ANGELS NOTEBOOK: MOLINA CATCHING ON AS NO. 1 BEHIND PLATE.

Byline: Joe Haakenson Staff Writer

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Catcher Bengie Molina's second-inning single Saturday night extended his career-high hitting streak to 10 games, during which time he's hitting .550 (22 for 40).

Even though manager Mike Scioscia said at the beginning of the season Molina and Matt Walbeck would share the catching duties, Molina has taken hold of the position, starting 36 games to Walbeck's 13.

To Scioscia, what's most important for a catcher is defense and how he handles pitchers. Molina has thrown out 42 percent (11 of 26) would-be base stealers. His passed ball in Saturday's game was the first by an Angels catcher this season. They had been the only team in the majors without one.

Molina's hitting has been an added bonus. After a slow start, Molina is hitting .344. He went 3 for 4 Saturday.

``At the beginning of the season, he was trying to get his feet on the ground,'' Scioscia said. ``Now, he's more patient and laying off pitches he can't hit.''

Molina said it's simply a matter of getting the opportunity to play almost every day.

``It's more to do with playing time,'' he said. ``You leave a guy out there, they're going to do OK. Playing time is what it's all about.''

--Miffed manager: Scioscia was still miffed a day after Garret Anderson was thrown out of Friday's game by umpire Tony Randazzo. Randazzo, a rookie umpire, apparently thought Anderson was showing him up by ``tracking'' the ball - or watching the ball all the way to the catcher's mitt.

Scioscia noted that a number of hitters in the game do the same thing and that Randazzo overreacted.

In recent years, umps seem to have quick tempers and often start confrontations.

``I think umps always try to maintain a semblance of order during the game,'' Scioscia said. ``When a player crosses the line, an umpire's going to react. But it seems that the line becomes easier and easier to cross.''

--Struggling at short: Shortstop Benji Gil, in an 0-for-17 slump, saw his batting average dip to .195 after Saturday's game, and he's made a team- high 11 errors in 41 games. With Justin Baughman waiting in the wings at Triple-A Edmonton, Gil might be pressing, Scioscia said.

``I talked to him about it,'' Scioscia said. ``He needs to relax and just let his skills take over.''

--Dickson update: Pitcher Jason Dickson (strained left hip) threw Saturday and felt no soreness. He's eligible to come off the DL on Tuesday but will have to make a rehab assignment before returning to the big-league club.