ANAHEIM -- Angels starting pitcher C.J. Wilson completed four-plus innings in a rehab start for Class A Advanced Inland Empire on Wednesday night, his first appearance in a game in nearly 10 months.
Wilson gave up one run, scattered five hits, struck out four and didn't issue any walks in a 56-pitch outing, which reportedly saw him touch 90 mph with his fastball. The 35-year-old left-hander will make at least one more rehab start, either for the Inland Empire 66ers or the Triple-A Salt Lake Bees.
Wilson, a free agent at season's end, underwent surgery last August to remove bone spurs and chips from his pitching elbow. He had progressed to throwing off a mound by the start of Spring Training, but soon started experiencing pain in his shoulder that forced him to shut it down.
Wilson told reporters on Wednesday that he hopes to return to the Angels' needy rotation within "the first two weeks of June."
"I feel like where I am mechanically, I'm really able to put the ball where I want to, at least in a quadrant of the strike zone," Wilson was quoted as saying Wednesday, after a start in which he threw 23 pitches in the first inning.
"I still feel like I have a long way to go to be the pitcher I want to be."
Worth noting
• Utility infielder Cliff Pennington also played in his first rehab game for Inland Empire on Wednesday, going 1-for-3 with a triple and playing seven innings at shortstop. Pennington, out since May 12 with a left hamstring strain, hopes to be activated by Saturday, the first day he is eligible.
• The Angels signed veteran catcher Erik Kratz to a Minor League deal. Kratz has a .210/.261/.381 slash line in 206 Major League games in seven years. The 35-year-old cracked the Astros' Opening Day roster but has since been released. The Angels' primary catcher, Geovany Soto, is recovering from knee surgery.