Vernon Wells, C.J. Wilson carry Angels to exhibition win

TEMPE, Ariz. -- C.J. Wilson became the first Angels pitcher to work into the sixth inning, holding San Diego to a run on five hits through 5 1/3 innings of a 7-4 Cactus League win over the Padres on Sunday

It was the second strong outing of the spring for Wilson, who gave up a run in three innings in his last Cactus League game 10 days earlier.

“I thought he was excellent,” Manager Mike Scioscia said of Wilson. “For one stretch he was getting under his changeup a little bit and it was elevated. But for the most part his stuff, it was firm. He did a good job controlling the game, the running game.

“I thought he pitched the way you want him to pitch when he gets his first start of the season. He’s right where he should be.”

Outfielder Vernon Wells also continued his strong spring, going two for two with a double and home run, two runs scored and three more driven in, raising his average to .423. The homer was Wells’ fourth of the exhibition season, which leads the team, while the two RBIs gave him 10 in 11 games.

“I really haven’t had a good spring since 2006,” Wells said. “[This] is very similar to back then. That’s kind of what I wanted to get back to, what I was doing then ... just trying to get good pitches to hit. Not trying to do too much with them and just letting my hands kind of dictate what the outcome is.”

Mike Trout added a triple, a run and two RBIs while Howie Kendrick, who has hit safely in all 13 games he’s played this spring, went two for three to raise his average to a team-best .513.

“Hitting is confidence and repetition,” Wells said. “This team has the ability to be special. We can string hits together, we can run, we can do so many different things no matter who’s in the lineup. So it’s going to be fun.

“I like where we’re at.”

ALSO:

Jered Weaver rocky as Angels play to draw with A’s

Luis Jimenez is still in the hunt for Angels roster spot

T.J. Simers: Looking forward to nine more years of Albert Pujols