ANGELS NOTEBOOK: READY TO MIX AND MATCH.

Byline: DOUG PADILLA 

Staff Writer

ANAHEIM -- While some teams yearn to get back to full strength -- see the New York Yankees -- the Angels are wondering how much the return of their regular lineup will affect chemistry.

Garret Anderson returned Sunday after spending over a month on the disabled list with a slight tear in his right hip flexor tendon and went 0 for 3. He played left field and batted in the fifth spot, the first time this season he has been anything other than cleanup.

In the time Anderson was gone, the Angels went from two games above .500 to their current 14 games over and padded their first-place lead from one game to 5(bul).

There are other players due back soon. Justin Speier (intestinal virus) will be fighting for innings with the emerging Dustin Moseley, and Maicer Izturis (hamstring) will cut into the playing time of effective backup Erick Aybar.

"If you told us in March that (Chone) Figgins would miss a month and Izturis would miss time, hey you have to plan for this in advance, you can't just plan for this when it happens," manager Mike Scioscia said. "We've used our depth and they've all played well."

A dynamic overhaul took place in the month of May as Reggie Willits shined out of the leadoff spot and Gary Matthews Jr. looked like a natural in the cleanup spot.

Other scenarios unfolded. Orlando Cabrera, Casey Kotchman and Mike Napoli started hitting and even Shea Hillenbrand had a brief stretch where he was contributing.

Anderson's return was met with an entirely new lineup as Cabrera and Kotchman got the day off. That meant a one-day reprieve for Hillenbrand, who is expected to feel the biggest impact from Anderson's return.

Hillenbrand played at first base for Kotchman but might find playing time hard to come by in the coming days and weeks. Aybar got the start for Cabrera at shortstop.

Tinkering: Howie Kendrick said both Hillenbrand and hitting coach Mickey Hatcher have told him about something that could use some tinkering in his swing.

Kendrick went 0 for 3 on Sunday and now has one hit in his past 24 at-bats and five in his past 40 since returning from the disabled list because of a broken bone in his left hand.

"When I'm hitting well my stride is a little different with my leg kick," Kendrick said. "Right now I'm kind of going away from my body with my leg kick. I need to be fluid and keep my leg back. It's just a mental adjustment more so than a mechanical adjustment."

Also: After giving up a run on two hits in 1 2/3 innings for Single-A Rancho Cucamonga on Saturday, Speier will pitch for Rancho Cucamonga again Wednesday and could be activated by the start the next road trip, which opens Friday at St. Louis. ... Izturis, who is set to come off the disabled list Tuesday, will play for the Quakes tonight. He has been out since May 21 with irritation in his right hamstring.

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ANGELS vs. MINNESOTA

- Doug Padilla