Trout cleared by specialist to increase his workouts

ANAHEIM » Finally, the Angels got some good news on Mike Trout.

Trout met Thursday with back specialist Dr. Robert Watkins and was cleared to begin rotational exercises Wednesday. The 10time All-star hasn’t played since July 12 because of a costovertebral dysfunction.

While Trout has been able to engage in lowerbody workouts since going on the injured list, upperbody workouts are essential for rehabbing this injury, located where the ribcage meets the back at the T5 vetebrae.

The accelerated timetable for rehabilitation gives Trout a more realistic chance of returning before the end of this season. He was predictably upbeat when he spoke to reporters Sunday morning.

“It went from ‘my career is over’ to now I’m hopefully going to play here soon,” Trout said. “It’s just one of those things that’s scary. It’s a back thing. Baseball players, you go through stuff. I get it. You like hearing news when you talk to a doctor that knows what he’s talking about, and Watkins one of the best.”

The meeting did not help Trout clarify how he sustained the injury in the first place.

“I couldn’t pinpoint how it happened,” Trout said. “I think it was just over time. It just flared up. Couldn’t tell you exactly — maybe when you’re a baseball player and you swing a lot, do a lot of activity, it acts up a little bit and obviously it acted up.”

Magneuris Sierra and Brandon Marsh have alternated in center field in Trout’s absence. The Angels were 5-8 with Trout on IL entering Sunday’s game.

“It’s definitely encouraging news,” Angels manager Phil Nevin said. “Just to get him ramped up, we’re anxious to see how that feels for him too. I don’t anticipate any problems.”

An immaculate feat by rookie Detmers

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Angels starting pitcher Reid Detmers threw an immaculate inning — nine pitches, three strikeouts — in the second inning against the Rangers on Sunday. Ezequiel Duran, Kole Calhoun and Charlie Culberson all struck out swinging; Duran’s

strikeout was recorded as a foul tip.

Detmers joined Nolan Ryan and Garrett Richards as the only Angels to throw immaculate innings. He’s the first pitcher to throw a no-hitter and an immaculate inning in the same season since Mike Fiers in 2015.

The Rangers have been the victims of three immaculate innings this season. According to The Associated Press, the 1979 San Francisco Giants were the last team to succumb to three immaculate innings in one season.

Also

Right-hander Jimmy Herget returned from his minor league rehabilitation assignment and was reinstated from the injured list. Chase Silseth was optioned to Triple-a Salt Lake as a corresponding 26-man roster move. … The Angels are scheduled to send Noah Syndergaard, Shohei Ohtani and Jose Suarez to the mound in that order during their three-game series with Oakland beginning Tuesday. The A’s will counter, respectively, with Frankie Montas and Orange County natives Cole Irvin and James Kaprielian.