CUBS 7, RANGERS 6
at Mesa, Ariz.
Monday, March 24

Rangers at the plate: Casey Benjamin doubled and scored on David Murphy's single in the first. Murphy added a two-run double in the third. Adam Melhuse hit a two-run homer in the eighth.

Cubs at the plate: Mark DeRosa hit his first spring homer, a three-run shot, in the first. Ronny Cedeno, battling for a spot as a utility player, hit an RBI double in the fifth and scored on Alfonso Soriano's sacrifice fly.

Rangers on the mound: Kason Gabbard gave up six runs, five earned, on six hits and two walks over six innings. Robinson Tejeda gave up a two-out triple to Felix Pie, who scored on Eric Patterson's walkoff single in the ninth.

Cubs on the mound: Ryan Dempster, named the No. 3 starter earlier in the day, served up four runs on eight hits and three walks over 4 2/3 innings, striking out five. Jon Lieber, assigned to the bullpen for the start of the season, gave up two runs on one hit and one walk over three innings, striking out three.

Cactus League records: Rangers 14-10; Cubs 12-14-1.

Up next for the Cubs: Rich Hill will make his next-to-last spring start on Tuesday when the Cubs travel to Scottsdale to face the Giants at 3:05 p.m. CT. Hill walked six in 1 1/3 innings in his last start March 20 against Colorado. Expect Kosuke Fukudome back in right field.

Up next for the Rangers: Outfielder Milton Bradley is expected to make his first appearance on the field Tuesday when the Rangers host the Mariners at 9:05 p.m. CT in Surprise. Bradley, who underwent knee surgery in September, has been limited to designated hitter to this point. The Rangers will use all relievers on the mound because Kevin Millwood is pitching in a Minor League game. He is scheduled to start against the Mariners on Opening Day in Seattle, and the Rangers didn't want him to face them twice in one week.