Chone Figgins helps beat Angels

Reporting from Tempe, Ariz. — 

The Angels got their first look at Chone Figgins since they let him go to Seattle as a free agent over the winter. And although he didn’t do anything they haven’t seen before, Sunday’s performance served notice that his departure may be one the Angels will soon come to regret.

Especially now that Figgins is teamed with Ichiro Suzuki at the top of the lineup for the Angels’ chief division rival.

“That obviously is going to be a heavy part of what they’re hoping to do offensively, as far as being able to set the table and create on the bases,” Manager Mike Scioscia said of Figgins and Suzuki, who combined for five hits, including two triples, five runs and three runs batted in in the Mariners’ 12-6 Cactus League win. “You have to try to keep them contained as much as you can. They’re really tough in the batter’s box, they know what they’re doing and when they get on the bases they can create like you saw today.

“They’re an important part on their offense over there, those two guys.”

Figgins was especially important, finishing three for four with three runs and a stolen base and helping turn three double plays.

Angels starter Jered Weaver said he tried not to look at Figgins when he came up the first time “because I knew I would crack up,” he said with a laugh. He wasn’t laughing after Figgins tripled into the right-field corner.

“He’s a good player. But obviously, it’s a little different seeing him on the other side,” Weaver said. “He is who he is and we wish him the best. But hopefully, it’s not against us.”

You make the call

After plate umpire Dale Scott took a couple of pitches to the body, forcing him to leave after six innings, crew mate Alfonso Marquez volunteered to go behind the plate. But it took Marquez nearly a full inning to put on his chest protector and shin guards, leaving Tim McClelland to call balls and strikes — and handle the bases — from a spot just a few feet behind the mound.

“It was very weird,” McClelland said. “A whole different perspective. I tried to make it as professional as I could.”

Scioscia said a one-man umpiring crew was something he hadn’t seen before.

“Not since,” he said “I don’t know when.”

Winning isn’t everything

With only four victories in their first 17 games, the Angels are on pace for their worst exhibition record in 30 years. But Scioscia isn’t panicking, saying there are more ways to measure a successful spring than wins and losses.

“Believe me, you’re out there to win a game every time you take the field,” he said. “But there are things within a game that are important, that you’re really excited about. Results are measured differently in spring training than what you think about the final score.

“Sometimes there are going to be some rough edges that will move you further along.”

On the mend

Outfielder Reggie Willits, sidelined nearly a week because of a strained hamstring, did some agility drills and ran at half speed from first base to third base and back before Sunday’s game, and said he was happy with the results.

“It’s getting a lot better,” said Willits, who expects to be back in the lineup before the weekend.

Shortstop Erick Aybar, who has been sidelined much of the spring because of arm problems, worked out on a back field in the morning, then made a pinch-hitting appearance in the afternoon, grounding out for Hideki Matsui in the eighth inning.

“He’s close to playing, but we want to give him that extra day or two now, if he needs it, instead of pushing him a day or two early,” Scioscia said.

kevin.baxter@latimes.com