The problem at second base has been cleared up; at least manager Jim Riggleman hopes so.
Riggleman pinch-hit for Jose Lopez after just one at-bat Sunday following Lopez's failure to make the play on an easily catchable ball on a throw from Jeff Clement during a steal attempt. Lopez was back in the lineup Tuesday in Anaheim after having had a lengthy chat with Riggleman.
"I was a little disappointed with our play Saturday night, and I let the club know about that Saturday night after the game," Riggleman said. "I felt like we came out Sunday with a little bit of lack of focus defensively.
"I just said, 'You know what? This is for everybody. Everybody's got to get the message.' I made that change, and hopefully it won't happen again."
The manager said it's understandable that maintaining focus over 162 games is no easy task, but it's something that has to be done.
ANGELS 7, MARINERS 3: An error by Yuniesky Betancourt in the fifth inning led to three unearned runs that did in Jarrod Washburn and the Mariners.
Washburn, who has been plagued by shaky defense played behind him at times this season, could have gotten out of the fifth with just one run allowed on a Juan Rivera homer.
But given the extra out, the Angels struck for three unearned runs, two on a Vladimir Guerrero homer, as the Angels wiped out an early 3-0 Seattle lead.
The loss to the first-place Angels left the Mariners 30 1/2 games out of first place, the first time they've been 30 games out this season.
