Angels fall in exhibition opener to the Giants, 4-1

Highlights from the Los Angeles Angels’ 4-1 loss to the San Francisco Giants in the exhibition opener on Wednesday.

AT THE PLATE: Facing San Francisco right-hander Jeff Samardzija, Carlos Perez doubled and came around to score on a sacrifice fly by Rafael Ortega. … C.J. Cron doubled and was stranded. … Ji-Man Choi, a Rule 5 selection who must make the team or be offered back to Baltimore, played the entire game, singled once and struck out three times. … Cliff Pennington singled. Two other Angels worked walks.

ON THE MOUND: Left-hander Hector Santiago started and gave up one single in two scoreless innings. “I was definitely anxious,” he said. “The first one is the most important, to start off on the right foot. Just attack and pound the zone. All the work you put in, you can see where you’re at.” Matt Shoemaker, Santiago’s primary competition for a spot in the rotation, surrendered a home run on his second pitch, to former Angels third baseman Conor Gillaspie. Shoemaker gave up a single to the next hitter he faced, then finished the remainder of his two innings without incident. … Right-hander Cam Bedrosian gave up four hits and three runs in one inning.

EXTRA BASES: The 2002 World Series rematch was the Angels’ first game of the spring. … The Angels used only three players from what is likely to be their opening-day lineup: Cron, Perez and second baseman Johnny Giavotella. … Santiago said he was lucky to not have to face Gillaspie, his former teammate with the White Sox who has twice hit him with fast-paced comebackers. …Angels owner Arte Moreno was in attendance at Scottsdale Stadium. … Former Angel Grant Green, who appeared as a sub for the Giants, singled and scored.

UP NEXT: Oakland Athletics on at noon Thursday at Tempe Diablo Stadium. On the air: TV: Fox Sports West; Radio: 830.