Spring Training Game Thirty - Cubs 10 Brewers 10 - 10 innings
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Another exhibition season for the Cubs in Arizona came to an end on Thursday....with a tie game. Both the Cubs and the Brewers teed-off against mostly minor league pitchers at HoHoKam and the result was a total of 20 runs on 26 hits with 5 home runs. Alfonso Soriano hit his third of the spring in the 2nd inning that actually left the park. Micah Hoffpauir hit 2 home runs and drove in 3 of the Cubs 10 runs. Ronny Cedeno added a solo shot in the 6th.
The Cubs played from behind all afternoon after the Brewers scored 6 runs in the 2nd inning off of Cory Bailey. Hoffpauir's second home run of the day in the 7th tied the game. The Brewers scored an unearned run in the 10th to take the lead. The Cubs battled back to score a run in the bottom of the inning but Micah Hoffpauir grounded out to second with the bases loaded to end the game.
Both teams were playing out the schedule on Thursday. Lou Piniella and Ned Yost emptied their benches....careful not to tip their cap for when the games actually count in a couple of days. Plus it was getaway day, after 6 long weeks.
The only performance that figures to have an immediate impact on the season was that of Sean Marshall. Marshall relieved Rocky Roquet with two on and no outs in the 4th inning. Marshall ended up going 2 innings and gave up a run on a hit with 3 walks and no strikeouts....one walk was intentional.
Sean Marshall appears to be the front-runner to land the last spot in the pen but he has been a starter for his entire career. Marshall would be better suited starting the year in Iowa and being Lou Piniella's first call-up incase of injury....or ineffectiveness. Carmen Pignatiello has earned the right this spring to fail before being sent down.
Matt Avery pitched 2 perfect innings.
The Cubs finished the Arizona portion of the Cactus League schedule with a 14-14-2 record....only 2 remaining before they count.
Box Score from Thursday's Finale at HoHoKam
The Cubs travel to Las Vegas for their fourth consecutive 'Big League Weekend' at Cashman Field. Ted Lilly is scheduled to make the start and the Friday night game usually features most of the regulars for the last time in the exhibition season. The Mariners are slated to start Carlos Silva.
Ryan Dempster is expected to start the spring finale on Saturday afternoon against Jarrod Washburn....look for Kosuke Fukudome in the leadoff spot.
News from Arizona
The Cubs' blue jerseys will be back this season according to a report on Cubs.com.
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I'm looking forward to seeing how Fukudome performs as lead off for a day.
Hoffpauir nearly had a career day! If he could've raked in the winning runs, on top of his already impressive offensive performance; wow...