Kosuke Helps Beat the Cubs, WBC Updates, Opening Day Starter, and more

Final Score: Japan 3, Cubs 2


Cubs Starting Line-up Stats:

Soriano: 0-3
Theroit: 1-2, RBI
Lee: 1-2
Bradley: 1-3
Ramirez: 0-3
Fontenot: 2-2, Run
R. Johnson: 1-3
Bako: 1-1, RBI, 2 BB
Zambrano: 0-2

Another good game for Fontenot. Good to see Paul Bako reaching base all 3 times.

Kosuke Fukudome: Went 1-4 with an RBI single for Team Japan. He played CF for all 9 innings.

Cubs Pitchers:

Zambrano: 4 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 2 K
Gregg: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 ER
Patton: 1 IP, 1 H, 1 ER, 2 BB
Guzman: 1 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 1 K
Wells: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 ER

Great job by the Cubs pitchers today. Kevin Gregg has done awesome. Carlos Marmol might have his hands full trying to compete with Gregg for the closer's role. Zambrano did very well, one of the 2 runs he allowed was on a Paul Bako past ball.



Cubs Hitters off the Bench:

Taguchi: 1-2, RBI
Blanco: 1-2
Hoffpauir: 1-2
Deeds: 0-2
Rivas: 0-1
Scales: 0-2
Fuld: 0-1
M. Johnson: 0-1
J. Fox: 1-2, Run

Game Highlight: Kosuke Fukudome RBI single for Team Japan.

My Player of the Game: Kevin Gregg for his strong inning.

Next Up: Half of the Cubs will take on the Angels in Tempe, the other half of the split-squad will play the Mariners at HoHoKam Park. Sean Marshall will face Seattle and Chad Gaudin will face LA.

Other Cubs Notes:

• Carlos Zambrano will be the Opening Day starter for the Cubs. Ryan Dempster is a little disappointed according to Carrie Muskat.
• Carlos Marmol is coming back to Cubs camp.
• Corey Koskie has reported to camp after playing for Canada in the WBC.
• Aaron Miles sat out today because of shoulder soreness.
• Team Venezuela is under the assumption that Carlos Zambrano will be playing for them in round 2 of the WBC. (Thanks to the Cubs Reporter for that one.)
• This will be Big Z's 5th straight Opening Day start. That is a franchise record.
• Check out Reed Johnson's all new Cubs Blog!

Not a lot of time tonight, but this weekend I will....

• Catch up on Radio Recaps.
• Recap Cubs 30 teams in 30 days.
• Give the Cubs players stats from the WBC.
• Numbers Breakdown.
• Game Recaps.

Let's play 2 tomorrow!