well to second.”

Conger has been working on his technique, footwork, glove-to-hand exchange and release with bullpen coach Steve Soliz and bullpen catcher Tom Gregorio, but that has not stemmed the flow of errant throws to second base.

Conger has a strong arm, and his throws have plenty of carry, but most are bouncing well in front of second base or tailing high and away from the bag.

Sporadic playing time probably hasn’t helped — Conger has started only 33 games, with Jeff Mathis getting the bulk of the starts behind the plate.

But Manager Mike Scioscia does not believe Conger has regressed to the point where he would benefit from a demotion to triple-A Salt Lake, where he could play every day.

“As a catcher, if you can contain the running game, do a good job helping the pitchers execute pitches, which Hank is doing, it’ll play at the major league level,” Scioscia said. “If parts of his game deteriorate to where you’re moving backwards, sure, you’d consider that. But we’re not there yet.”

Scioscia added the Angels “definitely” need some offense from the catching position, but Mathis is batting .191 with 11 runs batted in, and Conger, considered the superior hitter, is batting .228 with three home runs and 12 RBIs.

Conger’s average was .297 on May 9, but he has hit .159 (10 for 63) with no homers and one RBI since.

“It doesn’t seem like I’m bringing much to the table at this point,” he said. “I have to take a step back and evaluate the things I need to work on. I’m not bringing much with my overall performance, and it’s not really helping this team win.”

Infield shuffle

The return of third baseman Alberto Callaspo (left hamstring pull) to the starting lineup for the first time since June 11 pushed one of the Angels’ more productive hitters, Maicer Izturis, to the bench.

But Scioscia said Izturis, who is batting .293 with 18 doubles and 31 runs and can play all three infield positions, will slide into more of a super-utility role.

“He will play as much as we can get him in there,” Scioscia said of Izturis.

Short hops

Left fielder Vernon Wells, who hit .308 (12 for 39) with three home runs and six RBIs in the previous 10 games, did not start Tuesday. Wells struck out as a pinch-hitter in the ninth. … Jack McKeon is not afraid to make an unorthodox move. The Marlins’ 80-year-old interim manager pulled reliever Randy Choate, who was struggling with his control, with a 2-and-1 count on Callaspo in the eighth. Callaspo hit Burke Badenhop’s first pitch for a hit, but Badenhop retired the next three batters.

mike.digiovanna@latimes.com