Johnny Giavotella an unusual choice for No. 5 spot in Angels lineup, but it could work

Reporting from ARLINGTON, Tex. —  Albert Pujols hit 13 home runs last June. Johnny Giavotella has hit 10 home runs in his major league career.

Yet there was Giavotella batting fifth for the Angels on Tuesday, the guy on deck when Pujols bats and opponents say, “Pitch to a Hall of Famer with 569 career home runs, or pitch around him and go after the guy on deck?”

“I wouldn’t mind being that guy to come up behind him and do some damage,” Giavotella said. “If they walk him, I think they have a tough out in me.”

Giavotella entered play Tuesday riding a 12-game hitting streak. He was batting .279, including .359 over the previous 21 games. The Angels moved him into the No. 5 spot on Sunday.

“You want to have a guy swinging the bat well, first of all, behind Albert,” Manager Mike Scioscia said. “I think Johnny fits that bill. He puts the ball in play. He’s hitting the ball very hard. Hopefully, he’ll get some RBI opportunities.”

An unconventional lineup is not unusual for Scioscia. In the Angels’ World Series championship year of 2002, their comeback from a 6-14 start coincided with Scioscia’s moving a similar line-drive hitter, Orlando Palmeiro, into the No. 3 spot in the lineup.

“I know that Scioscia likes to jumble the lineup every once in a while to get things going,” Giavotella said.

“Is it a position I see myself lasting the whole season? Probably not. But, wherever I need to be to help the team out is where I’m fine. It’s pretty special once you think about it.”

It’s quite an ascent for Giavotella, who hit .238 in parts of four seasons for Kansas City. The Royals traded him for a minor league pitcher who finished last season in the Mexican League, and Giavotella won a four-way battle for the Angels’ second-base job last year.

“Any time you get big league playing time, it’s an opportunity in itself, whether it’s four at-bats or 400,” he said. “You have to make the most of each opportunity you get.

“I’m still proving myself to everyone, including myself.”

Ol’ 55

Paul Sorrento, the Angels’ assistant hitting coach, is not sure what he’ll ask of Tim Lincecum in exchange for the right to wear No. 55.

“A dozen golf balls or something,” Sorrento said.

Sorrento said he plans to switch to No. 44, the number he wore proudly in his major league career, in honor of Reggie Jackson.

Lincecum is expected to make his debut for triple-A Salt Lake next week and make at least two starts there before joining the Angels, perhaps as soon as June 12.

For all the talk about whether the two-time National League Cy Young Award winner still can win in the major leagues, Sorrento remembered back to last May, when Lincecum pitched eight shutout innings for the San Francisco Giants against the Angels at AT&T Park. Lincecum made 15 starts last season; his earned-run average after the first 13 was 3.31.

“He’s only going to help our club,” Sorrento said. “If anything, he’ll have guys competing in the starting rotation. He should be a welcome addition. Someone of his stature and experience can only help.”

Short hops

The Angels, Dodgers, Giants and Oakland Athletics each won via shutout on Monday — the first time that has ever happened, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. … Pitcher C.J. Wilson and infielder Cliff Pennington are scheduled to start minor league rehabilitation assignments Wednesday at Class-A Inland Empire. Pennington could be activated as soon as this weekend. … The Angels assigned relievers A.J. Achter and Al Alburquerque to Salt Lake after each cleared waivers.

Twitter: @BillShaikin