Jered Weaver encouraged after facing minor leaguers

Jered Weaver did not throw demonstrably harder Sunday than he has throughout this spring, but he felt better.

Facing Class-A Colorado hitters in a minor league game at Tempe Diablo Stadium, the 33-year-old right-hander threw 67 pitches in four innings, struck out three, and yielded three hard-hit balls among eight hits in total. He exited encouraged about his progress after a difficult week.

“There were definitely some positives to take out of it,” Weaver said. “And, to be honest, I haven’t had some positives come out of a start in a while.”

His goal was to repeat an arm angle that causes him less pain than the one he used to employ. Tightness in his neck and shoulder earlier this month led him to undergo an MRI exam, which uncovered degenerative changes in his vertebrae.

To apply his altered, three-quarters delivery Sunday, he had to fight the muscle memory “that was telling me to throw the way I have been.”

At first after he finished his scheduled four innings, Weaver wanted to throw more to reinforce the new throwing motion, but he and bullpen coach Scott Radinsky agreed to obey the fatigue he was feeling.

“It’s moving in the right direction, so that’s a good sign,” Weaver said.

In his last start 11 days prior, Weaver’s fastball sat at 79 mph in a major league game against the Dodgers, who hit him hard. The one radar gun on the premises Sunday clocked him in that same range, perhaps a bit faster.

Weaver said he remained “absolutely” sure he would be fit for the Angels’ opening-day rotation.

Ordinarily, minor league games are played on back fields. The Angels moved Sunday’s to their spring-training stadium when they determined Weaver would start it, allowing their radar system to gather data on his performance.

But it was still very much a minor league game, replete with mistakes and oddities. Two Rockies bunted for hits in Weaver’s second inning, angering him. He later called it “nonsense.”

Short hops

Scioscia said the Angels have been elated by the performance of likely left-field platoon members Daniel Nava and Craig Gentry, who are hitting a combined .441 (26 for 59) this spring. “Every time you see those two guys play, you get more confidence that it will be a good combination,” the manager said. …Right-hander Garrett Richards will have his next start pushed back one day to Thursday, when he’ll pitch in a minor league game. Left-hander Tyler Skaggs will do the same that day, while right-hander Matt Shoemaker will start the major league game.

pedro.moura@latimes.com

Twitter: @pedromoura