Cubs beat Giants in training
March 13, 2007
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – Barry Bonds lost a pair of fly balls in the sun, Gold Glover Omar Vizquel booted a routine grounder and Carlos Zambrano fell on his face while legging out a triple.
And that was just the top of the first inning.
The Chicago Cubs scored six runs in an inning that featured nearly enough plays to fill up a blooper reel on their way to a 10-5 victory over the San Francisco Giants on Monday.
Bonds, playing for the fourth straight day but only the third time in the field this year, was in the middle of a lot of it.
After Alfonso Soriano opened the game with an infield single that deflected off pitcher Matt Morris’ glove, Ryan Theriot hit a drive to left-center. Bonds went back to the warning track and lost sight of the ball in the bright sun, leading to a double.
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Derek Lee then hit a routine grounder to shortstop that Vizquel, an 11-time Gold Glove winner, couldn’t handle, leading to the first run of the game.
“I’m sure Matty realized this was not his day when there was an error at that spot,” manager Bruce Bochy said. “It’s bad luck for Matty. He made some good pitches. You can’t do much about the sun.”
Aramis Ramirez followed with a single to load the bases before Jacque Jones hit another fly ball into the sun in left field. Bonds didn’t have to move for this one, but once again didn’t see it despite contorting his body to get a better view. The ball landed for a run-scoring single that made it 2-0.
“It’s tough. If you can’t see it, you can’t see it,” Bonds said. “You can see it off the bat, but you can’t see it once it’s in the sun. If it stays in there, you’re just done.”
Cliff Floyd hit a two-run single to right field in his first at-bat of spring training. Floyd made his debut Monday after surgery on his left heel in October, going 1-for-2 with a walk.
Morris retired the next two batters and the inning seemed to return to normal before Zambrano stepped to the plate. He took a big cut and drove the ball off the wall in right-center.
Running hard out of the box, Zambrano began to stumble as he rounded second base. He tried to keep his balance, but was unable to and fell on his face – with the left shoulder taking most of the blow – about two-thirds of the way to third.
He scampered safely to the bag with the RBI triple before the throw could come in from center.
Zambrano didn’t let his fall affect on his pitching, ending the first by throwing a high fastball by Bonds and catching Pedro Feliz looking at a third strike.