Villalobos to Left, Kim Left Out

Carlos Villalobos, normally a third baseman, was in the lineup in left field on Thursday night, but Manager Rick Burleson said it was not another reaction to outfielder Yuni Kim failing to run hard on a fly ball that was dropped Wednesday night.

“It’s something that we talked about for the last couple of weeks, but then Carlos starting playing well at third base and hitting well so I figured we’d better just leave him alone,” Burleson said. “But we figured this was an opportunity to get him some more at-bats.”

Villalobos was signed as an outfielder, then moved to third base for reasons no one in the organization seems to know. After making 43 errors at third in Lancaster last season, the Mariners planned to move him back to the outfield, but he played well at third in instructional league and returned.

But Thursday afternoon, Villalobos was working out in the outfield for the first time this season.

“I’m sure he’s going to do some weird stuff out there,” Burleson said. “It’s going to be a matter of getting used to it.”

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Tonight’s Game: Modesto (Chris Nelson, 3-3, 3.83) at JetHawks (Chris Beck, 0-2, 9.82), 7:15.

AROUND THE LEAGUES

Scanning Wednesday box scores: TRIPLE A--Third baseman Jeff Tackett (Camarillo) had three hits, including a double, for Oklahoma City. . . . Shortstop Matt Howard (Pepperdine) had a triple and a single for Columbus, Ohio. . . . Right-hander Jim Bruske (Palmdale) picked up a victory for Las Vegas, giving up four runs in seven innings. He struck out nine and walked none. DOUBLE A--First baseman Brad Fullmer (Montclair Prep) had two hits, including his 11th home run, for Harrisburg, Pa. . . . Outfielder Jason Evans (Chatsworth) had four singles for Birmingham, Ala. CLASS A--Former JetHawk outfielder Josh Watts homered and doubled for Wisconsin.