Millar homers; Cubs win
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| The Cubs' Kevin Millar (right) is congratulated after hitting a two-run home run that scored Xavier Nady (left) against the Los Angeles Angels in the third inning Sunday in Tempe, Ariz. (AP photo) |
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TEMPE, Ariz. – Kevin Millar hit a home run and double and drove in three runs, making his case for a spot on the Cubs’ roster in their 8-7 win against the Los Angeles Angels on Sunday.
Millar, 38, signed a minor-league contract with the Cubs in the offseason.
“I can play the outfield,” he said. “I’ve got 500 games in the outfield [actually 355]. I can play third; I can play first. I don’t think it would be a problem to go into the outfield if [manager Lou Piniella would] need me.”
Millar played first base Sunday while starter Derrek Lee rested his bruised left foot.
Millar hasn’t played in the outfield since 2007, when he got in six games with Baltimore. He batted 251 times for Toronto in 2009, his lowest total since he entered the majors in 1999.
Millar had a better day than Cubs starter Randy Wells. Wells, who was 12-10 with a 3.05 ERA last season, had his scoreless string of five innings over two spring starts snapped. The Angels got to him for six runs and six hits in the second.
“It got out of whack,” Wells said. “I tried to force pitches. I didn’t have the slider at all today. ... I made some terrible pitches.
