Hamilton Homers, Trout Leaves in Second as Angels Fall

Jun 3, 2014; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Astros center fielder Dexter Fowler (21) slides safely into home as Los Angeles Angels catcher Chris Iannetta (17) attempts to apply the tag during the third inning at Minute Maid Park. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

Just when Josh Hamilton’s return brought a bit of good news to the Los Angeles Angels locker room, Mike Trout exited Tuesday’s 7-2 loss to Houston early because of a nagging back injury.

The Angels drop their season-high fourth straight game and fall 5 ½ behind Oakland.

C.J. Wilson walked five batters in just 2 2/3 innings; his shortest outing since Sept. 19, 2012. In the third, he issued walks to three of the first four batters before Astros catcher Jason Castro lined a two-run single to right. Two batters later, Wilson gave top prospect Jon Singleton a free pass with the bases loaded, giving Houston a 3-0 lead.

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The loss snaps Wilson’s streak of five-plus innings and over 100 pitches per start. He is 6-5 having lost consecutive losses for the first time since last May.

Albert Pujols led off ensuing inning with a single and Hamilton followed with a walk in the only legitimate threat mustered against Astros starter Collin McHugh. David Freese was hit by a pitch, loading the bases for Chris Iannetta. Unfortunately, McHugh (4-3) escaped unscathed when Iannetta lined out to third.

By the time Hamilton and Collin Cowgill hit solo shots in the eight innings, the Astros already held a 5-0 lead. Hamilton went 1-for-3 with a walk in his return from left thumb surgery. Houston counted the Angels’ attack with homers from Singleton-the first of his career- and Chris Carter.

Upper back stiffness kept Trout of Saturday and Sunday’s games in Oakland, and it became an issue after Trout’s only plate appearance. He was replaced in the bottom the second by Cowgill.

Angels’ 22-year-old pitching prospect Cam Bedrosian tossed a shutout eight inning in his major league debut. After punching out 30 batters through 18 1/3 innings with Double-A Arkansas, Bedrosian struck out the first batter and forced two grounders to second. His call-up correlation with Michael Kohn’s demotion.