Game Fifteen: Cubs 7 Giants 5
Updated: 7:20pm C.S.T. Plus News from Mesa on the Starting Rotation and Mark Prior
With the Irish green hats replacing Cubbie Blue on Friday, the Cubs beat the Giants 7 to 5 in Scottsdale. Greg Maddux picked up the win allowing only 1 run on 5 hits in 4 innings of work. Will Ohman gave up 4 runs in 2/3 of an inning, allowing the Giants to get back in the ballgame in the 9th inning. Jacque Jones added 2 more hits and Aramis Ramirez hit his third home run of the spring. Greg Maddux was the first Cubs’ pitcher to have an at bat this spring….the Cubs chose not use the DH on Friday and will not against National League teams for the rest Spring Training.
The Giants pounded out 15 hits against Cubs pitching, but it was their 5 errors that allowed the Cubs to beat them on only 5 hits. Will Ohman had another shaky outing, allowing 4 runs (all earned) on 4 hits. John Koronka did allow 2 hits, but kept the Giants scoreless in 2 innings of work. Both Bobby Howry and Scott Eyre continued their scoreless spring, but did give up a few hits. Howry and Eyre have looked good all spring and has provided Dusty Baker a consistent twosome out of the pen. Federico Baez picked up his first save of the spring, allowing one hit in 1/3 of an inning in relief.
Henry Blanco played for the Cubs on Friday, going 0 for 1 with a sacrifice and an RBI. Juan Pierre picked up a double and Ronny Cedeno went 1 for 3 with an RBI. Ryan Theriot got some time at short and Jerry Hairston played in left field and committed the only error of the game for the Cubs. Barry Bonds played and went 1 for 2 with a run scored.
Here is the box score from Cubs.com and photos from Yahoo Sports
Saturday – The ‘Wrongsiders’ in Tucson at 2:05pm C.S.T.
Glendon Rusch vs. Javier Vazquez
The Cubs face the White Sox for the first time since the Sox won the trophy last fall. Although it is a Spring Training game in the standings, it is still the White Sox and a Cubs victory would go a long way on the Northside of Chicago. Rusch needs to put his rough spring behind him and show why the Cubs signed him to a contract extension.
The game will be on XM Radio – Channel 181, WGN 720am and on WGN TV.
News from Mesa
The biggest news from Mesa on Friday was the announcement from the Cubs that Mark Prior will likely start the season on the DL for the third straight year. Cubs’ trainer Mark O’Neal and Mark Prior are scheduled to meet with Dr. Yocum on Saturday to determine the next step for Mark Prior.
According to several reports out of Chicago on Friday, the Cubs will use a 4-man rotation to start the season and will not have a 5th starter until April 15th. Carlos Zambrano will go on Opening Day. Glendon Rusch on April 5th, Greg Maddux will pitch the home opener against the Cardinals and Jerome Williams will pitch in the game on Saturday against the Cardinals. The battle for the 5th spot will be against Rich Hill, Sean Marshall, Angel Guzman and Jae Kuk Ryu according to Dusty Baker.
Well that’s the news….and I’m sticking to it!!