LA Angels' C.J. Wilson takes a backward step in rehab

ANAHEIM >> It took C.J. Wilson three months from the start of spring training to get into a game, and he didn’t come out of it feeling very good.

Wilson, who has been shut down from throwing again, said Sunday moing that his Saturday bullpen session was “awful.” That came on the heels of a Wednesday rehab game that he said was “more of a downer than anything else.”

Wilson said he’s awaiting another MRI, which may not come until Tuesday. So far, the Angels have diagnosed him with tendinitis, first in his shoulder and now in his biceps, near the shoulder.

“I’m doing everything I can to work my back,” Wilson said. “It’s not a linear process.”

It’s been more of a roller coaster.

Wilson arrived in spring training saying he had no issues with his elbow, which was surgically repaired in August. However, from the first bullpen session of the spring, he’s had trouble with his shoulder.

Wilson has adjusted his mechanics and taken time off from throwing, only to build up again.

His rehab reached milestone Wednesday, when he threw 56 pitches for Class-A Inland Empire. Although he didn’t say anything so dire the night of the game, he said Sunday that the outing didn’t go well.

“We’re trying to build up, but for the first time the game the other day was more of a downer than anything else, despite the results, which were I would say, average, considering the competition I was against,” he said.

Wilson said he was plaing to throw a bullpen session on Friday but couldn’t. He tried on Saturday, but it was also disappointing.

Wilson said he was “thinking the extra day would help and it didn’t. That’s where we are.”

He added: “I’m trying to take little gains and figure out how to keep gaining, but at the same time I have not been presented with a scientific process on how this is supposed to work. I am going out there and taking the advice I get and trying to push my body as far it can go.”

Escobar hurt

The Angels suffered yet another injury, fitting in the theme of this season.

Yunel Escobar, one of their most consistently productive players, left Sunday’s game because of a bruised left wrist. After the game, Manager Mike Scioscia said he believed Escobar would just be day to day.

Escobar was trying to field a ground ball in the third iing, but it hit him in the wrist instead of his glove. He left the game immediately.

The Angels, who have nine players on the DL, would be hard-pressed to match Escobar’s production out of the leadoff spot if he’s out for long. He has a .362 on-base percentage. Angels leadoff hitters combined for a .280 on-base percentage last year.

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Kaleb Cowart, who started at first base on Sunday because C.J. Cron is slumping, moved over to third after Escobar came out of the game.

Cron’s bat goes cold

C.J. Cron, who has been streaky throughout his young career, started Sunday’s game on the bench because of one of his cold streaks.

Cron, who got into the game in the third iing after Escobar was hurt, was hitting .140 over 47 plate appearances before Sunday’s game.

“There is no doubt C.J. is pressing,” Scioscia said before the game. “There is no doubt we’ve see the quality of his at-bats struggle over the last couple weeks. He just needs to take a day and kind of exhale.”

Just before this stretch, Cron had hit .444 over 50 plate appearances. Before that, he hit .153 over his first 66 plate appearances.

Cron ended up getting six plate appearances on Sunday. He reached base once on catcher’s interference and he doubled to center, starting a two-run rally that briefly gave the Angels the lead.

Also

Closer Huston Street said Sunday he feels “totally fine, ready to go,” after throwing an iing in extended spring on Saturday. Street, who is on the disabled list because of a strained oblique, could be activated today. The Angels also may opt to have him pitch at least one game in the minors. ... Nick Tropeano picked off his fourth ruer of the season, tied witch Milwaukee’s Jimmy Nelson for the major league lead. Including Saturday night, Mike Trout and Albert Pujols have hit back-to-back homers six times. That’s the most by any duo in the majors since 2012, their first season together.