TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) - Angels ace John Lackey showed why he gets paid to pitch and not hit in his spring debut.

Lackey did just about everything right in Los Angeles' 12-3 victory over the Colorado Rockies on Monday while on the mound, throwing two innings of hitless ball.

``The arm felt great,' Lackey said. ``I didn't throw the ball inside for strikes like I needed to, but other than that, it was a pretty good place to start.'

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The Angels ace retired all six batters he faced, with one strikeout.

Lackey had such an easy time he went to the bullpen after his designated two innings to throw a 10-pitch bullpen session.

At the plate, though, Lackey barely moved the bat off his shoulder during a three-pitch strikeout.

``(I was) told not to swing at anything,' Lackey said, laughing. ``It would have cost me something.'

The Angels have good reason to protect Lackey. He missed the first six weeks of the 2008 season because of a strained triceps.

Lackey, who ended up going 12-5 with a 3.75 ERA, said he spent extra time on an exercise program to strengthen his elbow and shoulder as a preventative measure.

``I have not felt any pain going back to last spring,' Lackey said.

While Lackey barely broke a sweat, Colorado starting pitcher Franklin Morales was rocked for seven runs on nine hits.

Angels' catcher Jeff Mathis had two homers among the seven extra-base hits Morales allowed. Mathis went 2-for-2 with three RBI.

``I'm not frustrated at all. I know anybody can have a bad day,' Morales said through an interpreter. ``I understand that as long as I am able to command the fastball on both sides of the plate it is going to be fine. Mentally and physically I am in a good place right now.'

Morales, after throwing two shutout innings against the Chicago White Sox in his first spring appearance, gave up a third homer to Brandon Wood.

Wood, who was 3-for-4 with three RBIs, also had a run-scoring double.

The Rockies left-handed pitcher is among the candidates to earn the final spot in the starting rotation.

``I am not concerned about (the starting job) because I can't control that,' Morales said. ``The biggest thing is I feel good mentally and physically and just had a rough outing and have to move on. I am not going to lose sleep about it because it is out of my control.'

The Rockies continued to struggle at the plate. They did not get a hit until Yorvit Torrealba had a single in the fifth. Matt Murton had a two-run homer.

The Angels' Adam Pavkovich went 3-for-5 with four RBIs. Andrew Romine also had three hits.