Cardinals, Cubs Drop Spring Training Games

Kolten Wong got a chance to bat leadoff for the St. Louis Cardinals and was hitless in two at-bats Sunday during a 5-2 loss to the Washington Nationals.

Wong vocalized his desire to hit in the top spot during the offseason. He got his first opportunity of the spring and lined out and grounded out.

"I've asked for things and they don't need to answer anything I've asked for, but they've definitely given me shots," Wong said. "That's all you can ask for, them understanding that you have a passion to try something out and them actually giving you the chance to do it."

With Wong occupying the leadoff spot and outfielder Matt Holliday sitting out another day after a stiff lower back, manager Mike Matheny moved Matt Carpenter from first to third in the lineup.

Wong saw six pitches in his first at-bat. He's hoping more patience at the plate will lead to more consistency.

"I think that's the reason why I've been the player that I have is I feel like I'm a little too aggressive at some points," said Wong, who signed a $25.5 million, five-year contract last week. "I think, for me, this spring training is going to be a lot of making sure I swing at strikes and just trying to see how far I can get into counts."

Said Matheny: "When a guy makes an effort to try to do something we give him a shot."

Diamondbacks 8, Cubs 3

Dexter Fowler showed with one big swing how happy he is to be back with the Chicago Cubs.

Fowler, who turned down a bigger contract and made a late decision to return to Chicago, homered for his first hit of the spring in the Cubs' 8-3 loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks on Sunday.

Fowler spurned a three-year, $33 million deal with Baltimore, to sign a one-year, $13 million contract with the Cubs on Feb. 25. He had turned down a one-year, $15.8 million qualifying offer from Chicago in November in order to test the free-agent market.

"My timing is coming around on the left side," the switch-hitting center fielder said. "Right-handed still is a work in progress. But all in all, I feel good. I'm seeing the ball at the plate. That's the most important thing."

Arizona starter Patrick Corbin went two innings, allowing two unearned runs and two hits. The left-hander, projected to be the Diamondbacks' No. 3 starter behind Zack Greinke and Shelby Miller, struck out three with no walks.

Jake Lamb was 2 for 3 with a double, an RBI and a run scored, but the third baseman committed Arizona's first error of the spring when he threw high to first baseman Paul Goldschmidt in the second. The miscue cleared the way for the two unearned runs off Corbin.

White Sox 8, Padres 1

Jose Abreu and Todd Frazier hit back-to-back home runs, Carlos Rodon pitched three scoreless innings and the Chicago White Sox defeated a San Diego Padres split squad 8-1 on Sunday.

Rodon gave up one hit in his first start this spring, a single by Rocky Gale. The left-hander walked one and struck out two.

The home runs by Abreu and Frazier came in the fourth inning against Cesar Vargas. Abreu's drive was his first of the spring.

Frazier, who also connected Friday, doubled in the second off starter Robbie Erlin and scored Chicago's first run on Jimmy Rollins' sacrifice fly.

Alexei Ramirez faced his former team for the first time and went 1 for 2 with a walk. The new San Diego shortstop spent his first eight seasons with Chicago after arriving from Cuba.

He got a nice round of applause from the crowd of 8,327 before each at-bat.

Sunday, March 6 Scoreboard

Boston 8, Baltimore 7
    
Detroit 9, Miami 2
        
Houston 7, Toronto 1
        
Philadelphia 6, New York Yankees 5
        
Houston 11, Pittsburgh 8
        
Washington 5, St. Louis 3
        
Minnesota 5, Tampa Bay 4
        
New York Mets 7, Atlanta 5
        
Chicago  White Sox 8, San Diego 1
        
Milwaukee 6, Cleveland 5
        
Seattle 7, Texas 3

Colorado 9, Cincinnati 3
            
Los Angeles Dodgers 5, San Francisco 2
            
Kansas City 6, Los Angeles Angels 1        
    
Oakland 6, San Diego 5
    
Arizona 8, Chicago Cubs 3

Monday, March 7 Schedule (All Times Central)

Minnesota at Baltimore, 12:05 p.m.

Tampa Bay at Boston, 12:05 p.m.

Houston at New York, 12:05 p.m.

Miami at Washington, 12:05 p.m.

Philadelphia at Pittsburgh, 12:05 p.m.

New York at St. Louis, 12:05 p.m.

Atlanta at Toronto, 12:07 p.m.

Detroit at New York, 12:10 p.m.

San Diego at Milwaukee, 2:05 p.m.

Kansas City at Oakland, 2:05 p.m.

San Francisco at Texas, 2:05 p.m.

Kansas City at Chicago, 2:05 p.m.

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

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

Chicago at Los Angeles, 2:10 p.m.

Arizona at Seattle, 2:10 p.m.

Chicago at Colorado, 2:10 p.m.