Angels win; pitcher Sean Burnett has another setback

TEMPE, Ariz. – Chris Iannetta hit a three-run home run and Kole Calhoun added a solo shot, powering the Angels to a 7-3 victory over the Kansas City Royals on Friday.

Mike Trout had two hits, raising his Cactus League average to .409.

The game had a regular-season feel to it. The Angels fielded their projected opening-day lineup, and the back end of the bullpen pitched at the back end of the game.

Kevin Jepsen and Joe Smith each pitched on consecutive days for the first time this spring, with Jepsen working a scoreless seventh inning and Smith a scoreless eighth.

Ernesto Frieri, the Angels’ closer, handled the ninth for his first save of the spring. Frieri has not given up a run in six Cactus League innings.

Sean Burnett, the Angels’ $8-million setup man, was limited to 9 2/3 innings last season because of injury and is projected to start this season on the disabled list.

Burnett, already a longshot to make the opening-day roster as he completed rehabilitation from elbow surgery, was shut down after experiencing arm soreness during a bullpen session Friday. The Angels were encouraged that the soreness was not in the same spot as the elbow injury and hopeful he can resume throwing in a few days.

“There’s obviously a little setback right now,” Manager Mike Scioscia said.

In Friday’s game, Angels starter C.J. Wilson threw 99 pitches without getting out of the sixth inning.

Wilson gave up three runs – one earned – and six hits in the first two innings, with the Angels falling into a 3-0 hole. He gave up no runs and one hit in the rest of the outing, and he finished with nine strikeouts in 5 2/3 innings.

Wilson, who is in line to start the second game of the regular season on April 1, has one remaining exhibition start. He is 1-2 with a 2.49 earned-run average in the Cactus League, with eight walks and 28 strikeouts in 21 2/3 innings.