John Lackey was at best only OK in his first nonquality start of his 10 this season.

And the Angels' bats were a little late in showing up to score three runs the final two innings of a 7-5 loss to Toronto Saturday that ended a three-game Angel Stadium win streak.

But it was the defense, with a season-high-tying four errors, while allowing the Blue Jays six stolen bases in six tries.

That gives opponents all 26 of their last 26 attempts and highlighted the most disturbing part of a loss that didn't hurt the Angels' 5.0-game lead in the AL West with Oakland losing 6-1 to the White Sox.

At least the Angels kept their offense on track, having scored 25 runs in their last four games now after scoring just two in the four games before that as Vlad Guerrero homered and doubled, drove in three runs, while Chone Figgins went three-for-four with Casey Kotchman and Howie Kendrick having a pair of hits each.

Seen and heard:

Sports psychologist Dana Sinclair is currently visiting the team.

Ned Colletti on the the Dodgers being linked to C.C. Sabathia: "It's all speculation."

Andruw Jones reported feeling some soreness after the game. "It's different when you play nine innings," he said.

Newly signed former Giant Jerome Williams has been placed on the disabled list.

Angels pregame notes credit Manager Mike Scioscia, in numbers put together by the OC Register's Bill Plunkett, with using 69 different lineups in the first 86 games and not repeating a lineup since April 7.

And tonight, make that Lineup No. 70, with Mike Napoli catching. The previous time this week that Kotchman hit second, Jeff Mathis was the catcher.

This is how it's going to be, Manager Mike Scioscia said of his move-em-around order with Casey Kotchman hitting second and Maicer Izturis in the third slot Saturday night.

The lineup: 1) Chone Figgins, 3B (.282); 2) Kotchman, 1B (.291); 3) Izturis, SS (.266); 4) Vladimir Guerrero, RF (..285); 5) Torii Hunter, CF (.271); 6) Garret Anderson, DH (.265); 7) Gary Matthews Jr., LF (.239); 8) Howie Kendrick, 2B (.316); 9) Mike Napoli, C (.209).

He was headed into a pregame meeting with doctors and trainers but no decision has yet been made on whether Angels' rehabbing righty Kelvim Escobar will get a second opinion on the inflammation in his torn right labrum.

Escobar may shut down his throwing for a couple of days but wasn't able to say whether he'd be going back to Arizona for the summer league or stay with the team.

Manager Mike Scioscia seemed to think the first thing that could happen would be getting a second opinion on why his MRI showed no issues in his shoulder without explaining the inflammation and pain after throwing 10 tosses Friday.

Dodgers pitcher Brad Penny will now be out until after the All-Star break after having to cut short his simulated game today when he felt more discomfort in the back of his shoulder. Penny, who will see a doctor when he returns home with the team Monday, only stopped throwing when the tightness he felt made it necessary to do so. "It would stop him a time or two, but he didn't let on," Manager Joe Torre said. "He should tell you that for his own well-being."

Kemp, RF
Ethier, LF
Martin, 3B
Kent, 2B
Jones, CF
Garciaparra, SS
Loney, 1B
Ardoin, C
Park, P

Joe Saunders will be signing autographs before today's game between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. at The Upper Deck Store in Huntington Beach.

The store is located in the Bella Terra Center, 7777 Edinger Ave. in Huntington Beach.

Any item to be signed is a $25 charge.

Garret Anderson had three hits, including a two-run home run, and Jered Weaver pitched 7 1/3 terrific innings in the Angels' 8-2 victory over the Blue Jays on Friday.

Weaver allowed just two runs, both coming in the eighth inning, on six hits and Anderson had two hard-hit singles before his two-run shot, his second in as many starts.

The Angels have scored 20 runs in their past three games after scoring just two in their previous four games.

"It's awesome, it's fun to watch these guys do their work," said Weaver, who has won four of his past six starts. "Our club is too talented. Today is a great stepping stone to what we can do. We've got to keep things the way they're going."

Jered Weaver's scoreless streak ended at 16 innings when Marco Scutaro scored on Joe Inglett's triple in the eighth inning.

Weaver was brilliant, again, however. He allowed just two earned runs (the second scoring after he'd left the game) in 7 1/3 innings on six hits.

Over his past three starts, which includes his no-hitter defeat, Weaver has allowed three earned runs in 18 2/3 innings on 10 hits.

The Angels are the only team in baseball leading their division on July 4th that was also in first place on Independence Day last season.

The results of the MRI on Kelvim Escobar's torn right labrum were good enough. But when the pitcher tried to throw on Friday, the results were "not good," he said.

"It's painful," Escobar said. "It doesn't feel right."

Escobar will seek a second opinion on the arm from a physician in New York and the likeliest route will be to have surgery. It's an option Escobar has resigned himself to.

"I've done everything on my side to come back," he said. "I'm in great shape. I've lost 10 pounds. That's why I want to go (to New York) to see what happens."

Dodgers general manager Ned Colletti will be looking for a shortstop among other things before the July 31 non-waiver trading deadline, and the team is willing to adjust its philosophy of keeping their young players off-limits.

"We're more open-minded to who we may have to move," Colletti said.

Asked if he were referring to the young players, Colletti said, "They're not really young kids anymore."

Colletti's comments echoed what owner Frank McCourt told me earlier in the week when asked about the possibility of trading some of the kids. He said the ones they will hold onto are "the ones who are prepared to put in the work, listen to coaches and get better every day." The kids who they would be willing to part with are "the ones that can't do those things."

The Dodgers have placed pinch-hitting specialist Mark Sweeney on the disabled list with a strained right hamstring. Jason Repko has been optioned. Rafael Furcal has been transferred to the 60-day disabled list.

I got to sit down and pick the brain of Dodgers general manager Ned Colletti last week:

Colletti Q&A

Can you find out how much Ray signed for? Also, when Withrow is ready to pitch, is he going to be pitching at Inland Empire or are they going to put him somewhere else?

Can't imagine Melvin Ray signed for too much, being a low-round pick. Thus far, the Dodgers have only paid above slot money on one player in the draft. They gave ninth-rounder Steven Caseres $250,000 and had to go to the commissioner's office for approval on that one.

Chris Withrow is expected to head to rookie-level Ogden when his elbow gets better.

But no, it's not Elton Brand. At least not yet; there has been no word on whether he'll take the Golden State Warriors' contract offer or stay with the Clippers.

But Rob Blake is leaving LA. The former Kings captain signed a one-year, $5 million deal with the San Jose Sharks, with the idea that he'll serve much the same mentor role for their young defensemen that he would have with the Kings.

LA general manager Dean Lombardi had indicated he wanted Blake to return for another season. But the 38-year-old Blake told The Associated Press that Lombardi didn't return his calls in the early stages of the free agent period that began Tuesday. That gave the Sharks an opportunity, and they jumped on it.

"San Jose is something I've always admired," said Blake. "They have a ton of potential, and they're always right there every year. The excitement is in moving up the road a little and playing for a championship again."

Class AA Jacksonville left-hander Scott Elbert pitched three innings Wednesday in his first start in more than a year after shoulder surgery.

Another top draft pick, 2007 first-rounder Chris Withrow, currently has a tender right elbow and is working out in Class A Inland Empire.

Also, the Dodgers signed 33rd round pick Melvin Ray, who reportedly said he is a distant relative of Jackie Robinson's.

Jeff Kent left the game with back stiffness after leaving the game, but could be back as soon as tomorrow. He wasn't going to fight Manager Joe Torre about leaving with the Dodgers on their way to a win and a day game in San Francisco tomorrow. "Three fingers, three toes, I'd have played. Hopefully, I don't have a big deal on the plane. Looking forward to San Francisco, too."

Asked about the team possibly being a half-game out by the end of the day, Kent put his hand on my shoulder. "Three months to go, young pup. Hang on...Sometimes we have to hold the reigns on young reporters not to be so doom-and-gloom."

Asked about the game James Loney had, Kent said, "James is a wild bird."

Thanks to everyone who listened yesterday for my cameo appearance on Angels Talk. Terry Smith said there is a possibility it will happen again soon, but it would have to be during day games, for deadline purposes.

Received an e-mail question yesterday from co-worker Brian Rokos, an Angels fan who wanted to call into Angels Talk, but couldn't.

"I've met Mike Scioscia a couple times, and he isn't dull at all. I wonder how and why and when he decided to intentionally provide dull answers to the media, and what's it like working with a guy like that whom you interview every day? He's no Ozzie Guillen."

Guillen, he is not, that's for sure. I have been in group interviews with Ozzie, obviously seen everything written about what he's said and interviewed Ozzie once. Let's just say this - in my one interview with Ozzie, however brief, he referenced the use of a banana tree while growing up (about all I am at liberty to say on this) to me, a complete stranger.

As far as Scioscia, he is rather dull and vanilla and it's on purpose. He never wants something he says to gain national attention and only twice that I can think of in my four years on the beat has he ever said anything critical about one of his own players.

Here are some of the great things about constantly interviewing Scioscia (at the very least, twice a day - before and after every game): he will answer every question, no matter how asinine; he will never jump down a reporter's throat about a question asked; he will never blow up like Bobby Knight or Earl Weaver or Hal McRae; he is always willing to talk baseball; he is very easy to get along with; and he will usually give reporters as much one-on-one time as necessary.

The bad things is that he has several phrases he trots out ad naseum; he will be purposefully boring so as not to incite anything worthy of headline-grabbing attention; he will protect his players until he's blue in the face; and there are times he won't answer questions directly, preferring to dance around tougher subjects.

However, when he does say something interesting, it certainly catches your attention because of all the times he says "We'll look at a couple things" then he may say one time later in the season "We're changing this up ..." and you obviously notice it.

Scioscia is truly a good guy to work with and makes reporters lives easier than many managers. When he has a problem with a reporter, he lets you know, in private. And, once a year the reporters have a dinner with him where it's just chit-chat nothing special, but a good bull session where we all get along.

No, he's not Ozzie Guillen, but neither is he mercurial or aloof. He is a stand-up guy and very media-friendly no matter how dull or vanilla he intentionally tries to be.