Kennedy Feels He Is Left Behind

KANSAS CITY, Mo. —  Adam Kennedy fully understands why he wasn’t in the starting lineup Tuesday night and why he hasn’t started the last six games the Angels have faced a left-handed pitcher. But that doesn’t mean he has to like it.

“You want to be on the field every day, especially in the situation we’re in, trying to make the playoffs,” the second baseman said. “You want to be part of it, the guy the team counts on every day to be in the lineup.” Kennedy has had several discussions with Manager Mike Scioscia about his decreased role. He has walked away from every one dissatisfied.

“It’s pretty much the same every time-he tells me it’s not a platoon,” Kennedy said. “It is what it is ... unless I’m misinterpreting the meaning of platoon.”

Scioscia acknowledges the situation has evolved into a platoon this month, out of necessity more than choice. Benji Gil entered Tuesday night’s game with a .319 average and was batting .323 against left-handers. Kennedy is batting .290 overall but only .247 against lefties.

With shortstop David Eckstein entrenched in the leadoff spot and the Angels trying to squeeze every last run out of their skimpy offense, Scioscia simply believes the Angels are a better team with Gil starting at second against lefties instead of Kennedy.

So for the seventh time in 26 games this month, Kennedy was on the bench with Royal left-hander Chris George on the mound. Kennedy’s last start against a left-hander was on Aug. 5, against New York’s Ted Lilly.

“The focus shouldn’t be on what Adam isn’t doing, but on what Benji is doing,” Scioscia said. “Benji is a big part of the club and right now offense has been a thorn in our side, so we’re trying to maximize production with Gil and [Shawn] Wooten in the lineup. ... Adam shouldn’t like it.”

If the Angels’ triple-A Salt Lake City team, which led its division by one game entering Tuesday night’s play, makes the Pacific Coast League playoffs, it could delay the arrival of several minor league call-ups when major league teams are allowed to expand rosters Saturday.

Scioscia said the Angels will add players who can fill immediate roles, such as pinch-runner, backup catcher and reliever.

Speedy Salt Lake City infielders Alfredo Amezaga, Justin Baughman and Trent Durrington, and double-A outfielder Nathan Haynes are leading candidates, as is utility infielder Jose Fernandez, who is batting .333 with 29 home runs and 106 runs batted in for Salt Lake City.

TONIGHT

ANGELS’

PAT RAPP

(5-10, 4.37 ERA)

vs.

ROYALS’

JEFF SUPPAN

(7-11, 4.68 ERA) Kauffman Stadium, Kansas City, Mo., 5 p.m.

Radio-KLAC (570), XPRS (1090)

Update-With a 15-11 August record, the Angels assured themselves of posting four consecutive winning months (14-13 in May, 14-13 in June and 16-11 in July) in the same season for the first time since 1986. Entering Tuesday’s game, Royal right fielder Mark Quinn had gone 228 plate appearances without drawing an unintentional walk, a streak dating to May 8. Suppan, a right-hander, has a 3-2 career record and 4.30 earned-run average in eight games against the Angels.