"Scott Kazmir admits there was a wide gap between his expectations and his performance last season.

The two-time All-Star, who averaged nearly 12 wins with a 3.52 earned-run average in his last four full seasons with Tampa Bay, posted career highs for losses (15) and ERA (5.94) in his first full year with the Angels. On Friday, though, he took another step on what he hopes will be the road back to form, holding the Chicago White Sox to two hits and no runs over three innings in the Angels' 3-1 Cactus League win.

"One step at a time," said Kazmir, who showed a good slider and an effective changeup, throwing 24 of his 41 pitches for strikes.

The left-hander, who battled everything from a lack of confidence to a lack of command last season, was not ready to pronounce his struggles over. But he said he is headed in the right direction.

"It's getting there," he said. "Just picking up a ball and playing catch, everything feels so much better. [But] I'm not going to say I'm there, because I'm definitely not.""