Cubs win, but Travis Wood struggles

PEORIA, Ariz. — This isn’t what Seattle’s Jason Vargas was looking for in his last spring-training tuneup for the regular season.

Vargas was pounded for 7 runs and 8 hits while getting just two outs as the Cubs beat the Mariners 12-7 Monday.

For the Cubs, it was just as bad for Travis Wood.

Ichiro Suzuki, Jesus Montero and Kyle Seager homered for the Mariners, who tied the score at 7-7 in the third against Travis Wood.

He pitched 2 innings and was chased two batters into the third. He allowed 7 runs, 7 hits and 2 walks.

Suzuki hit a 2-run homer in the first, and Chone Figgins had an RBI triple in a 2-run second. Montero hit a 2-run homer in the third, and Seager followed with a solo shot that chased Wood.

Vargas is scheduled to throw a simulated game in Japan before starting the Mariners’ second game of the regular season against Oakland, the finale a two-game series in Tokyo.

“I don’t even know what to tell you,” Vargas said. “It seemed like whatever I threw, especially with 2 strikes, they hit. So I don’t know — forget about it and move on. I felt good. I guess I wasn’t getting ahead the first couple of hitters, and it just kind of snowballed from there.”

The Cubs sent 11 batters to the plate against Vargas. He allowed doubles to Starlin Castro, Reed Johnson and Darwin Barney, and needed 40 pitches to get two outs. Joe Mather hit a 2-run single in the inning, and Barney singled and doubled.

Barney was playing his first game since experiencing tightness in his left side last Thursday. Cubs right-hander Jay Jackson allowed 4 hits in 4 scoreless innings.

ŸRight-hander Randy Wells allowed 2 runs on 3 hits and walked three in 3 innings of a “B” game against Cleveland.