Trout sets table, Conger drives in runs vs. M's
PEORIA, Ariz. -- Angels catcher Hank Conger racked up three hits and five RBIs on Monday, as the Halos took an early lead against Seattle, but the Mariners fought back and earned a 9-8 walk-off win when Julio Morban singled in Francisco Martinez with Angels right-hander R.J. Alvarez on the mound.
Conger ripped a three-run home run off Seattle starter Jeremy Bonderman in the first inning, spoiling Bonderman's first big league appearance since 2010 with the Tigers.
Conger finished 3-for-3 with a double and home run as the Angels jumped out to a 7-2 lead. Mike Trout made his Cactus League debut and went 1-for-2 with a walk and two runs scored, but the Halos again held out Albert Pujols and Josh Hamilton, who is expected in the lineup Tuesday.
Bonderman, 30, is attempting to come back from shoulder and elbow issues that hampered his final years with the Tigers. He gave up three runs on two hits and a walk, throwing 17 pitches in his lone inning.
"It wasn't the way I wanted it to go, but it was good to get out there and get my feet wet again," Bonderman said. "I got a little sped up and then hung a breaking ball, plain and simple. I didn't execute. But it was good to get that first one out of the way."
The Angels had their own comeback story with former Nationals closer Chad Cordero pitching for the first time since he appeared in nine games for the Mariners in 2010. Cordero gave up a leadoff home run to shortstop Brendan Ryan in the third inning, then retired three in a row.
Right-hander Garrett Richards pitched the first two innings for the Angels, allowing one run on two hits while throwing 26 pitches.
Ryan, making his first Cactus League start for Seattle after being held back in his return from offseason elbow surgery, went 1-for-2 before being replaced in the sixth inning. Second baseman Dustin Ackley also made his first spring appearance and went 1-for-3 with a triple off the left-center field wall in the fifth.
First baseman Justin Smoak was 2-for-2 with a double and is now 3-for-5 with a home run in two spring starts for the Mariners.
Right-hander Brandon Maurer, last year's Southern League Pitcher of the Year for Seattle's Double-A Jackson affiliate, threw a scoreless second inning his Mariners debut, while Andrew Carraway followed with two innings of one-run ball.
Up next for Angels: Josh Hamilton is slated to make his Angels debut on Tuesday against the D-backs' split squad at Tempe Diablo Stadium in a 12:05 p.m. PT game that will be broadcast on MLB.TV. Righty AJ Schugel, ranked by MLB.com as the Angels' 16th-best prospect, will start opposite D-backs lefty David Holmberg.