Wells sharp; Cubs lose
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| The Cubs' James Adduci can't come up with a double hit by the Milwaukee Brewers' Jody Gerut during a spring training game Tuesday in Mesa, Ariz. The Cubs lost, 5-3. (AP photo) |
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MESA, Ariz. – It took Randy Wells seven years to stick with the Cubs. Only seven years? Joe Inglett wishes he had been so lucky.
Inglett, an 11th-year pro trying to win the final spot on Milwaukee’s 25-man roster, hit a two-run homer with two outs in the ninth inning Tuesday, lifting the Brewers to a 5-3 victory against the Cubs.
Wells’ fine three-inning stint to start the game – similar to many of his outings last season, when he came out of nowhere to be one of baseball’s top rookies – was long over by the time Inglett sent a pitch from Blake Parker over the right-field fence.
Inglett, 31, has played in 211 big-league games but never has made a club out of spring training. Now out of minor league options, he is battling Adam Heether, Luis Cruz and Mat Gamel for a utility infielder job.
Wells certainly can empathize with Inglett’s plight.
He was trapped in the minors until the Cubs called him up last May to replace an injured Carlos Zambrano. Wells pitched superbly and got to stay with the Cubs when Rich Harden went on the disabled list.
There was no getting him out of the rotation after that. He went on to lead the team in wins (12) and ERA (3.05).
This spring, the 27-year-old right-hander is considered one of the stalwarts of the staff.
