MESA, Ariz. -- Carlos Zambrano gave up five runs in the third inning of Wednesday's game against San Francisco, hitting a batter with the bases loaded before serving up a grand slam to Pablo Sandoval.
Not exactly the kind of outing the Cubs wanted to see out of Zambrano, but it didn't seem to bother him at all, since it's only spring training.
"It was good, you know? Zambrano said. "I make my pitches. They got lucky with the bloopers, and their big man (Sandoval), I was behind with the count and threw the wrong fastball in. He's a good hitter. I have to give him credit. Nothing I can do about it. Just get my work in and build my arm, and that's what I was trying to do today."
Photo: Carlos Zambrano wipes his brow after yielding a grand slam Wednesday to the Giants' Pablo Sandoval. (Morry Gash/AP)
"Yes, I did," Zambrano said. "My trainer talked to me and said they need Xavier to play today, and I said 'I don't have a problem, man.' My job in spring training is to build my arm, and that's what the Cubs pay me for- to pitch. I've been lucky in my eight-year career hitting, but in spring training, I'll let him hit and do his job. He's going to be a good addition for us."
Zambrano said he has been watching Sandoval in their Venezuelan hometown since he was 7-years-old.
"I know that guy has something special," he said.
Zambrano is looking forward to facing Sandoval again.
"When it counts," he said. "When I used to face Barry Bonds, do you know how many home runs he hit off me? One, in spring training."
Nady, recovering from elbow reconstruction surgery, is unable to play the field yet. But he singled in his first at-bat as DH on Wednesday, and drew a walk in the sixth.
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It doesn't matter now, and it won't when the season starts. He's the big Z...................Zero