Angels pitcher Scott Kazmir makes some progress in rehab stint

Scott Kazmir's control problems continued Friday night, but the left-hander took a significant step in his effort to return to the Angels, giving up two earned runs and three hits in six innings for triple-A Salt Lake.

Kazmir walked five and struck out five against Sacramento, and of his 105 pitches, only 61 were strikes. But the results were far better than in his first two starts for Salt Lake, when he gave up 16 earned runs and eight hits, walked seven and struck out five in four innings.

Kazmir has been on the disabled list because of lower-back soreness since early April, and he spent a month in extended spring training hoping to find a consistent delivery and release point.

-- Mike DiGiovanna

Photo: Angels left-hander Scott Kazmir during an exhibition game in April. Credit: Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times