ANAHEIM -- After missing three games with a right calf strain, Mike Trout went 1-for-4 with a run scored in the Angels' 6-2 loss to the Astros on Thursday night.

Trout, who left Sunday's game against the Mariners in the third inning with the injury, participated in running drills in the outfield before Thursday's game and was cleared to play by the club's training staff. The Angels, though, were cautious with Trout, him serve as the DH and giving Shohei Ohtani a day off against left-hander Wade Miley.

"He'd done some stuff yesterday and felt fine on the treadmill," Angels manager Brad Ausmus said before the game. "Today he went out on the field and did some stuff. We decided if he could continue to tolerate it, and he said he feels like he can play."

Trout was on fire before sustaining the injury, as he was hitting .429 with eight homers, two doubles and 18 RBIs over his previous seven games. The eight-time All-Star was able to take batting practice without any issues this week to try to stay sharp offensively, but he didn't run until Thursday.

Ramirez to return in relief

Right-hander JC Ramírez, recovering from Tommy John surgery, will make his next outing with Class A Advanced Inland Empire after giving up three runs over three innings with Triple-A Salt Lake on Wednesday. Ramirez's next outing will also be three innings, as the Angels plan to have him return as a reliever instead of a starter once he's healthy.

"He's going to make a few more rehab starts in that reliever role, but on shorter rest," Ausmus said. "It still leaves it open to starting. You can work your way up very quickly. Right now, barring a change, that's how we're looking at it."

Ramirez posted a 7.60 ERA with 20 strikeouts and 14 walks over 34 1/3 innings in eight rehab starts at Triple-A. Ramirez, though, said he's not worried about those results, especially in the high-scoring Pacific Coast League. Ramirez said he believes he'll be ready to return by the end of the month.

"I have to execute more pitches, especially with two strikes," Ramirez said. "My slider is not that sharp yet. Keep working on that. Fastball command is pretty good. I'm in the process of getting back to where I was in 2017. Not so worried about results. Of course, you want to pitch well to get your confidence back, but if you don't have your slider, and you're still working on your fastball velocity, it's tough to put everything together."

Lucroy pleased with procedure

Catcher Jonathan Lucroy said the procedure to fix his fractured nose went well on Tuesday and that he should get a better sense of a timetable for his return soon. The initial estimate was to miss three weeks after the operation.

"We'll have to talk to the doctors and see what the timetable is," Lucroy said. "I feel great now. Obviously, they want me to get back into some baseball stuff and I have to pass a concussion test. So we'll see how that goes, but I don't see anything negative coming from that. I feel pretty good."

Lucroy suffered the fractured nose and a concussion after the Astros' Jake Marisnick collided into him at home plate on July 7. Angels reliever Noe Ramirez hit Marisnick with an 89-mph fastball on Tuesday, receiving a three-game suspension on Wednesday that he is currently appealing. Angels manager Brad Ausmus was also suspended for Wednesday's game.

"Things happen," Lucroy said. "The ball got away from Noe. If we're going to hit a guy on purpose, doing it with Noe Ramirez throwing 89 wouldn't be the guy, for me. But it happened and it's over with. Guys got suspended and fined and everything else, and our manager is back tonight, which is good. It should be over with on both sides. It should be. It better be."

Bard optioned, Jewell recalled

Reliever Luke Bard was optioned to Triple-A Salt Lake after allowing three runs over 2 2/3 innings in Wednesday's 11-2 loss to the Astros. Right-handed reliever Jake Jewell was recalled from Triple-A Salt Lake to take his place on the roster. Jewell had thrown four consecutive scoreless appearances with Salt Lake before being recalled.