Major League Baseball

Mariners 2, Angels 0

Published Mar. 14, 2011 12:38 a.m. ET

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Feeling good, Jason Vargas decided to mix in a few curveballs Sunday.

Vargas pitched four innings of three-hit ball, extending his spring scoreless string to seven innings, and the Seattle Mariners beat a Los Angeles Angels split-squad 2-0 Sunday.

Vargas struck out three. He worked two scoreless innings in his previous start, an outing he did not throw any curveballs. He mixed in a few against the Angels Sunday.

''After the first couple of innings I told (catcher) Adam (Moore) I wanted to throw a few and he was fine with it,'' said Vargas, mainly a fastball-slider pitcher. ''I got behind a couple of times early, but I got back in the count.''

Vargas, went 9-12 with a 3.78 ERA with Seattle in 2010 over 31 starts. On Sunday, he went to the bullpen to finish his day, stretching his pitch count to 65.

Knuckleballer Charlie Haeger followed Vargas with one scoreless inning. Denny Bautista, Dan Courtes and Josh Lueke all worked a hitless inning. Fabio Castro gave up a hit in the ninth to complete the four-hitter.

Jack Wilson singled and stole second off Angels starter Ervin Santana. He scored on Milton Bradley's two-out double into the right-field corner.

Santana was making his third start. In four innings, he allowed five hits and two walks with four strikeouts. He estimated his pitch count at 49.

''I was trying to keep the ball down,'' said Santana, who downplayed a reporter's question asking him about a couple of subpar seasons in recent years. ''(I don't) listen to everybody. I don't care about that.''

Santana went 17-10 last season with a 3.92 ERA over 33 starts in 2010. He was 8-8 with a 5.03 ERA in 2009.

NOTES: Angels closer hopeful Jordan Walden struck out two and allowed one hit in one inning of relief Sunday. Michael Kohn, Jason Bulger and Trevor Bell each threw scoreless innings Sunday. ... Angels manager Mike Scioscia rested several of his position players Sunday. Maicer Izturis (tight hamstring), Torii Hunter (thumb bruise), Reggie Willits (tight calf) and Peter Bourjos (tightness in his hip) were all on the mend. Of the four, Willits seemed the most serious as he's waiting on results on his calf from team doctors.

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