Cubs News

This is the story of how Joe Maddon vanquished the forces of superstition and despair and made possible a new era of hope for the Cubs. It is the story of ignoring the goat and embracing optimism. Maybe it is also the story of the Cubs breaking a 108-year championship drought. But we don't know that yet.

Joe Maddon learned last season that Addison Russell was a solid defender, a good kid and the "shortstop of the future," but the Cubs manager wasn't prepared for the power. Russell didn't waste any time this spring flexing his muscles.

Robinson Cano hit a pair of home runs, driving in five runs, and Seth Smith delivered a tiebreaking two-run double to power the Mariners to a 12-9 victory over the Cubs in front of a sellout crowd of 15,438 at Sloan Park on Sunday.

''And he did,'' Servais said. Cano had three home runs and seven RBIs to help the Mariners outlast the Chicago Cubs 12-9 Sunday in a game that was delayed for several minutes by a swarm of bees in center field. Cano had a two-run and a three-run homer off Cubs starter Jason Hammel, who allowed nine runs and eight hits in 4 1/3 innings.

The Cubs have announced their rotation, but they have not finalized the rest of the roster because they're waiting to see how Javier Baez feels after missing one week of games with a sore left thumb.

Cubs outfielder Dexter Fowler had to leave Sunday's 12-9 loss to the Mariners after one inning because of tightness in his left side. The problem was considered mild, and the team said he was removed as a precautionary measure.

You better beelieve it.

Jason Heyward started waving his arms in center field with two outs in the third inning to avoid some bees that stopped Sunday's game between the Cubs and Mariners.

A fan upset about the Tampa Bay Rays' participation in an exhibition game last week in Cuba was arrested Saturday night after hurling bottles into the team's dugout during a spring training game against Pittsburgh Pirates in Bradenton, Fla. Bradenton police arrested the unidentified man of Cuban heritage in the top of the seventh inning and said he had been charged with trespassing, assault and starting affray. The fan shouted obscenities in Spanish about the Castro regime in reaction to the Rays' trip to Cuba, the first visit by a major league team to the communist country since 1999. - - - The Atlanta Braves acquired left-handed reliever Eric O'Flaherty from the Pittsburgh Pirates for cash considerations on Sunday.

PEORIA, Ariz. (AP) -- Hector Santiago was sharp before tiring in the sixth inning, Daniel Nava stayed productive with a home run and the Los Angeles Angels beat a San Diego Padres split squad 11-2 Sunday.

MESA, Ariz. (AP) -- As usual, star Cubs outfielder Jason Heyward made the smart play. He climbed the fence in center - to avoid a swarm of bees.

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. (AP) -- Steven Matz pitched one-hit ball for 5 2/3 innings, David Wright and Michael Conforto homered and the New York Mets tied the split-squad Washington Nationals 4-4 Sunday.

Ben Zobrist has batted first, second and third this spring for the Cubs, but on Sunday, he was in the No. 6 spot.

National League Cy Young Award winner Jake Arrieta will start on Opening Night, April 4, and not be sidelined because of a blister that forced him out of his last spring outing after one-third of an inning.

Matt Duffy hit an RBI single and a solo home run to back Jeff Samardzija and lead the Giants to a 5-2 victory Saturday over the Cubs in front of 15,403 at Sloan Park.

Brandon Drury had three hits, including a home run, and Paul Goldschmidt added his second homer of the spring as the Arizona Diamondbacks and Milwaukee Brewers tied 7-7 on Saturday. Arizona led 7-3 in the ninth inning before the Brewers rallied for four runs, including a three-run homer by Manny Pina. Milwaukee scored five in the ninth to beat the Chicago Cubs 5-4 in Mesa on Friday.

Kyle Seager had two doubles and drove in three runs, Ketel Marte hit an inside-the-park home run and the Seattle Mariners beat a Los Angeles Dodgers split-squad 7-6 Saturday. Seager is batting .319 in spring training and the Mariners have scored 40 runs in their past five games. It's not just one or two guys carrying the club every day,'' Mariners manager Scott Servais said.

Javier Baez has not played since March 20 because of a sore left thumb, but Cubs manager Joe Maddon feels he still could be ready for Opening Day.

Musician Huey Lewis was a guest of former Cubs pitcher Rick Sutcliffe during the team's Saturday morning workout, and wore a complete Cubs uniform when he took batting practice with the team.

Jeff Samardzija, who had struggled badly this spring, retired the first 11 batters and Matt Duffy hit a solo homer as the San Francisco Giants beat the Chicago Cubs, 5-2, on Saturday. Samardzija had entered the game with an 8.53 ERA but allowed just two runs on five hits in six innings. Samardzija got 11 of his 18 outs on ground balls, a formula that works well with the Giants' stellar infield.