Game Thirteen - Cubs 2 Rangers 7
WP - Derek Holland (1-0) LP - Chad Fox (0-1) Save - None
The Cubs dropped their sixth game in a row Sunday afternoon, the first that was not decided by two runs or less. Sean Marshall started the game and was excellent...to use an old cliché he picked up where he left off.
Sean Marshall pitched four shutout innings, struck out three, did not walk a batter and surrendered only two hits. Marshall faced the minimum through three and pitched ahead in the count most of his outing. Marshall left with a 2-0 lead, but the Cubs bullpen could not hold it.
Luis Vizcaino was awful. He walked three the bases loaded in the fifth before allowing a 2-out, 2-run single to left by Ian Kinsler that tied the game. Mike Stanton bailed out Vizcaino and retired David Murphy on a fly out to left that chased Alfonso Soriano to the wall.
Jose Ascanio struck out all three batters he faced in the sixth and Neal Cotts surrendered a hit but also struck out the side. Chad Fox took the loss after a leadoff walk to Omar Vizquel led to the go ahead run. Kevin Hart could not find the strike zone. Hart walked a pair and gave up a single before Greg Golson hit a grand slam to left center that put the game away.
For the first time this spring, Lou Piniella's starting lineup closely resembled one that could take the field during the regular season. Alfonso Soriano (LF), Ryan Theriot (SS), Derrek Lee (1B), Milton Bradley (RF), Aramis Ramirez (3B), Reed Johnson (CF), Aaron Miles (2B) and Koyie Hill (C) played a majority of the game. Ramirez doubled, Soriano walked and Bradley singled and scored a run.
But the real stories on Sunday from Mesa were the performance by Sean Marshall and all of the walks issued by Piniella's staff. Five of the seven walks issued by Cubs' pitching came around to score...
Sean Marshall was just short of perfection in his four innings of work. Marshall retired the Rangers in order to start the game on 10 pitches, seven for strikes. Marshal kept the ball down...all three outs were made on the ground.
Josh Hamilton led off the second with a single to right. Marlon Byrd tapped back to the mound for the first out...Hamilton advanced to second on the play. Chris Davis followed with a line out to Derrek Lee. Lee threw to second and doubled off Hamilton. Marshall threw 11 pitches, nine for strikes.
Marshall sat down the Rangers in order in the third on 11 pitches, seven for strikes. Marshall recorded his first strikeout but it was of Rangers' pitcher Matt Harrison who was instructed not to swing the bat.
Sean Marshall worked around a 1-out single by David Murphy in the fourth. Struck out Ian Kinsler to start the inning and Michael Young to end it. Marshall threw 13 pitches, 10 for strikes.
The Cubs scored their two runs in the second and third innings. Milton Bradley led off the frame with a single to center. Advanced to second on a wild pitch and went to third on an infield single by Aramis Ramirez. Bradley scored on a 6-4-3 double play off the bat of Reed Johnson.
Koyie Hill led off the third with a double to left. Sean Marshall sacrificed him to third and after a walk by Alfonso Soriano, Ryan Theriot grounded out to second to plate Hill. For the third time in the last week Derrek Lee was called out on strikes with a runner in scoring position to end an inning. Lee tried to check his swing and was called out.
Jeff Samardzija is slated to make the start on Monday against the Royals at HoHoKam. Chad Gaudin is expected to follow the Shark. Brian Bannister is scheduled to make the start for Kansas City with Luke Hochevar to follow. Former Cub Kyle Farnsworth is scheduled to make his first appearance in Mesa since being traded from the Cubs before the 2005 season.
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So far, Marshall is the clear leader for the 5th spot. I am glad, because of last year's performance, I think he's earned it. I predict Lee's decline will continue, like it has over the last 3 years. I think the Cub's knew he would too, that's why Lee was the first person Hendry asked to waive their no-trade. The second person who Hendry asked, was Soriano, who this year, will win the Zito award for the most over paid player in the League. I am so glad to see him in the lead-off spot again. You certainly want that spark plug to have the chance of getting the most ABs in a game.
it sure would be nice to ge a lineup with rami hitting 3, then bradley, and lee 5th. we need a little shake up from last year i believe. cool seeing dero, hank white, and hearing suck on this wbc game against the venezuala team
Hey Neil.... Do you hve Fkudome's #'s in the WBC??
Jim...it's funny you should ask. I am working on tomorrow's article that is about spring stats.
Fukudome's will be included, but with Team Japan playing at 4:30am C.T. Monday morning, they will be wrong by the time most read the site. I will update his stats in the morning.
Jim...here are Kosuke's numbers:
1-for-4 in the first two games of the WBC with two runs scored, four walks and two strikeouts
Jim,
I can atest for 2 players that should be on our team...
Dunn-.750 avg, 2 hr, 3 rbi
DeRosa-.500 avg, 4 rbi
*now that's in 2 games, granted...but...
Soriano-8 games, 20 AB's, 1 hr, 1 rbi, .150 avg, .261 OBP
Lee-6 games, 15 AB's, 0 hr, 0 rbi, .200avg, .294 OBP
ARAM-8 games, 19 AB's, 1 hr, 4 rbi, .316 avg, .350 OBP
Bradley-4 games, 8 AB's, 0 hr, 0 rbi, .375 avg, .444 OBP
Now, I realize that it is early, but Dunn and DeRosa come out blazing, and our overpaid guys, especially Lee and Soriano, are just woeful...I mean, it's not even close. At least, in the games I've watched, Soriano has tagged a few balls pretty hard, whereas Lee can't hit the broad side of a barn....YUP....
I'll never understand the "mis-genius" (that's my coined word) of Hendry. He can't ever pull the right strings it seems. Look, Lee is done at this point, and has no bat speed. ARAM is the only one we can count on for power, RBI, and health at this point. It's pretty sad when Dunn wanted to play for us, and Hendry went with the retarded move of picking a fragile guy that was overzealous in his courting of an employer....How much sense does that make anyway? I'll always laugh at Hendry and Bush for their dumb comments after they signed him about how impressed they were with his courting....HA-FRICKIN'-LARIOUS
I'll give you my projections for this year:
Soriano-.280 avg, 25 hr, 70 RBI, .330 OBP
Lee-.285 avg, 16 hr, 80 RBI, .355 OBP
ARAM-.305 avg, 28 hr, 110 RBI, .375 OBP
Bradley-.310 avg, 15 hr, 65 RBI, .395 OBP
vs
DeRosa-.295 avg, 23 hr, 90 RBI, .370 OBP
Dunn-.265 avg, 42 hr, 105 RBI, .405 OBP
But, hey, I guess we don't need them, right?!? LOL
You are comparing two games, not only in games that are competetive but they are competetive to the point of the Olympics...players are representing their countries....
Meanwhile the other players are limbering up in Mesa, Arizona not really caring about turning it up a notch quite yet with three weeks left until rhe regular season even starts.
I don't see DeRosa having another career year, back to back.
I expect Fontenot to hit around 280 with a very good slugging and solid numbers all around.
Fontenot is going to have a monster year... just wait and see...
Fontenot needs to be given the starting job now by Lou. He needs to just go out and say Fontenots my guy hes the starting 2nd baseman for opening day and for the future. Keep the switch hitting miles on the bench where an average switch hitter should be. Gives more flexibility later in the games if a PH is needed. Lets go Mighty Mike!!
We shouldn't be too concerned of the runs Cubbie pitchers gave up to the Rangers.
They have the de-facto most powerful lineup in any league.
I'm just hoping our pitchers, especially Z and Harden, can stay healthy for most of the season.