SURPRISE, Ariz. -- Rangers reliever Luis Mendoza had a far better afternoon on Friday than starter Scott Feldman. Mendoza needed it more.

Mendoza has much work to do this spring to make the Rangers either as a starter or a reliever, but he was able to get off to a good start. Mendoza, taking over after Feldman was knocked out in the second inning, pitched 2 1/3 scoreless innings in the Rangers' 10-4 loss to the Cubs.

"Mendoza threw the ball very well," manager Ron Washington said. "He just attacked the zone and [the hitters] couldn't center the ball."

Mendoza allowed one hit and walked one batter in his first appearance in a Cactus League game.

"That happens when I keep the sinker down in the zone," Mendoza said. "Today I tried to keep my sinker down and use my secondary pitches. My sinker is my best pitch, and today I threw it for strikes and let them swing the bat."

Mendoza was a big hit in last year's camp, winning the spot in the rotation that came open after Brandon McCarthy hurt his elbow. Mendoza dazzled in the spring but came unraveled in the regular season.

A blister problem and inflammation in the right shoulder brought him down in April, and he spent the rest of the season shuttling between the rotation, bullpen, Minor Leagues and Triple-A. He got a taste of all four while going 3-8 with an 8.67 ERA in 25 games, including 2-6 with a 9.40 ERA in 11 starts.

Mendoza needs to stay healthy. He needs a better breaking ball to go with his sinker. He also needs to throw strikes and have better mound poise and confidence after last year's travails.

"He just needs to throw the ball over the plate," Washington said. "Last year, he got in trouble not throwing the ball in the strike zone. If he does that, he'll be all right. Which he did today."

He also needs a big spring to climb back above the Triple-A breakpoint on the depth chart, either as a starter or a reliever.

"I don't think about that," Mendoza said. "It's another spring, everybody is trying to win a spot. This year is harder because they have a lot of pitchers. Everybody is fighting for a job. I need to work hard, and when I get a chance to pitch, show them I can do it."

Feldman allowed seven runs in the second inning and left with two outs. Overall he faced 15 batters and 11 reached base, although one was on a throwing error by shortstop second baseman German Duran.

"I guess it's a good thing this happened now and not during the season," Feldman said. "You never want anything like that to happen. ... I threw all my pitches, but my curveball wasn't locating in the strike zone enough. I've got to get ahead of hitters. I felt like every batter I was 2-1 or 2-0. You can't pitch like that."