ANGELS NOTEBOOK: LONG BALL NOT ANGELS GAME.

Byline: Gabe Lacques Staff Writer

SEATTLE - Mike Scioscia is the first to admit the Angels do not survive on the home-run ball. As if to prove his point, the Angels went 26 innings in which their only runs came via the home run, and they lost three consecutive games to the Seattle Mariners during that stretch.

They finally scored in a more conventional fashion Thursday, when Shawn Wooten singled in the top of the fifth inning, advanced to third on a single by Bengie Molina and scored on a sacrifice fly by Benji Gil. It provided a key insurance run in the Angels' 2-0 victory over the Mariners.

In the first inning of the series Monday, the Angels scored three runs on a hit batter, two singles and a double. Then their offense produced nothing besides four solo home runs off Ryan Franklin on Tuesday, and a solo homer by Eric Owens in the third inning Thursday.

During that stretch, the Angels lost three consecutive games, and it's evident they will not thrive unless they manage to manufacture runs again.

``This last week or so, we've been having problems pressing clubs,'' Scioscia said. ``Four solo home runs the other night, that's not what our offense is about. There's nights when we'll score six runs without an extra- base hit.''

Leadoff hitter David Eckstein's struggles haven't made the process easier; he went 0 for 3 Thursday and was hitless in 14 at-bats in the series, dragging his average down to .237. On the other end of things, No. 5 hitter Troy Glaus was 0 for 26 until hitting a double in the seventh inning.

``Obviously, we haven't been putting hits together the way we want to,'' said Wooten, who's hitting .326 in a part-time role. ``It's a long season and that's what happens. It's a tough game for that reason.''

--Molina takes responsibility: Nobody has taken the Angels' inconsistent starting pitching harder than catcher Bengie Molina, who prides himself on calling a good game. Add to that the fact he hit into a key double play in Wednesday's 2-0 loss, and it's been a tough week for Molina.

``(Wednesday), I was lucky the window to my hotel room didn't open,'' Molina said. ``I only see negatives. (Wednesday), Brendan (Donnelly) gave up a run, but nobody sees that I dropped a ball on a (steal attempt). It's the little things nobody sees.''

Scioscia, a former catcher, acknowledged he talked to Molina and tries to make sure his Gold Glove backstop isn't too hard on himself.

``He's accountable. He feels bad,'' Scioscia said. ``A lot of guys are hard on themselves. Bengie is one of them. We talk to him about how he's really doing better than he thinks. He took it hard, but you turn the page and move on.''

--Scioscia not buying it: Given their positions in the standings, it would appear the Angels lost some of the ground gained to the Dodgers in the race for the affection of Southern California baseball fans. Scioscia does not see it that way entering tonight's Freeway Series opener at Dodger Stadium.

``What we accomplished last year was an accomplishment for our organization, not about comparing it to tearing into the Dodgers' fan base,'' he said. ``Anybody who's been out to our ballpark knows the electricity is alive and well. Even though we're hitting some bumps in the road, we're still alive and well in the hearts of the people who saw us last year.''

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BENGIE MOLINA

Angels catcher Bengie Molina is taking responsibility for some of the pitching woes the team has experienced.