Wood looks good in 1st appearance

TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) — A pair of high-profile pitchers made their first spring appearances in the Angels’ 8-4 win over the Indians on Tuesday.

New Indians closer Kerry Wood worked a scoreless inning with a strikeout in relief.

Angels starter Jered Weaver allowed four hits and a run in two-thirds of an inning.

Weaver began throwing off a mound only 11 days ago and has been held out of Cactus League action because of soreness in his throwing shoulder.

He survived a scare when Travis Hafner’s hard single up the middle tipped his right ear.

“It was quite a good wake-up call,” said Weaver, 11-10 with a 4.33 ERA with a career-high 30 starts in 2008. “That’s usually what happens when you throw a fastball down the middle.”

Wood, who had 34 saves with the Chicago Cubs last season before signing a two-year deal with Cleveland, has been held back due to soreness in his lower back.

“It was good to see [Wood] get out there,” Cleveland manager Eric Wedge said. “It was good for Victor [Martinez] to be back there catching him, too.”

Wood agreed.

“It was nice to get a different uniform in the box,” he said. “It always adds a new level of adrenaline.”

Indians starter Carl Pavano allowed four hits and three earned runs in his third spring start. All the runs came on Brandon Wood’s three-run homer in the second inning.

With Ervin Santana dealing with elbow inflammation and unlikely to start the season on time and with the Angels waiting for Kelvim Escobar to return after missing all of 2008, Weaver’s health is quite valuable to a team that already will enter the season with two starters out of action.

“He’ll be ready for the start of the season,” Scioscia said. “He’s on-pace if there are no setbacks. I thought he had really good stuff.”