The Chicago Cubs chose Kevin Gregg to be their closer, and the New York Yankees will give Brett Gardner his shot in center field.
Acquired by Chicago in an offseason trade with Florida, Gregg beat out Carlos Marmol, the Cubs’ top setup man last year. They both spent spring training vying to replace All-Star closer Kerry Wood, who signed with Cleveland.
“Gregg came in here and hasn’t given up a run all spring,” Cubs manager Lou Piniella said Sunday in Mesa, Ariz. “I think leaving spring training, we’re a better team the way we’ve put this thing together.”
The 30-year-old Gregg saved 29 games for the Marlins last season. The right-hander also had 32 saves in 2007 and has 62 for his career, which began with the Angels.
“That’s where I’m comfortable. That’s what I’ve done for the last couple of years,” Gregg said. “I’m excited about getting out there in a new year.”
Marmol, who also pitched for the Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic, is 1-1 with a 4.50 ERA in spring training. He has hit five batters with pitches.
pitched well,” Piniella said. “I’m fortunate that I have two pitchers here that I have confidence in that can do that job.”
Marmol returns to his role of setup man to begin the season.
“Disappointed, yeah,” he said. “I can’t control this.”
The fleet-footed Gardner grabbed the Yankees’ center field job, beating out Melky Cabrera this spring by showing improvement at the plate.
“Both of them played great,” manager Joe Girardi said in Tampa, Fla. “Gardie finished up strong and had a great camp. Right now I think Gardie has a little bit of the edge. He brings a little more speed to the lineup.”
Gardner batted .228 over 42 games in 2008, but was successful on 13 of 14 stolen-base attempts. He is hitting .385 with five steals in 22 spring training games.
The Yankees plan to have Cabrera on the regular-season roster in a backup role.
“Melky had a tough year last year, but came into camp, was ready to go and played very well,” Girardi said. “Melky is going to have a lot of important things to do for us. He’s a switch-hitter, can put him anywhere in the outfield. He can run.”
Cabrera lost his starting spot in center last season with a slump that got him demoted to the minors for 15 games. He is hitting .340 in 21 games this spring.
In other news:
red reliever Joel Zumaya on the DL, retroactive to March 27, with a sore right shoulder.
Willis said he has been feeling well on and off the mound. General manager Dave Dombrowski said he could not provide details about Willis’ medical condition or treatment because of privacy regulations.
-Randy Johnson, preparing for his first season with San Francisco, threw 80 pitches in a minor league camp game. He gave up seven hits and two runs in his final Arizona appearance.
The Big Unit, five wins shy of 300, was 1-2 with a 2.38 ERA in four spring training starts. He faced minor leaguers twice and missed one start because of biceps tenderness.
Johnson will make his last exhibition start Thursday against Oakland in the Bay Area series before pitching in the Giants’ second regular-season game April 8 against Milwaukee.
-San Diego right-hander Cha Seung Baek strained a flexor muscle in his forearm in the fourth inning of his start against the Dodgers and came out a couple of hitters later.
Tigers 5, Braves 4
At Lakeland, Fla., Jeff Francoeur and Casey Kotchman hit consecutive home runs in the first inning for Atlanta.
Detroit starter Jeremy Bonderman was pulled after getting only four outs. Bonderman also walked two batters. He likely will miss his first regular-season turn in the rotation as he continues to recover from shoulder surgery that sidelined him most of last season.
Astros 3, Blue Jays 2
At Kissimmee, Fla., Ricky Romero threw seven solid innings, allowing two runs while striking out six and walking none. The quality start leaves Romero in contention for one of the final two slots in the Blue Jays’ rotation. He’s competing with Brad Mills and Scott Richmond.
Rays 11, Reds
At Sarasota, Fla., Scott Kazmir drove in three runs, struck out five and gave up four hits in six innings, including Jay Bruce’s two-run homer. He hit a two-run double off Bronson Arroyo, who gave up 10 runs – three earned – and 14 hits in 4 2-3 innings.
Marlins 5, Nationals 2
At Jupiter, Fla., All-Star shortstop Hanley Ramirez, in a 3-for-33 funk going into the game, went 3-for-3 with a three-run homer.
Red Sox 3, Phillies 1
At Clearwater, Fla., Boston’s Jon Lester pitched five solid innings, giving up six hits, four walks and striking out five. He has a 1.72 ERA this spring.
Orioles 5, Mets 1
At Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Koji Uehara struck out two New York batters and induced a ground ball during a nine-pitch first inning before heavy rain forced him out of the game. Luke Scott hit a long homer off Mets reliever Sean Green, and Robby Hammock connected off Casey Fossum.
Twins 5, Cardinals 3
two-run homer to Rick Ankiel.
Yankees 9, Pirates 8
At Tampa, Fla., A.J. Burnett allowed seven runs and 10 hits over 4 1-3 innings for New York. Pittsburgh’s Zach Duke gave up eight runs and nine hits in 3 1-3 innings.
Athletics 7, Rockies 6
At Phoenix, Sean Gallagher gave up six runs and nine hits in five innings, but remains likely to be in the A’s rotation.
Greg Smith might have ended his chance of finding a spot in the Rockies’ rotation. He made it through only 1 2-3 innings, giving up five runs and leaving the game complaining of shoulder trouble.
Rangers 13, Angels 7
At Surprise, Ariz., Josh Hamilton homered in consecutive at-bats and drove in five runs for Texas. Vladimir Guerrero returned to the Los Angeles lineup after missing two games with pink eye and had a pair of doubles. Torii Hunter homered for the Angels.
Padres 7, Dodgers 3
At Phoenix, Jason Schmidt threw 51 pitches, his most in a Cactus League game this spring, but allowed three runs, three doubles and three walks in 3 1-3 innings for Los Angeles. Schmidt expects to begin the season making minor league rehab starts.
Indians 7, Cubs 5
At Mesa, Ariz., Mark DeRosa homered his first two times up off Ted Lilly, doubled and hit a sacrifice fly to lead Cleveland. Kerry Wood, the Cubs’ closer last season, had a solid outing for Cleveland pitching a scoreless seventh.
ls 17, Mariners 12
At Peoria, Ariz., Seattle starter Jarrod Washburn was rocked for seven runs and nine hits in the first two innings. Zack Greinke, slated to pitch the second game of the season for the Royals, gave up eight earned runs and 10 hits in just two innings.
White Sox 9, Diamondbacks 6
At Tucson, Ariz., John Danks allowed three runs and six hits while striking out five in 5 2-3 innings for Chicago. His brother, Jordan, a 2008 seventh-round draft pick, played center field for the White Sox. It was the first time they played in the same game since they were in high school in Texas.
Brewers 1, Giants 0
At Scottsdale, Ariz., Rickie Weeks hit his third home run of the spring for Milwaukee.
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