Colon Gets Right Back Into It

Carlos Lee took stock of his surroundings and chuckled.

Here was the Milwaukee Brewer slugger, playing in a minor league spring training game while rehabilitating an injured hand, and he stepped into the batter’s box to face Bartolo Colon instead of some double-A journeyman.

“When he looked at Bartolo, he said, ‘I wish I didn’t come,’ ” Angel catcher Jose Molina said.

Colon won the battle with his former Chicago White Sox teammate Monday at the Brewers’ minor league facility, holding Lee to a single in five at-bats -- he took an at-bat in each inning. More important, Colon pitched five impressive innings in his return from back spasms that had knocked him out of his previous start after only two innings.

“I’m not 100%, but I feel really good,” Colon, who could be the Angels’ opening day starter if he doesn’t suffer any further setbacks, said through Molina, who acted as his interpreter.

Colon gave up two hits and one unearned run while throwing 73 pitches. He struck out six, walked none and said afterward that his back did not bother him after the first few innings.

“I’m just glad that he came out of it without feeling any ill effects from the back,” pitching coach Bud Black said. “He’s back on track.”

Colon is expected to throw about 90 pitches Saturday in his next-to-last spring start.

The right-hander, who has historically suffered backaches, called the throbbing he felt during his last outing “a different pain.” He said he was working hard to keep the area in shape to prevent a recurrence.

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Manager Mike Scioscia said reliever Scot Shields, who has been sidelined for a week because of what has been diagnosed as a stress reaction in his shin, could resume pitching in a few days. Shields still “has plenty of time to get to where he needs to be” before the opener, Scioscia said. “He said if it were a regular-season game he’d be pitching with this,” Scioscia said, “but there’s no need for that now.” ... Molina, who’s catching but not hitting while recovering from a strain on his left side, has resumed taking batting practice and is expected to hit in a game in several days. ... Right-hander Dustin Moseley, slowed by a strained forearm, has resumed playing catch.