A Big Day for Chad Tracy – Cubs 12 Rangers 1

Lou Piniella’s crew won a Spring Training game for the first time since beating the Royals last Saturday. Sean Marshall put together another good outing in his last start before Lou Piniella announces his starting five on Friday. Marshall allowed one unearned run, a Chad Tracy fielding error in the first inning, on three hits with a walk and five strikeouts in four innings.

Sean Marshall made his case, now it is up to Lou Piniella and Jim Hendry on where Marshall will begin the season … either in the rotation or in the pen.

Chad Tracy put together his best afternoon of the spring, despite the throwing error. Tracy knocked in five of the Cubs’ 12 runs with a pair of doubles in four trips to the plate.

Tyler Colvin continued hitting the baseball on Wednesday. He added another hit in two trips to the plate and drove in two more runs.

The Cubs offense pounded out 17 hits and scored 12 runs without the benefit of a home run … and only two extra base hits.

Jeff Gray made his spring debut on Wednesday afternoon. Gray took over for Marshall in the fifth and allowed only one hit … but most importantly he threw strikes.

With the win, the Cubs improved to 12-8-2 on the spring … The Cubs jumped all over Brandon McCarthy from his third pitch of the game. McCarthy got ahead of the Cubs’ hitters but could not put them away. Kosuke Fukudome, after starting 0-2 in the count, a theme of McCarthy’s outing, singled to right. Mike Fontenot lined out to center but Derrek Lee walked and put runners on first and second with one out.

Kevin Millar singled to left and loaded the bases.

Marlon Byrd drove in the game’s first run with a single to center. Fukudome scored … 1-0 Cubs.

After Alfonso Soriano fouled out, Chad Tracy hit a double to left center that cleared the bases. Lee, Millar and Byrd scored, 4-0 Cubs.

The Rangers lone run came in the first inning. Sean Marshall walked Julio Borbon to start the game … before settling down. Michael Young hit a liner to Derrek Lee. Lee caught the ball and doubled Borbon off first.

Josh Hamilton and Vladimir Guerrero reached on back-to-back singles. With runners on first and third with two outs, Chad Tracy misplayed a ball hit by Nelson Cruz. Hamilton scored, 4-1 Cubs.

Marshall struck out Chris Davis to end the inning.

The Cubs sometimes-forgotten-lefty retired the Rangers in order in the second and third innings.

The Rangers last hit against Sean Marshall came in the fourth … a leadoff single by Vladimir Guerrero. Marshall retired the next three batters to end his outing.

The Cubs put the game away in the sixth.

Geovany Soto started the six-run rally by reaching on a fielding error by Michael Young. Sam Fuld ran for Soto and advanced to second on a single to left by Andres Blanco. Fukudome followed with a single to center that plated Fuld with the Cubs’ fifth run … Blanco and Fukudome ended up at second and third.

Mike Fontenot plated Blanco and Fukudome with a single to right … 7-1 Cubs.

Kevin Millar walked with one out and was forced at second on a fielder’s choice off the bat of Tyler Colvin. James Adduci singled to left and drove in Darwin Barney, who pinch ran for Mike Fontenot.

With Colvin at second and Adduci at first, Chad Tracy hit his second double of the day to right. Colvin and Adduci scored, 10-1 Cubs. Sam Fuld struck out to end the inning.

The Cubs tacked on two more in the seventh on a single to right by Tyler Colvin.

Box Score from MLB.com

The Cubs make the long trip to Tucson on Thursday. Tom Gorzelanny is scheduled to face Dan Haren and the Diamondbacks.