Rockies topple Angels 8-1

TEMPE, Ariz. – Jhoulys Chacin was sharp again for the Colorado Rockies.

Chacin allowed three hits and a run in four innings and the Rockies topped the Los Angeles Angels 8-1 on Wednesday.

He walked two with a strikeout in his second spring start.

Chacin went 9-11 with a 3.28 ERA in 21 starts with Colorado in 2010 as a rookie.

In his previous start, Chacin worked two perfect innings against Arizona with a strikeout.

"In the first inning, his fastball was getting away from him," Colorado manager Jim Tracy said. "What you like to see is he adjusted it."

Angels starter Scott Kazmir made his third spring start and pitched out of several jams.

Kazmir, 9-15 with a 5.94 ERA in 2010, made his third spring start Wednesday.

He went three innings, allowing an unearned run, and five hits, four walks and a strikeout.

The Angels are trying to get Kazmir to simplify his delivery in the hopes of returning him to his All-Star form with Tampa Bay a few seasons ago.

"I really feel like I'm this close to making the transfer from the bullpen (throwing sessions prior to the game) to the game," Kazmir said. "It's almost like I want to put a little more on it when the batter's in there."

Kazmir allowed an unearned run in the first but pitched out of a jam. His errant pickoff throw while trying to get Dexter Fowler at second sent him to third. Fowler then scored on a wild pitch with Jason Giambi batting.

"In some ways Kaz made some steps forward today," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. "That consistency still has to come."

The Angels tied the game in the second when Mark Trumbo doubled to start the inning and scored on Bobby Wilson's infield single.

The Rockies broke open a 1-1 game with seven runs off Angels left-hander Trevor Reckling in the eighth. Ben Paulsen hit his first spring homer, a two-run shot, in the inning.

Reckling allowed six hits and seven runs, all earned, in two innings, raising his spring ERA to 16.50.

Notes: Cole Garner had three of the Rockies' 13 hits and Matt Macri and Hernan Iribarren each had two apiece. ... Wilson had two of the Angels' 10 hits. ... Angels relievers Kevin Jepsen, Jordan Walden and Jason Bulger each threw one scoreless inning in relief.