Andre Ethier adjusts, and improves, at plate

Andre Ethier started to hit his way out of his season-worst slump over the last three days in Anaheim, going six for 11 with two runs, two doubles and two walks in the series against the Angels.

Ethier entered the series hitting .171 this month.

“I don’t think I’m quite back where I want to be, but, at the same time, it’s just going up there and focusing what each individual at-bat calls for you to do,” Ethier said.

In particular, he was referring to how teams are pitching him differently with Matt Kemp out of the lineup. Kemp moved to the disabled list for the second time this season on May 31.

“It’s a whole other learning process,” Ethier said. “As a baseball player you’re taught to think situational, and some of those situational parts of the game aren’t happening the way you’ve been taught to expect.”

Ethier offered some specifics.

“They’re not going to pitch me the typical way they would in normal situations,” he said. “Just the other night here, I had a 3-0 count and you would think they would at least throw it close to the plate and they threw a ball down in the dirt.”

Ethier was two for three with a walk in his team’s 5-3 loss to the Angels on Sunday. Both of his hits were flares to left field that resulted in doubles.

“His first two hits aren’t exactly crushed, but those are hits that get you going,” Manager Don Mattingly said.

Mattingly downplayed any concerns about Ethier, who hasn’t driven in a run in nine games but is still ranked second in the National League with 55 runs batted in.

“He’s going to hit,” Mattingly said. “Andre’s not my worry, trust me.”

Lindblom loses again

This has been a tough week for Josh Lindblom.

The usually reliable setup man was on the mound for the Dodgers when the Angels scored a pair of two-out runs to break a seventh-inning stalemate and pull ahead, 5-3. The loss was the second in four days for Lindblom, who also gave up a walk-off home run in Oakland on Thursday.

“The last two games, I really beat myself,” Lindblom said.

Lindblom recorded two quick outs Sunday, only to walk Albert Pujols and hit Kendrys Morales with a pitch. Mark Trumbo and Howie Kendrick both drove in runs with singles.

“After walking him, everything kind of snowballed there,” Lindblom said.

Five of the seven batters Lindblom faced in his last two games reached base. His earned-run average soared from 2.12 to 3.38.

Lindblom has appeared in a team-high 33 games, but said he feels fine physically.

“Now it’s a matter of bouncing back,” he said. “It’s a long season. There are going to be ups and downs.”

dylan.hernandez@latimes.com