X-rays negative on Angels’ C.J. Wilson’s bruised pitching hand

X-rays were negative on Angels starting pitcher C.J. Wilson’s bruised left hand Monday, and he said he expects to be able to make his next start.

Wilson had to leave Monday’s 6-2 loss to Cleveland in the seventh inning after he tried to catch a line drive with his bare hand.

He did not make the catch and instead hurt his pitching hand in the process.

“It’s just a little discolored,” said Wilson (9-9), who is winless in his last nine starts.

Wilson gave up three runs and six hits in 6 2/3 innings.

His team, meanwhile, lost for the ninth time in 12 games.

“It’s been rough,” Wilson said, “because our thought process is, ‘OK, it’s going to turn around. This is the inning, this is the game, this is the at-bat,’ and then we haven’t been coming through and that’s all there is to it. It’s very cut and dry.”

The Angels are 2 1/2 games back of a wild-card playoff spot.

“It’s slipping through our fingers a little bit, and that’s frustrating, because it’s like those games are there for us to win,” Wilson said.

The Angels have struggled with their starting pitching and their bullpen. After logging a team earned-run average of 3.31 from May through June, the club has posted a 5.09 ERA since July 1.

“It really starts with our starting pitching,” Angels Manager Mike Scioscia said. “That’s the heartbeat of our club.”

But, just the same, the Angels’ offense has struggled mightily, specifically with runners in scoring position. The Angels were 0 for 9 with runners in scoring position -- with six strikeouts in those at-bats -- against Cleveland and are five for their last 39 in that category.

Scioscia said for the most part he’s been pleased with his team’s situational hitting, but he did add that this last week has been frustrating in that area.

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