Angels 8, Diamondbacks 3

TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) --With Angels starters Jered Weaver and Bartolo Colon on the shelf to start the regular season, Joe Saunders gave Los Angeles a glimpse of what it will get from its No. 4 starter.

The left-hander scattered eight hits over 4 1-3 innings Wednesday and allowed two runs in the Angels' 8-3 victory over Arizona. He struck out four.

"I really think he pitched well. His velocity was outstanding," said Angels manager Mike Scioscia, who had announced his starting rotation earlier in the day.

Saunders was the Angels' minor league pitcher of the year in 2006, and was 7-3 in 13 starts with the Angels.

This spring, he has allowed six earned runs in 13 1-3 innings.

Weaver will begin the season on the 15-day disabled list with biceps tendinitis. Colon may join him on the DL while he continues to come back from a torn rotator cuff.

Jose Molina and Maicer Izturis -- both fighting for more playing time this year -- each had three hits in Los Angeles' 11-hit attack against Arizona.

Shortstop Alberto Callaspo had three of the Diamondbacks' 13 hits.

Arizona right-hander Enrique Gonzalez allowed seven hits and four runs, three earned, in five innings in his fourth outing of the spring.

Gonzalez, trying for a spot in the Arizona rotation, threw four scoreless innings in his previous outing on March 16 against Oakland.

"I wanted to throw my sinker away, but it was moving in too much," he said.

Notes:@ Scioscia announced that RHP John Lackey will be the Opening Day starter April 2 against Texas in Anaheim. Lackey will be followed by Kelvim Escobar, Ervin Santana and Saunders. ... Scioscia said Colon "looked terrific" throwing 45 pitches of batting practice on the Angels' practice field Wednesday. "The ball was really coming out of his hand well," said Scioscia, who added that Colon next will try to reach 60 pitches in a simulated game. ... Weaver is scheduled to throw Thursday at the team's camp.