Angels beat San Francisco split-squad, 8-1

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TEMPE, Ariz. -- The Angels continue to rack up victories in the Cactus League, putting an 8-1 whipping on a San Francisco Giants split-squad in Tempe Diablo Stadium today, improving their exhibition record to 9-1.

Nick Adenhart, whose chances of making the opening-day rotation improved considerably when Ervin Santana was diagnosed with a sprain of the medial collateral ligament in his elbow, threw three scoreless innings, giving up two hits, striking out one and walking none.

The right-hander, who struggled with his command last season -- he walked 75 in 145 1/3 innings at triple-A Salt Lake and 13 in 12 innings during three big league starts -- has not walked a batter in five innings this spring.

‘His command has turned up a notch -- it’s great to see him on the money,’ Manager Mike Scioscia said. ‘There are some things he’s more in sync, more in tune with, in his delivery. He worked hard this winter and has come to spring training with a purpose.’

Torii Hunter, slowed this spring by a tight hamstring, made his exhibition debut and played three innings, knocking in a run with a first-inning single. The Angels scored three runs in the first, which included Kendry Morales’ double and RBI singles by Howie Kendrick and Juan Rivera.

Reggie Willits had an RBI double, and Andrew Romine hit a two-run triple to highlight the Angels’ four-run fourth. Third baseman Chone Figgins made two outstanding defensive plays, making backhand stabs of Juan Uribe’s second-inning shot and Kevin Frandsen’s fourth-inning shot and throwing both runners out at first.

-- Mike DiGiovanna