Bootcheck’s back for Angels, but Mathis has flu symptoms

DETROIT – Chris Bootcheck rejoined the Angels on Sunday after spending two days in the team hotel because of severe flu-like symptoms, but the virus that sidelined the reliever now appears to have hit catcher Jeff Mathis, who had similar symptoms Sunday.

“I woke up Friday soaking wet with sweat, just drenched,” Bootcheck said. “I couldn’t keep any food down, period. I didn’t leave my room for two days.”

Manager Mike Scioscia’s concern is that the virus could spread through the clubhouse like it did last week in Boston, where the Red Sox had several players, including catcher Jason Varitek and pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka, knocked out by flu-like symptoms.

Mathis wore a surgical mask in the clubhouse Sunday, and the Angels essentially quarantined Bootcheck for two days. Bootcheck thinks he caught the virus in Fenway Park, where the Angels completed a three-game series against the Red Sox on Thursday.

“We all use the same weight room in Boston; we use the same facility,” Bootcheck said. “It can spread through a clubhouse like wildfire. As hard as it was to miss two games, it was probably best that I stayed away.”

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If there is any extra pressure hitting cleanup, first baseman Casey Kotchman, who replaced Garret Anderson in the fourth spot Saturday, isn’t feeling it.

“Where you’re re hitting [in the lineup] is irrelevant, because you’re trying to contribute when you get the opportunity,” said Kotchman, who singled in each of his first two at-bats Sunday night.

“You can be humbled very quickly in this game, as was the case last year when I took a ball off the dome. Circumstances can change real quick.”

Kotchman struggled for several weeks last season after suffering a mild concussion when he was hit on the helmet by a pickoff throw at second base against the Dodgers on June 16.

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Nick Adenhart, the Angels’ top pitching prospect, gave up one unearned run in eight innings Sunday to lead triple-A Salt Lake to an 8-1 win over Fresno. The Bees have won 13 straight and improved to 21-1, the best start in Pacific Coast League history.

Adenhart is 4-0 with an 0.87 earned-run average in five starts. Salt Lake has been led offensively by infielder Matt Brown, who is batting .429 with six homers, 10 doubles and 21 runs batted in.

“What’s exciting about Salt Lake is they have a lot of guys who are going to help us,” Scioscia said. “It’s not a veteran team beating up on kids. All those guys are on our depth chart.”

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Howie Kendrick, sidelined since April 14 because of a left hamstring strain, tried to run at full speed Sunday but still felt a little discomfort and fatigue, Scioscia said.

The second baseman, who is batting .500 in 36 at-bats, is eligible to come off the disabled list Tuesday but probably won’t be activated until later in the week.

“It’s moving in the right direction,” Scioscia said. “We’re optimistic that if it’s not Tuesday, it will be soon after that.”

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Vladimir Guerrero, whose eighth-inning double Saturday gave him 2,000 hits, reached the milestone in 6,171 at-bats. Since 1950, only three players have reached 2,000 hits quicker – Wade Boggs (5,832 at-bats), Rod Carew (5,965) and Tony Gwynn (6,094).

mike.digiovanna@latimes.com