Vargas, Wood hit hard as Cubs beat Mariners 12-7

[March 20, 2012]  PEORIA, Ariz. (AP) -- This isn't what Jason Vargas was looking for in his last spring training tuneup for the regular season.

Vargas was pounded for seven runs and eight hits while getting just two outs, and the Chicago Cubs beat the Mariners 12-7 Monday.

"I don't even know what to tell you," Vargas said. "It seemed like whatever I threw, especially with two strikes, they hit. So I don't know -- forget about it and move on."

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 felt good," Vargas said. "I guess I wasn't getting ahead the first couple of hitters, and it just kind of snowballed from there."

Chicago 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 two-run single in the inning, and Barney single and doubled.

"He just didn't have the command of his fastball that he normally does," Mariners manager Eric Wedge said. "He was up a little bit. It's just one of those days for him, but he'll be OK."

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

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

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

NOTES: The Mariners released LHP Hong-Chih Kuo, who receives $81,967 in termination pay rather than a $500,000 salary. A 2010 NL All-Star with the Los Angeles Dodgers, Kuo had a 17.55 ERA in six games, allowing 13 earned runs -- including five home runs -- in 6 2-3 innings. ... Mariners SS Brendan Ryan returned from a minor quadriceps injury sustained Thursday. ... Cubs RHP Jay Jackson allowed four hits in four scoreless innings. ... Cubs RHP Randy Wells allowed two runs on three hits and walked three in three innings of a "B" game in Goodyear against Cleveland. .. Barney played his first game since experiencing tightness in his left side Thursday.

[Associated Press]

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