TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) -- This start looked more like one of Jered Weaver's usual outings.
Weaver pitched four strong innings Saturday, leading the Los Angeles Angels to an 8-1 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers.
The ace right-hander allowed a run and two hits, struck out four and walked one. He recorded just four outs in his previous game against the Los Angeles Dodgers and was charged with three runs.
"My fastball command is all I'm worried about right now," Weaver said. "It was good. A lot better than the previous start."
Weaver went 18-8 with a 2.41 ERA last season, finishing second to Justin Verlander in the AL Cy Young Award race. He is in line to be the Angels' opening-day starter in what figures to be one of the majors' best starting rotations.
"My off-speed stuff is coming along," he said. "My slider is not where I want it to be. It's about 80 percent right now.
"You're still going out there trying to work on stuff. You can't worry about results. The last two (spring) starts is when I start locking it in and getting prepared for opening day."
Keeping with spring tradition, Angels manager Mike Scioscia has not yet named an opening-day starter.
"After the first inning he threw some good breaking balls," Scioscia said.
Right-hander Mike Fiers, the Brewers' 2011 minor league pitcher of the year, allowed three runs and three hits in three innings. He struck out two and walked one in his second spring start and fourth appearance.
Fiers went 13-3 last season with a 1.86 ERA and five saves over 34 games, 18 of them starts at Double-A Huntsville and Triple-A Nashville.
Brewers manager Ron Roenicke has stated that if Fiers makes the major league team, it would be as a reliever.
Milwaukee closer John Axford pitched a scoreless inning, allowing one hit.
Vernon Wells had two hits and two RBIs for Los Angeles. Howie Kendrick and Alexi Amarista also had two hits apiece, and closer Jordan Walden followed Weaver with a scoreless inning.
NOTES: Mike Trout (sore right shoulder, virus) and Kendrys Morales (right calf) participated in minor-league games at the Angels' facility. Morales scored from first on an extra-base hit. ... Angels starting catcher Chris Iannetta said his right elbow is sore and he will wait for it to heal before returning to game action. Iannetta, acquired from Colorado over the offseason, was lifted from Friday's game after a foul tip hit him square on the elbow. Scioscia said Iannetta is coming around learning his new pitching staff. "He's making a good study of all these pitchers," Scioscia said. "I think he's feeling much better about understanding the guys."
