Major League Baseball

Rockies 6, Angels 2

Published Mar. 27, 2012 1:44 a.m. ET

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Jim Tracy thought Drew Pomeranz was being a bit hard on himself.

Pomeranz allowed four hits and a run over four innings in his fourth spring training start, and the Colorado Rockies beat the Los Angeles 6-2 Monday.

Competing for a spot in the Rockies' rotation, Pomeranz was not happy with his outing.

''I wasn't as efficient today,'' he said, comparing his outing to his previous outing (a Triple-A game). ''I was a little up in the zone today. I didn't command everything as well today.''

Tracy, on the other hand, saw something else.

''He throws the ball well,'' Tracy said. ''He competes well. He showed that today. He's been doing that since we acquired the guy.''

Pomeranz, acquired in the deal that sent Ubaldo Jimenez to Cleveland, has a 0.82 ERA but he's been limited because of a tight glute. He last pitched on March 21 in a minor league game.

''(The glute injury) is nothing that I'm worried about,'' he said. ''It feels much better than it did the first time (on the mound after the injury).''

Garrett Richards is trying to make the Angels' rotation but he gave up six runs - four earned - and seven hits in 5 1-3 innings. He struck out five and walked three. He came in with a 2.00 ERA in three starts.

Still, he felt it was a productive start.

''I'm happy with my performance today,'' Richards said. ''I worked the ball in and out and kept the ball down in the zone. ... I'm out there working on stuff, but I'm also trying to be competitive.''

Angels manager Mike Scioscia agreed with Richards.

''He definitely pitched better than the linescore would show,'' Scioscia said.

Richards' competitor for the No. 5 job, Jerome Williams, threw three scoreless innings in a minor league game.

Williams had been the favorite to win the fifth spot heading into camp, but has been out of action since the early going due to a hamstring pull. He says had no lingering affects Monday.

''It was very frustrating going out there and seeing the other guys competing,'' said Williams, 4-0 with a 3.68 ERA in 10 appearances (six starts) with the Angels in 2011. ''I wanted to be a part of that competition. I'm glad that I'm back into the mix and, hopefully, I can move forward.''

Kendrys Morales had three hits for the Angels. Carlos Gonzalez hit a two-run double for the Rockies.

NOTE: Scioscia said SS Erick Aybar's thumb injury is nothing serious and more of a nuisance. Aybar was pulled out of Monday's game after tearing a thumbnail on his throwing hand while making the first of two dazzling defensive plays in the first inning. Scioscia said Aybar would have continued in a regular-season game.