Angels lose to Mariners in exhibition, 5-3

TEMPE, Ariz. — The Seattle Mariners can only hope that spring training is a harbinger of a surprisingly good season.

The Mariners lead the major leagues with 14 spring victories, the latest a 5-3 win over the Angels on Sunday. The Mariners have not had a winning season since 2009 and have not made the playoffs since 2001.

Their best player, Robinson Cano, did not play Sunday. The Mariners are 14-5; the Angels are 8-9.

Angels starter C.J. Wilson gave up four runs – two earned – in five-plus innings. He struck out seven, and he has 19 strikeouts in 16 innings this spring.

Wilson is in line to start against the Mariners on April 1, the second game of the season. He has faced the Mariners three times this spring.

“They won’t really have a particular pattern to look for,” Wilson said. “I’ve thrown them everything.”

Seattle scored twice in the first inning, when five of the first seven batters reached base against Wilson. The Mariners scored twice more in the sixth inning, a rally triggered by an error by Kole Calhoun, who had just moved from the outfield to first base.

Calhoun played six games at first base last season; the Angels would have less need for Carlos Pena on their bench if they think Calhoun can handle first base when Albert Pujols gets a day off.

The Angels scored one run on a sacrifice fly by Chris Iannetta, another on a single by David Freese, and a final run on a ninth-inning error.

Josh Hamilton, who has not played this spring because of a calf injury, is scheduled to make his Cactus League debut Monday, when the Angels play host to Tim Lincecum and the San Francisco Giants.