Mariners starter Vargas chased by Cubs in final tuneup

PEORIA, Ariz. – This isn’t what Jason Vargas was looking for in his last 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 Seattle Mariners 12-7 in spring training baseball 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, who needed 40 pitches to get two outs.

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

Off the field, Seattle released left-handed pitcher Hong-Chih Kuo, a 2010 N.L. All-Star with the Dodgers, who had a 17.55 ERA in 6 2/3 innings in six games. He receives $81,967 in termination pay.