ARLINGTON, Texas — C.J. Wilson threw 22 pitches Friday night before a Texas-sized downpour interrupted his start at Rangers Ballpark.
The delay lasted almost two hours. By the time the night was over, Wilson was back at the team hotel, presumably tucked in bed.
Wilson will give it another try Saturday. After the Angels lost the opener of a three-game series to the Texas Rangers, manager Mike Scioscia said Wilson would start the nationally televised game.
It's not unprecedented. Aaron Myette of the Rangers started a game on Sept. 3, 2002, was ejected after throwing four pitches and came back the next day.
Wilson was spared having to watch the Angels lose a 10-3 decision that included a delay of 1 hour, 56 minutes. If he went back and watched in his room, well, that would not have been cruel indeed.
He faced five batters, retired one, gave up three infield singles and walked one. If anything called for a do-over, this was it.
"When you get to a two-hour delay, it's a lot you're asking a pitcher to do," manager Mike Scioscia said. "We feel he didn't throw that much to where the bounce-back should be really routine for him. He always bounces back well from his outings anyway, so we'd rather start him fresh tomorrow."
The opening game of a series that was supposed to pit the AL West's two best teams didn't develop, although that wasn't surprising given the Angels' horrendous start so far. They dropped eight games behind the first-place Rangers, who scored six runs in the first inning and never relented.
They are two teams seemingly going in different directions. For comparison's sake, look at their respective No. 3 hitters.
Josh Hamilton hit two more home runs, giving him eight in a five-game stretch, and now is batting .407 with 17 home runs and 40 RBIs.
Albert Pujols was hitless in four at-bats, never got the ball out of the infield and is batting .192 with one homer and 11 RBIs. Since hitting his only home run of the season last Sunday, he's 3 for 19 (.158).
"It was a tough night for him," Scioscia said. "Every time it seems like he's inching closer and feeling more comfortable, he takes a half-step back. I know he's working hard on some stuff, but we've got to keep moving forward.
"When Albert gets comfortable, no doubt he can lead the way and take some players with him."
At this point, the Angels are desperate for any kind of help. Although they got home runs from Mike Trout and Torii Hunter, it was far too little to overcome Texas' lead, which grew to 9-2 after four innings.
The anticipated battle between Wilson, the former Ranger, and Yu Darvish, who took his place in the Texas rotation, never fully developed. Although Wilson was not able to come back after the delay, Darvish returned and pitched into the seventh inning to earn his fifth victory.
Scioscia called on Jerome Williams to replace Wilson, hardly an easy task for a starter to work on short notice. But Williams was game. He pitched through the seventh, although he surrendered both shots to Hamilton and another to Mitch Moreland.
"When the ball comes to me I have to be ready," Williams said. "I'll be ready any time. They asked me if I'm ready and I'm going to be ready. I'm a competitor. I took the ball."
That's about all he did. At least the Angels have a chance to erase the game quickly from their minds.
