Slumping Glaus Has to Take First Real Rest of the Season

SEATTLE — Angel third baseman Troy Glaus rested Sunday after having started all of the team’s first 72 games. Glaus had played in 655 of 660 innings, but because he was mired in a five-for-52 slump, Manager Mike Scioscia benched him against the Mariners.

“He wasn’t happy with the day off--he’s a gamer and wants to play,” Scioscia said. “But he needs a day to unwind mentally. He’s pressing at the plate, and his frustration level is to a point where it’s good for him to let a little air out of the balloon.”

Glaus has a team-leading 18 home runs and 46 runs batted in, but his average dropped from .290 on June 7 to .252 Saturday night. He is batting .214 with runners in scoring position.

Even more startling is his performance in Seattle. Glaus is one for 25 (.040) at Safeco Field this season and six for 57 (.105) here in his career. Combined with his Kingdome numbers (one for 12), Glaus has a .101 career average (seven for 69) in Seattle.

Some theories: The Mariner pitching staff has improved dramatically in the last two years; balls do not travel well in Safeco Field; the Mariner defense features an air-tight infield and a center fielder (Mike Cameron) who covers plenty of ground.

“This is no different than all the other parks--balls are just not falling in for me here,” Glaus said. “I see the ball well here. For whatever reason, when I hit the ball hard, it goes right at someone.”

It was hard to tell which was the rarer occurrence Saturday night--Angel leadoff batter David Eckstein hitting a game-winning home run or lumbering catcher Shawn Wooten stealing a base.

“I don’t think you’ll see that happen again,” Eckstein said. “Not in the same game.”

After Wooten’s RBI single in the fifth, Seattle pitcher Jamie Moyer paid little attention to him at first. Wooten, who is 5-foot-10, 225 pounds, got a great jump and stole second, his first stolen base in the big leagues.

“I came back to the dugout and someone said, ‘Why didn’t you take the base out of the ground and hold it over your head,’ ” Wooten said.

On the bulletin board in Seattle’s clubhouse Saturday night was a clip of a newspaper story from Friday night’s game with a highlighted quote from Angel pitcher Jarrod Washburn, who said of the Mariners: “They’re definitely a great team, but I don’t think they’re 18 games better than us.”

Washburn was surprised the Mariners would use such a quote as motivation.

“There’s no reason they should get upset about a comment like that,” Washburn said. “That was a rip on ourselves because we’re not playing to our capabilities, and we shouldn’t be 18 games back. If they want to get [ticked] off, fine, but that doesn’t bother me a bit.”

ON DECK

Opponent--Texas Rangers, four games.

Site--Edison Field.

Tonight--7.

TV--Fox Sports Net tonight, Tuesday night and Wednesday night; Channel 9 Thursday night.

Radio--KLAC (570), XPRS (1090).

Records--Angels 36-37, Rangers 28-45.

Record vs. Rangers--4-5.

TONIGHT

ANGELS’ RAMON ORTIZ

(5-5, 3.86 ERA)

vs.

RANGERS’ KENNY ROGERS

(3-4, 5.29 ERA)

Update--Ortiz did not strike out a batter in his last start, but the right-hander still limited the Rangers to two runs on nine hits in seven innings of a 4-3 victory, improving his record against Texas to 3-0 this season. Angel right fielder Tim Salmon has a .389 career average (136 for 350) with 26 homers and 86 RBIs against the Rangers.

Tuesday, 7 p.m.--Matt Wise (1-1, 6.23) vs. Rick Helling (5-7, 5.98).

Wednesday, 7 p.m.--Jarrod Washburn (5-4, 4.01) vs. Doug Davis (3-5, 5.08).

Thursday, 7 p.m.--Pat Rapp (2-7,4.37) vs. Darren Oliver (6-2, 6.23).

Tickets--(714) 663-9000.