Cubs Win, And Get A Day Off

On a sunny and warm day (75 degrees at first pitch) in Mesa the fourth largest crowd ever (13,157) at Hohokam witnessed a quick moving (2:08), 4-1 Cubs win over the Texas Rangers.

Carlos Silva who had a rough first outing earlier this spring is pitching much better of late; today Silva pitched 4 quality shutout innings allowing 2 hits with 3 K’s. Esmailin Caridad tossed a couple no-hit innings to follow Silva. The only real blemish on the Cubs pitchers this afternoon was a Justin Smoak solo HR off Marcos Mateo. Cubs pitchers had the Rangers number, besides holding them to 3 hits and one run they K’d Texas hitters 12 times. The Cubs hitters also took part in the strikeout binge fanning 11 times against 3 Ranger pitchers.

At the plate Xavier Nady DH’ing hit a 2 run double in the third off Rangers starter Neftali Feliz. Marlon Byrd followed Nady with an RBI single in the 3 run Cubs third. Nady was 2-for-4 with two doubles. Jeff Baker came into the game replacing Chad Tracy at thirdbase and hit a solo shot in the 7th. Ryan Theriot was 2-for-3 with a run scored although one of those hits could have been scored an error. Tyler Colvin continued his torrid spring with a hit in his only AB. Kosuke Fukudome had a double and run scored.

Mike Fontenot made a nice diving grab going to his left on a Elvis Andrus hard liner in the first, the ball did a bit of a snow cone but stayed in Font’s glove. Fontenot also got a chance to play some ss taking over for Ryan Theriot later in the game. Former Cub Keith Moreland was on the field with the team during bp, Moreland will be playing in the Fergie & Friends game tomorrow night.

Many of the Chicago Cubs boosters of Central Illinois sang the 7th inning stretch today and did a great job. Tim Cowlishaw who writes for the Dallas Morning News and is a frequent guest on the ESPN show “Around The Horn” was at today’s game.

Weird sight of the day – Ronnie Woo Woo and his Cubs jersey…Not just any jersey (photo below). Weird site of the day #2 – Starting lineups of both the Rangers and Cubs including Chad Tracy. Sure enough the Rangers have a non-roster invitee by the name of Chad Tracy. However the Rangers Chad Tracy was scratched just prior the start of the game.

The Cubs have the day off tomorrow but I’ll be playing in the Fergie & Friends game at Hohokam tomorrow night…Come out, watch some baseball and drink green beer, it’s all to raise money for charity.

Make up your own comment on this one