March 18--Cubs 4, Royals 3
Spring record: 6-9-1
The summary: Before a sellout crowd of 15,181 that enjoyed 85-degree weather at Sloan Park, the Cubs are relied on four scoreless innings by starting pitcher Jason Hammel. Anthony Rizzo went 2-for-2 with an RBI single in the fifth.
At the plate: Matt Szczur, arguably the fastest player in camp, led off the fifth with a bunt single, stole second and scored on a two-out hit by Rizzo.
On the mound: After allowing a single to Omar Infante with two out in the second, Hammel retired the final seven batters he faced. Hammel did not walk a batter in his four innings of work after walking three in his first five innings.
In the field: Third baseman Mike Olt made a barehanded stop and throw to retire Eric Hosmer in the fourth. But reliever Francisley Bueno made a lazy, errant throw to first base with two out and nobody on that led to a run in the ninth.
Key number: 3 -- Hits by Rizzo in 19 at-bats this spring.
The quote: Hammel: "When you don't feel well and trying to make things happen, you can create bad habits and get yourself in more trouble when you're not being aggressive. So obviously putting the ball in play helps."
vs: Dodgers, 3:05 p.m., Wednesday at Camelback Ranch: RH Jake Arrieta vs. RH Brandon McCarthy.
-- Mark Gonzales
