ANGELS NOTEBOOK: BENGIE NOT OK, SO JOSE GETS TO PLAY.

Byline: Gabe Lacques Staff Writer

ANAHEIM - Bengie Molina was scratched from Wednesday's lineup due to a tight right groin, the second consecutive game he's missed with that ailment. But Jose Molina was ready to go, and the Angels are OK so long as one Molina is upright.

``You look at the contributions of both players,'' manager Mike Scioscia said. ``You've got some pretty good production from that catcher position.''

He's right. The brothers have combined for six home runs and 25 RBI, the latter figure putting Team Molina behind Detroit's Ivan Rodriguez and Cleveland's Victor Martinez in RBI among American League catchers. Jose Molina said he thought he'd only have about 30 at-bats by now, but his brother's hamstring and groin problems created 64 at-bats and he's hitting .327, to Bengie's .296 in 81 at-bats.

But offense isn't the only upside to Jose Molina's offseason loss of about 15 pounds. He is catching and releasing the ball much more efficiently, and his 53-percent rate of throwing out baserunners leads the League.

On Tuesday night, he threw out Kenny Lofton trying to steal third, with Alex Rodriguez at the plate in the eighth inning of a tie game.

``Yes, I was surprised,'' he said. ``You have A-Rod up right there. You don't expect him to go. He took a chance. He'll probably go again, anyway. He's the kind of guy who will keep going.''

Molina threw out two baserunners Tuesday and also nailed Derek Jeter to end the fourth inning Wednesday. Scioscia says Molina is throwing with the same proficiency he saw in 1999, when he was managing the Dodgers' Triple-A Albuquerque club and Molina was in the Chicago Cubs organization.

After the Cubs released Molina in 2001, the Angels signed him. Quietly, he has done nearly as much to keep the Angels' injury-riddled ship afloat as other reserves, including working with a pitching staff that has hardly noticed the drop from a two-time Gold Glove winner to his backup.

``Anytime you throw 11 goose eggs up there, the catcher is doing something right with the pitching staff,'' Scioscia said of Tuesday's 1-0, 11-inning blanking of the Yankees.

--On center stage: Chone Figgins had a rough night at third base Tuesday, committing one error, mishandling another play that could have been a hit and displaying awkward footwork. On Wednesday, he was in center field, which Scioscia insisted was more a comment on his work there than anything. Jeff DaVanon, not noted for his precise route-running to fly balls, was the designated hitter Wednesday.

``He'd be a very good everyday third baseman,'' Scioscia said of Figgins. ``Our dilemma is he's our best defensive center fielder. It's what our club needs right now.''

--Keeping it low: Rookie first baseman Casey Kotchman set a club record by not striking out in his first 30 plate appearances entering Wednesday, breaking Gus Polidor's mark of 27. Given the 21-year-old's track record, it's hardly a surprise. In 672 minor-league at-bats, Kotchman struck out just 65 times and drew 95 walks.

While Kotchman is expected to eventually get deeper into counts, his early ability to make contact figures to bode well for the future, even if he's only drawn one walk so far.

``Casey has always had a great walk-strikeout ratio,'' Scioscia said. ``As he feels more comfortable, he'll be a low walk-strikeout guy. That's the finished product he'll get to.''

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ANGELS vs. NEW YORK YANKEES 

- Gabe Lacques