ANAHEIM, Calif. -- The Angels sent designated hitter C.J. Cron to the minors last week so he could "exhale," as manager Mike Scioscia put it. But when infielder Grant Green was put on the disabled list Wednesday with a back injury, they promptly called Cron back up to the big leagues.
Cron played in just two games for Triple-A Salt Lake and was 5 for 8 with two runs scored after hitting a brief lull with the Angels.
Green experienced back stiffness the past two days and went on the DL with what the team called a lumbar strain. The move is retroactive to July 21.
"It's something he's had before and it's come and gone, so hopefully it'll eventually works its way out," Scioscia said.
Green is scheduled for tests to see the extent of the injury, which Scioscia said came during a session in the workout room.
Cron was hitting .269 with the Angels when he was sent down to make room for closer Huston Street last Saturday. But he was stuck in an offensive rut over a six-game stretch, batting just .115 (3 for 26) with seven strikeouts.
His brief stint at Salt Lake might get him going again, Scioscia said.
"He was seeing the ball very well for the three days he was there," he said. "Ideally, you'd like a guy to maybe get a little more time to really cement some things and work on some things, but right now there's a need for us up here.
"He got enough to where he exhaled a little bit, and he'll come up here and feel comfortable in the box."
Meanwhile, pitcher C.J. Wilson, who is out with a sprained right ankle, threw in the bullpen before Wednesday's game with the Baltimore Orioles. Wilson is eligible to be activated Friday, but there appears to be no timeline for his return.
"It's open-ended," Scioscia said. "We can't fill in the blanks until we see how he does and how he comes out of (his throwing session)."
