Carlos Zambrano is trying to win the Chicago Cubs’ opening-day start. Johan Santana just needs to convince the Mets he’s healthy enough to take the ball for New York’s first game.
Zambrano acknowledged Saturday that he wants to start Chicago’s opener at Houston on April 6.
“I care,” he said during a 2-0 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers in Phoenix. “When you’re retired and you go home and your grandkids ask you what you did, for your own records it’s good.”
Cubs manager Lou Piniella said earlier in the day the first start will go to Zambrano or Ryan Dempster.
Zambrano was 14-6 with a 3.91 ERA last year, and Dempster finished 17-6 with a 2.96 ERA. Piniella said he would talk to both pitchers before making his decision.
“My answer would be me,” Zambrano said. “And I guarantee you that (Dempster’s) answer would be him.”
Jeff Suppan yielded three hits in three innings against the Cubs. He struck out three and walked none.
wo runs and four hits over three innings. Both runs came when he overthrew first base on Mike Lamb’s comebacker to the mound.
“I think I made a rookie mistake,” Zambrano said. “I should have taken it nice and easy and not rushed. Obviously, I was too rushed and it happened.”
Santana doesn’t have any competition for the Mets’ opening-day start. It’s just a question of whether the ace will be healthy enough to go.
Santana, hindered last week by elbow tightness, threw 36 pitches in live batting practice before the Mets lost 7-5 to the Washington Nationals. It was the first time he’d faced hitters since knee surgery in October, and said everything went well.
“I pitched today with no problems in my elbow or my arm or anything, so I am fine, and at the same time I was working on my pitches and I was able to command it, so that’s what you want to see,” Santana said in Port St. Lucie, Fla.
The left-hander threw mostly fastballs, but also worked in some off-speed pitches and made it difficult for hitters to get a bat on the ball. Only three pitches were put into play.
Santana took a break after the first 20 pitches to simulate the change in innings.
arm speed, my legs are there. That’s what you are looking for. You look for your legs to be there and to feel comfortable, and that’s how I felt.”
In other news:
-Minnesota’s Scott Baker struck out four in four innings against Pittsburgh in his first spring appearance since signing a four-year contract worth $15.25 million, plus a $9.25 million club option for the 2013 season.
He gave up just one run, a homer by Pittsburgh’s Adam LaRoche, in a 10-1 loss to the Pirates.
“My family and I love Minneapolis,” Baker said. “It’s a great place to be. This gives me some security. It gives me some certainty for later on.”
-Eric Gagne, who came to Brewers camp looking for a roster spot, is likely finished in Milwaukee after a second doctor reported the right-hander has a frayed rotator cuff. Gagne was 4-3 with 10 saves and a 5.44 ERA for the Brewers last season.
Marlins 3, Orioles 2, 10 innings
At Jupiter, Fla., Robert Andino homered in the 10th to give Florida its second victory of the spring.
Cardinals 5, Astros 1
At Kissimmee, Fla., Khalil Greene and Colby Rasmus drove in two runs apiece. Joel Pineiro, the Cardinals’ likely No. 5 starter, struck out three in four shutout innings.
ring. Astros manager Cecil Cooper held a closed-door meeting with his staff before morning workouts and put it on his coaches to address the team’s lackadaisical play.
Phillies 8, Tigers 2
At Clearwater, Fla., Ryan Howard and John Mayberry Jr. each hit a three-run homer to power Philadelphia.
Blue Jays 7, Reds 2
At Dunedin, Fla., Homer Bailey worked four effective innings without his best stuff, allowing one run and six hits for Cincinnati.
Rays 15, Red Sox 7
At Port Charlotte, Fla., Tampa Bay’s James Shields threw 22 pitches in his spring debut. He struck out two while allowing one run and two hits in two innings.
Nationals 7, Mets 5
At Port St. Lucie, Fla., Washington pitcher Scott Olsen, facing a New York lineup that included only one projected starter, gave up two runs and six hits with two walks in three innings.
Mets right-hander Mike Pelfrey will be out indefinitely with a muscle strain in his lower left leg.
Braves 3, Yankees 1
At Tampa, Fla., Chien-Ming Wang passed another test in his comeback from a foot injury, allowing one run and three hits over three innings for New York.
Angels 9, Diamondbacks 5
eles, gave up two runs and four hits over three innings.
Rockies 9, Giants 7
At Scottsdale, Ariz., Franklin Morales pitched as though he belongs in Colorado’s rotation. One of several candidates for the team’s final starting spot, Morales threw four shutout innings. Clint Barmes had four hits and four RBIs.
Royals 9, Indians 4
At Goodyear, Ariz., David DeJesus homered and had four RBIs for Kansas City, which also got home runs from Mike Jacobs and Ryan Shealy.
Mariners 8, Dodgers 7
At Phoenix, Mike Sweeney, who signed a minor league contract with Seattle after undergoing surgery on both knees last year, went 0-for-2 with a walk as the designated hitter in his spring debut.
Dodgers manager Joe Torre said Manny Ramirez “is on track” to play his first game Thursday in a WBC tuneup against Japan or South Korea.
Athletics 15, Padres 6
At Peoria, Ariz., Mark Ellis hit a three-run double and Oakland won its fifth straight.
Rangers 2, White Sox 1
At Surprise, Ariz., Vicente Padilla rebounded from a poor start, getting some help from Texas’ defense to face the minimum 12 batters. Chicago lefty Clayton Richard also pitched four shutout innings.
Add A Comment