Hamilton ready to restart Triple-A rehab stint

SEATTLE -- Barring an unforeseen setback, Josh Hamilton is slated to restart his rehab assignment with Triple-A Salt Lake on Friday, and Angels manager Mike Scioscia is confident his cleanup hitter will return to the lineup before the club's road trip ends in Houston on June 5.

Hamilton was jammed badly in his first rehab game on May 22, then was scratched from the lineup on Friday and Saturday and was diagnosed with a bone bruise on his surgically repaired left thumb on Monday.

By Wednesday, he was hitting in the cage again. Prior to Thursday's game, he hit on the field in Seattle without the protective splint that was bothering him upon contact. And on Friday, he'll be in nearby Tacoma, Wash., playing for the Salt Lake Bees again.