Hamilton on the mend

ANAHEIM -- Getting a positive report from Adam Nevala, the Angels' head athletic trainer, manager Mike Scioscia was optimistic that Josh Hamilton would get back on course for a return after sitting out Friday and Saturday's games with Triple-A Salt Lake with soreness in his left thumb.

Hamilton had aggravated the surgically repaired thumb when he was jammed in his final at-bat Thursday night.

"Adam talked to him this morning," Scioscia said. "He said he felt good."

In his rehab debut on Thursday night against the Dodgers' Albuquerque affiliate, Hamilton singled and doubled in four at-bats for the Pacific Coast League Bees. He was jammed by Jose Dominguez, a hard-throwing right-hander, in the ninth inning and felt discomfort taking batting practice on Friday.

Sidelined since April 8, Hamilton -- off to a blazing start with a .444 average and .741 slugging mark through eight games -- was hoping to come off the disabled list in time for Monday's series opener against the Mariners in Seattle.