Cubs Beat Athletics, Cardinals Rained Out

Jake Arrieta prepared for his start on opening day, overcoming a 28-pitch first inning Tuesday as the Chicago Cubs beat the Oakland Athletics 9-5.

Arrieta went five innings, allowing one run and two hits. The NL Cy Young Award winner struck out five and walked two. The Cubs open Monday at the Los Angeles Angels.

"I got to throw all my stuff," Arrieta said. "I got to pitch through some struggles with command."

As for his opening-day start, Arrieta said, "To be the guy on the mound for the first one is something special. But it's short-lived. Once that's over, it's back to business."

"We're excited that camp's winding down. Everybody is fairly healthy, strong and ready to go. That's the most important thing," he said.

Kyle Schwarber homered on the first pitch from A's starter Sonny Gray.

Addison Russell hit a two-run shot off Gray in the fourth. Later, Munenori Kawasaki hit a three-run homer, Matt Szczur had a two-run shot and David Ross hit a solo drive for the Cubs.

Cardinals, Nationals Rained Out in Fourth

Rain cut short Adam Wainwright's and Stephen Strasburg's final spring starts, canceling the game between the St. Louis Cardinals and the Washington Nationals in the top of the fourth inning Tuesday.

Wainwright allowed the lone run moments before lightning halted play. The Cardinals' opening day starter wasn't as crisp as he would have liked to be in his final spring start.

"I could have pitched seven or eight innings today and I would have thrown 115 pitches -- it would have been kind of sloppy," Wainwright said. "I want to tighten that up. I'm not worried about anything that's going on, but I'm not overly excited about my start today. It could have been a lot better."

Nationals manager Dusty Baker liked what he saw from Strasburg, who struck out five in three innings, including the side in the third.

Tuesday marked the second straight rainout for the Nationals, and the forecast for Wednesday's Grapefruit League finale against the New York Mets in Port St. Lucie isn't promising. Nor is the extended forecast for Friday's and Saturday's exhibition games against Minnesota in Washington.

White Sox 6, Rangers 2

Chris Sale pitched into the sixth inning, Todd Frazier homered and the Chicago White Sox beat the Texas Rangers 6-2 at spring training on Tuesday.

Chicago catcher Alex Avila got just his second hit of the spring, a two-run single in the fourth that ended A.J. Griffin's day. The former Oakland A's pitcher, trying to win a spot in Texas' rotation, was charged with five runs and seven hits in 3 2/3 innings.

Adam Eaton also connected for the White Sox in the seventh. Chicago has a baseball-high 48 homers this spring.

Sale allowed one run on Hanser Alberto's homer and six hits in 5 1/3 innings. The left-hander struck out five and walked none.

"It was nice. It was cool enough to stay loose," Sale said.

Sale's next outing is opening day against Sonny Gray and the Athletics on Monday night in Oakland.

"It's great to come down here and get your bearings but we're all ready to start the race," Sale said.

Josh Altmann homered for Texas against Jake Petricka in the seventh.

Tuesday, March 29 Scoreboard

Toronto vs. Detroit, Canceled            
    
Minnesota 6, Boston 2 (F/7)                

New York Yankees 5, Pittsburgh 4            

New York Mets vs. Philadelphia, Canceled            

Washington vs. St. Louis, Canceled            

Tampa Bay vs. Toronto, Canceled            

Miami 1, New York Mets 0
            
Cleveland 1, Los Angeles Angels 1            
    
Chicago White Sox 6, Texas 2            

Cincinnati 9, Milwaukee 2            
    
Chicago Cubs 9, Oakland 5            

San Diego 11, Los Angeles Dodgers 9

Colorado 6, Arizona 1
            
Atlanta 4, Baltimore 4 (F/10)            
     
Cleveland 4, Seattle 1            

Kansas City 16, San Francisco 10

Wednesday, March 30 Schedule (All Times Central)

Washington at New York, 10:10 a.m.

Toronto at Minnesota, 11:05 a.m.

New York at Atlanta, 11:05 a.m.

Houston at Philadelphia, 11:05 a.m.

Boston at Pittsburgh, 11:05 a.m.

St. Louis at Miami, 11:05 a.m.

Boston at Tampa Bay, 11:05 a.m.

Arizona at Oakland, 1:05 p.m.

Kansas City at Texas, 1:05 p.m.

San Diego at Seattle, 1:10 p.m.

Colorado at Chicago, 2:05 p.m.

Chicago at Cincinnati, 2:05 p.m.

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

Milwaukee at Colorado, 2:10 p.m.

Detroit at Baltimore, 4:05 p.m.

San Francisco at Sacramento, 7:05 p.m.