Game Nine: Cubs 7 – Angels (ss) 6
For the third day in a row the Cubs starting pitcher put the Cubs offense in a hole. Rich Hill was the culprit on Friday. Hill allowed 4 runs, all earned, on 4 hits, struck out 4 and gave up 2 home runs in 2 innings of work against the Angels. Hill was not the only Cubs pitcher to struggle on Friday. Will Ohman continued his shaky spring giving up a run on 2 hits in an inning of work. Todd Wellemeyer did not fair any better, giving up a run on 4 hits over 2 innings….his best game of the spring. John Koronka and Bobby Brownlie each pitched an inning and kept the Angels at bay. Old number 99, Bryan Corey, picked up the win and Scott Eyre picked up his first save as a Cub.
Jerry Hairston and the Cubs offense only combined for 6 hits but it was enough for the victory. Hairston in his first game back since being hit in the head last Sunday went 1 for 3 with a double and started the game at second base. Todd Walker made his first start of the spring at first and went 2 for 2 with 2 RBI’s and a run scored. Murton added a hit and Ronny Cedeno went 0 for 3. Juan Pierre went 1 for 3 and scored one of the Cubs seven runs.
Although the Cubs were playing the Angels’ split squad, most of the Angels’ everyday players saw action on Friday. This was just game nine of the spring but the starting pitching needs to step it up a notch in the coming days.
Here is the box score from Yahoo Sports.com
Saturday – The Kansas City Royals at HoHoKam
Angel Guzman vs. Danny Bautista
The Cubs need to show improvement in the pitching department over the weekend. The starters have been shelled the past three days. Angel Guzman is coming off a good outing last week against the A’s and needs to build on his previous start.