Mike Trout’s grand slam highlights Angels’ 15-3 rout of Cubs

TEMPE, Ariz. -- One of baseball’s best players picked up right where he left off last season.

Mike Trout hit a grand slam and drove in five runs to lead the Angels to a 15-3 rout of the Chicago Cubs in their Cactus League opener Friday.

“Mike’s got such a short swing,” Manager Mike Scioscia said. “You wouldn’t think it would take him that many at-bats to get where he needs to be. It took him one.”

The Angels enjoyed an afternoon of spring training fun and frolic, batting around twice in the first four innings. In the second inning, they sent nine men to the plate and scored four times. In the fourth inning, they sent 13 men to the plate and scored nine times.

Chris Iannetta homered, doubled and drove in three runs. J.B. Shuck tripled, singled and drove in three runs.

Jered Weaver, the Angels’ ace, gave up no runs and one hit in three innings.

“It’s like the first day of school,” Weaver said. “It’s exciting to get back out there.”

Weaver’s fastball was clocked in the 87-mph range, not bad for his first start considering he threw in the 86-88 mph range last season and his velocity could increase as the spring goes on.

“I think I was like 96-97,” he said with a smile.

Weaver, 31, said he worked extensively with the Angels’ massage therapist over the winter, trying to avoid a recurrence of tightness in his hip and shoulder.

“I’m not getting any younger,” he said, “so I had to do a lot more maintenance.”