Spring-training recap: Rangers 6, Cubs 2; Cubs 5, Athletics 5 (10)
BY GORDON WITTENMYER gwittenmyer@suntimes.com March 20, 2012 9:20PM
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Updated: April 22, 2012 10:17AM
RANGERS 6, CUBS 2
CUBS 5, A’S 5 (10)
For the record
Ryan Dempster turned in the Cubs’ longest outing, allowing only Dustin Brown’s two-run homer on an 0-2 pitch in six innings against the Rangers. He has a 3.68 ERA in hitter-friendly Arizona with eight strikeouts and five walks in 142/3 innings.
Rotation watch
Rodrigo Lopez continued to prove his value as a starting candidate even as Jeff Samardzija and Chris Volstad seem close to locking up the two open jobs. Against the A’s, he produced the Cubs’ second five-inning start, allowing one run on a two-out double by Josh Donaldson. His two-out walk to Seth Smith in the first was the first he surrendered this spring. Lopez struck out four and has nine in 12 innings (four starts). His ERA is 2.57.
Brushback watch
Not that you have to teach closer Carlos Marmol to pitch inside, or hit guys, but when he hit the Rangers’ Chris Robinson in the seventh, it marked the 17th batter hit by Cubs pitchers. Lendy Castillo made it 18 the next inning. That’s twice as many as the next National League staffs.
On deck
The Cubs take their lone scheduled day off Wednesday. They return Thursday to face the Rangers in Surprise (3:05 p.m., CSN, cubs.com (audio). Matt Garza is scheduled to pitch. The Cubs visit the Rockies on Friday.
Gordon Wittenmyer
