Scott Kazmir has another bad triple-A outing

Scott Kazmir has made no progress in his minor league rehabilitation stint for triple-A Salt Lake, and it now appears to be just a matter of time before the Angels release the struggling left-hander and swallow his $14.5-million contract.

Kazmir, making his fourth start for Salt Lake on Thursday night, gave up six runs — five of them earned — and six hits in 3 2/3 innings. He walked five batters, hit three batters and struck out three, and of his 91 pitches, 52 were strikes.

Kazmir, who spent a month in extended spring training in hopes of finding a consistent delivery and release point, has given up 23 earned runs in 13 2/3 innings of his four starts with 16 walks and 13 strikeouts for a 15.15 earned-run average.