Cano homers in Mariners' spring loss to Angels

PEORIA, Ariz. (AP) Robinson Cano hit a two-run home run and Franklin Gutierrez added a solo shot for the Seattle Mariners in their 9-7 loss to the Los Angeles Angels in spring training Saturday.

Wade Miley, acquired from the Boston Red Sox in a trade in December and slated for the Seattle starting rotation, made his first start of spring training. The left-hander struck out two and walked one in two scoreless innings.

''He's going to be fun to watch all year,'' Mariners manager Scott Servais said.

Daniel Nava, new to the Angels this season after signing in free agency, hit a two-run double off Mariners reliever Vidal Nuno in the fourth inning. Nava had three hits and three RBIs for the day.

''Daniel's looked good. Got a little slow start,'' Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. ''His back was a little stiff early, first couple of days. But he's come out here and he looks good, both sides of the plate.''

The Angels' backups put together a four-run seventh inning after Los Angeles trailed 5-2 at one point. Nick Buss doubled, drove in two and scored twice after entering the game as a substitute.

Mariners slugger Nelson Cruz made his spring debut as the designated hitter. He went 0 for 2 and was hit by a pitch.

Kyle Seager drove in two runs with two singles. Gutierrez has two home runs in the Mariners' first four games.

Cano said he's feeling much better after surgery in the offseason to repair a sports hernia that he played through in the latter part of last season.

''You want to feel good in the beginning because then you don't have to figure out what you're doing wrong or what not,'' Cano said. ''For me, feeling good is never about hitting homers or getting hits, it's just how I hit the ball.''

LEE DEBUTS

Dae-Ho Lee, a former star in Japan and Korea who signed a minor league deal with the Mariners, made his spring training debut Saturday. Lee is trying to be the right-handed hitting first baseman in a tandem with left-handed hitter Adam Lind. Lee entered the game at first base in place of Lind in the seventh inning and hit a single to shallow center field in the eighth, then was removed for a pinch-runner. His start to game action was slightly delayed due to international work visa issues. ''I'm really happy for him,'' Servais said. ''He's got many more to come so keep an eye on that.''

STARTING TIME

Angels: LHP Nate Smith, in his fourth season in the Angels' organization, struggled from the start. He put the first four batters he faced on base via hit or hit-by-pitch and gave up three runs on three hits in two innings, though he retired six straight batters after that. It clearly wasn't his day - right after Smith hit Cruz on the elbow with a pitch, both catcher Geovany Soto and the home plate umpire threw balls back to him, forcing Smith to duck out of the way to avoid harm.

Mariners: Miley tried to work quickly in his spring debut. ''In that process right now trying to build up, get the pitch count where it needs to be,'' Miley said. ''That's kind of the motto, `get it and go,' and it's worked for me. I know the defense, they enjoy it.''

TRAINER'S ROOM

Angels: Albert Pujols is scheduled to start Sunday's game as the DH. He's coming off foot surgery and is playing sooner than expected. ... Andrew Heaney, the scheduled starting pitcher on Saturday, was scratched with an illness and replaced by Smith. ... Andrelton Simmons was at shortstop for the first time this spring after missing the past few days in the field with an arm issue. He went 0 for 3 and struck out twice. ... P Huston Street threw 20 pitches to minor leaguers in his first outing of the spring Saturday.

Mariners: OF-1B Stefen Romero has a deeply bruised knee but could return to action as soon as Sunday. ... Cruz could start playing in the outfield next week, Servais said. Cruz said he felt good with no issues swinging the bat Saturday.

UP NEXT

Angels: RHP Nick Tropeano, who is competing for a starting rotation spot, gets the start against Kansas City on Sunday.

Mariners: RHP Hishashi Iwakuma makes his spring training debut Sunday when Seattle plays the Texas Rangers in Surprise, Ariz. Top setup man Joaquin Benoit, who dealt with some back soreness earlier in camp, is scheduled to pitch, as is new closer Steve Cishek.