Cubs Win Slugfest Over Rangers, Cardinals Drop 3-2 Loss to Marlins

Kyuji Fujikawa failed to retire any of the five batters he faced in an eight-run ninth inning as a Texas Rangers split squad lost to the Chicago Cubs 15-10 Tuesday. Fujikawa, who signed with the Rangers in December after pitching for the Cubs last year, had retired 21 of 25 batters in exhibition games. Chicago sent 12 batters to the plate in the ninth, and Fujikawa's ERA jumped from 1.35 to 13.50.

"There was a lot of positives, discounting the ninth inning," Rangers manager Jeff Banister said. "I felt like the fastball got away from Fuji. I felt like one ball got hit well off him. The walk in the inning is what got him, I believe. It started to snowball from there on him. After the triple, I felt it was time to get him out."

Marlins 3, Cardinals 2

Next up for Adam Wainwright is opening night in Chicago. The right-hander proved he is ready to go by pitching into the seventh inning in St. Louis' 3-2 loss to the Miami Marlins on Tuesday.

Wainwright allowed two runs and eight hits while throwing 93 pitches in 6 2/3 innings. The ace was slowed by an abdominal injury early in spring training, raising questions about whether he would be ready to pitch in that first game against the Cubs.

White Sox 2, Dodgers 1

Dodgers outfielder Andre Ethier left Tuesday's 2-1 loss to the Chicago White Sox after he was hit on his right elbow by a pitch. Ethier fell to the dirt in pain after he was plunked by rookie Carlos Rodon in the third. He was replaced by Chris Heisey, who homered in the fifth. X-rays on Ethier's elbow were negative, and he is expected to play Thursday against the Angels in Anaheim. Ethier and rookie Joc Pederson are competing for a starting job in the outfield. Ethier is batting .313 in spring, and Pederson has a .368 average.

Wednesday, April 1 Schedule (All Times Central)

Toronto at Boston, 12:05 p.m.
     
Boston at Minnesota, 12:05 p.m.

Tampa Bay at New York, 12:05 p.m.

Detroit at Houston, 12:05 p.m.

Atlanta at Philadelphia, 12:05 p.m.

Washington at Miami, 12:05 p.m.

St. Louis at New York, 12:10 p.m.

Los Angeles at Kansas City, 2:05 p.m.

Los Angeles at Oakland, 2:05 p.m.

San Diego at Chicago White Sox, 3:05 p.m.

Chicago White Sox at Seattle, 3:05 p.m.

Milwaukee at Chicago Cubs, 3:05 p.m.

Arizona at Cincinnati, 3:05 p.m.

Cleveland at San Francisco, 3:05 p.m.

Texas at Colorado, 3:10 p.m.

Pittsburgh at Baltimore, 6:05 p.m.