Not even two weeks into the new baseball season, the Mariners and Angels are apparently getting on each other's nerves already.

After Anaheim's Kevin Appier threw six strong innings in the Angels' 5-1 win over the Mariners on Wednesday night, the Mariners apparently suggested that the veteran pitcher doctored the ball during the outing.

Local media reports called the latest rift between the two teams "Scuffgate." But the Mariners were downplaying the issue Thursday, a day after the team collected several balls Appier used, all with scuff marks they considered suspicious.

After the game, Mariners outfielder Mike Cameron told the Seattle Times, "Whatever works, he throws up there. Cutters, fastballs, changeups, spitters. ..."

Appier, who is slated to face the Mariners again next weekend in Anaheim, didn't like the accusations that he was tough to hit because he was cheating.

"I think that's weak," Appier told the Los Angeles Times. "I'm complimented and insulted at the same time."

Cameron told The Times that he wouldn't confirm or deny the quote. "If I did say it, I was just rambling," the outfielder told The Times.

Seattle manager Bob Melvin, who caught Appier with the Kansas City Royals in 1992, acknowledged that Appier was using an unfamiliar pitch. According to the report, it was a cut fastball the pitcher said he added to his repertoire during spring training.

Melvin also suggested Appier was "raising the seams" on the ball. Appier's response: "He's going senile."

But The Times reported Thursday that Melvin said the M's did not plan to forward any of the balls to the league, and said any criticism of Appier would sound like "sour grapes."

"Nobody accused him of anything," Melvin told The Times. "Nobody has more respect for Kevin Appier than I do."

Melvin even spoke privately to both Appier and Anaheim manager Mike Scioscia, a conversation Melvin called "cordial."

The 35-year-old Appier (1-1) ended a personal four-game skid Wednesday against the Mariners, winning for the first time since beating Tampa Bay on Sept. 4 last season. He gave up one run and six hits, improving his career record to 16-7 against Seattle.

Appier won 14 games in his first season with the Angels, but was 0-1 in five postseason starts during their run to the World Series title last October.