Hohokam Victory

The Cubs picked up their first Hohokam win of the season beating the San Diego Padres 9-4 in front of an announced crowd of 10, 445.  I swear it looked like there was at least 11,500 in the ballpark and the berm areas were jam packed on this gorgeous afternoon.

Andrew Cashner got the start and allowed one run in the first inning, but was able to get out of a bases loaded jam with no further damage after walking two Padres. Cashner settled down in the second inning keeping the Padres off the board.  Randy Wells followed and looked strong in his three innings.  The Padres did pick up a run on Wells but it was unearned as Aramis Ramirez, who’s had a tough defensive start to the spring, couldn’t handle the throw from Koyie Hill that looked like it would have nailed Chase Headley at 3rd on a stolen base attempt.  Ramirez drew a little of the Hohokam crowd’s ire when he didn’t appear to hustle after the ball that got by his glove.  Jay Jackson was touched for two runs in two innings, both runs came off Padre’s solo home runs.  Scott Maine and Robert Coello each tossed a scoreless frame.

At the plate Alfonso Soriano came through in the third with the bases loaded delivering a two out 2 run single. Marlon Byrd was 2 for 2 with 2 doubles, a walk and 3 runs scored. Jeff Baker was 2 for 3.  Bobby Scales came through with a couple insurance runs in the 8th, hitting an opposite field home run.  That’s right, Bobby Scales. Kosuke Fukudome was 2 for 3 with a run scored. A-Ram had an RBI single and scored a run.  

A humorous moment during the game came when Padres pitcher Matt LeBlanc at the plate hitting took what he thought was strike three and stepped towards the dugout, only to find out that home plate umpire Jim Joyce (yes, that Jim Joyce) called it a ball.  LeBlanc promptly flung his bat at the next pitch for an excuse me base hit off Ramirez’ glove.

Usually I only trust my own eyes when substitutions happen but sometimes I’m too busy reading between innings ad copy, like today in the 6th inning, when the Cubs made 9 defensive changes (you don’t see that in a regular season game).  The Cubs media relations department announced in the press box that Brad Snyder who had pinch hit the previous half inning was now in right field. After a bit I noticed that Brad Snyder had shrunk. Cubs media people came back an inning later to say that Snyder had not gone into the game, instead it was Matt Camp.  Hey, it’s spring training for everyone.

I want to give a big thank you to Tim O’Riley who wrote a very nice article about me in his spring training edition of Wrigleyville Magazine . If you haven’t seen the online magazine you should check it out; it’s written by Cubs fans for Cubs fans. Tim also oversees the popular facebook page Between the Vines. Today I ran into Glen Preston a young Cubs fan I met several springs ago at Hohokam, Glen is such a huge Cubs fan that he has gotten a job on our stadium grounds crew. My hats off to Glen and the grounds crew for all the hard work and talent in keeping Hohokam looking immaculate!

The Cubs host the Dodgers tomorrow. If you’re coming to the game be sure to bring non perishable food items or some extra cash in support of the Cubs wives annual food drive to benefit Paz de Cristo.  You can get an autographed 5×7 photo of a Cubs player (10 items or $20, limit 2 per person, first 500 while supplies last).

See you tomorrow!