Weaver sharp in first spring outing, Angels blank Rockies
TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) - Los Angeles Angels ace Jered Weaver pitched 2 2-3 sharp innings Friday in a 3-0 win over the Colorado Rockies.
Weaver allowed two hits, struck out one and walked one.
"It's a step in the right direction," he said. "It was a good first start."
The three-time All-Star was 18-9 last season.
"I thought Jered looked good," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. "I thought he threw some real good pitches that must've just missed."
Angels left fielder Collin Cowgill helped out Weaver in the first, throwing out Daniel Descalso when he tried to score on Corey Dickerson's flyball.
Kyle Kendrick made his Rockies debut, giving up one run and three hits in two innings.
Kendrick went 10-13 with Philadelphia in 2014 before signing with the Rockies. He spent eight years with the Phillies and compiled a 74-68 record.
"He's got what it takes to minimize damage when traffic is up," Rockies manager Walt Weiss said. "He doesn't panic."
STARTING TIME
Rockies: Kendrick admitted to being anxious to starting something new after eight seasons in Philadelphia.
"I was excited to get this new chapter going in my career," he said. "It's exciting to get a new season underway."
Angels: Weaver, in line to start on opening day, said he was focused on the basics in his first Cactus League appearance.
"I was more concerned about mechanics and that everything was working right," said Weaver, who has put on 25 pounds in upper-body weight for better endurance since his low point last August.
Weaver said he relied solely on fastballs and changeups over the first two innings before throwing a few breaking balls in the third inning.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Rockies LHP Jorge De La Rosa, 14-11 with a 4.10 ERA with the Rockies in 2014, was scratched from what was to be his first start Saturday vs. the Cubs because of tightness in his left groin. The Rockies don't believe the injury to be serious. His next start is to be announced.
UP NEXT
Rockies: RHP Brett Marshall will make his first spring appearance in place of Jorge De La Rosa when the Rockies host the Cubs on Saturday. Marshall signed as a free agent with the Rockies over the offseason after working in three games with the Yankees last year.
Angels: LHP C.J. Wilson will make his first spring start Saturday at Oakland. He went 13-10 with a 4.51 ERA in his roughest season of three with the Angels. He went through a tough second half and was last seen being pulled in the first inning of the final playoff game in an ALCS loss to Kansas City.