CUBS 11, RANGERS 7
at Mesa, Ariz.
Wednesday, March 21

Rangers at the plate: Gerald Laird hit a pair of two-run homers, his third and fourth this spring. He connected in the second, and Ramon Vazquez followed on the next pitch with a solo shot. Laird also homered in the fifth. Sammy Sosa went 1-for-3 with an infield single in his return to the Cubs' spring park.

Cubs at the plate: Derrek Lee went 2-for-4 with an RBI single in the first and a two-run double in the second. Lee is batting .512 (22-for-43) this spring. Jacque Jones tied the game at 6 with a two-run homer in the seventh, and Daryle Ward hit a tie-breaking, two-out RBI single. Ward hit a grand slam with one out in the ninth inning for the winning runs.

Rangers on the mound: Starter Jamey Wright gave up four runs on eight hits and two walks over 3 1/3 innings.

Cubs on the mound: Starter Jason Marquis gave up five runs on nine hits and three walks over five innings and struck out four. He also hit a RBI single in the second. Scott Eyre came on with the bases loaded and none out in the seventh and escaped without giving up a run.

Cactus League records: Rangers 12-7; Cubs 11-10-1.

Up next: The Rangers will travel to Tempe on Thursday to face the Angels at 3:05 p.m. CT in Tempe, with Kameron Loe scheduled to start for Texas. Kevin Millwood is scheduled to pitch in a Minor League game in Surprise.

The Cubs will travel to Peoria on Thursday to face the San Diego Padres at 3:05 p.m. CT in a game that will feature an interesting pitching matchup. Mark Prior and Rich Hill are slated to pitch for the Cubs, while Greg Maddux is scheduled to start for the Padres.