PEORIA, Ariz. -- Carlos Silva tried a new pitch, got shelled - and was still better off than Chris Capuano.
Capuano walked off the mound in the fourth inning with pain in his left arm, the Milwaukee Brewers' only downer in a 17-3 victory over Silva's Seattle Mariners in a split-squad game Monday.
Capuano cruised into the fourth with a shutout but allowed home runs by Richie Sexson and Wladimir Balentien on consecutive pitches, plus a single and a walk, before departing the game.
Capuano was an All-Star in 2006 but slumped last season and had offseason surgery on a torn labrum in his nonthrowing shoulder. The left-hander has been in a four-man competition this spring for two spots in the rotation.
As he walked down the right-field line and into the clubhouse after allowing three runs and five hits in 3 1/3 innings, Capuano motioned to a trainer that he could feel something in his arm when he tried to extend on his pitches.
"I really can't say anything. I haven't really had it looked at yet," Capuano said, appearing worried as he got into an SUV for his ride to the doctor.
"I was pretty happy (until the injury). I felt pretty good, mixing my pitches. Hopefully, it's nothing major."
Silva, signed to a $48 million, four-year contract in the offseason, allowed 10 runs and 13 hits in 4 1/3 innings.
"I felt very good, very strong. But at this level, that performance stinks," Silva said.
"I'll be ready for the season. That's the only thing that matters."
Milwaukee scored seven runs in the fifth inning -- when Silva said he overused a cut fastball he had just started throwing last week. Two runs came on a double by Corey Hart, who had two hits and two RBI. Two more came on a long home run by Eric Munson, who had three hits and three RBI.
Brendan Katin drove in six runs on two doubles off Silva and a home run in the eighth off Sean White.
Silva said pitching coach Mel Stottlemyre has been working with him on the cut fastball, to provide a variation to his renowned sinker. Silva said his new pitch breaks in on lefties and away from right-handers -- opposite the movement to his sinker.
"The problem was, the break was too big," Silva said of his cutter Monday. "Hitters can see that. It needs to be sharper."
Ichiro Suzuki, batting .105 this spring, struck out three times for Seattle. He has struck out an average of once every 2½ games during his seven regular seasons in the major leagues.
