Cactus League: Cubs vs Athletics 2/28/13

On the final day of February, the Cubs played host to Oakland in Mesa. Dave Sappelt was handed lead off duty and responded with a RBI double in the third inning to start the scoring for the Cubs half of the scoreboard. Prospect Junior Lake had the go ahead RBI single in the bottom of the fourth and Darnell McDonald continued his positive start to the Spring by adding an insurance run thanks to his double in the fifth. As a team the Cubs pounded out 12 hits.

Feb 23, 2013; Tempe, AZ, USA; Chicago Cubs shortstop Junior Lake (73) throws to first before a game against the Los Angeles Angels at Tempe Diablo Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports

From the bump, Scott Feldman made his Cubs Spring debut and got through his two innings of work, allowing one run on two walks and two hits, while striking out two. Travis Wood picked up his second win in Cactus action with two innings of his own, although he did surrender a solo home run. Carlos Marmol picked up a hold with an one inning effort that featured one walk and one strike out, but his potential replacement in waiting Kyuji Fujikawa matched the incumbent closer’s efforts with a scoreless frame of his own.

One name to note is Rule 5 pick Hector Rondon, who by multiple accounts has impressed so far this Spring. Rondon made his second appearance in Cactus League play and registered a one, two, three inning. The Cleveland Indians had left the right handed reliever unprotected in the Rule 5 draft, presumably thinking that teams would not take a chance with a selection on a pitcher coming off of Tommy John surgery. To keep Rondon, the Cubs would need to maintain the former Indian on their 25 man Major League roster for the entirety of the 2013 season. If Rondon keeps pitching as he has done so far, keeping him in the Major League bullpen would be a non issue for the North Siders.

The Cubs improved to 4-2 in Cactus play, with their lone pair of losses coming at the hands of the Dodgers.