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Cubs drop Diamondbacks

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – Geovany Soto hit a two-run homer and Starlin Castro doubled twice for the Cubs in an 8-3 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Monday.

The Cubs wrap up spring training against Milwaukee today.

Reed Johnson and Darwin Barney also had two hits apiece for the Cubs, whose fans made up a good share of the crowd in the 14th consecutive sellout for the Diamondbacks at Salt River Fields.

The Cubs open the season Thursday at Wrigley Field against Stephen Strasburg and the Washington Nationals.

“Spring training’s long. We’re all probably beat up now a little bit,” Cubs manager Dale Sveum said. “You see a little bit of the energy dropping the last three or four days, not so much on the field, but in drills and stuff, and that’s been going on for 100 years. Guys have just had enough. It’s time to get started and get a whole ’nother energy level built up.”

Kerry Wood pitched a perfect fifth inning to get the win Monday. Wood has pitched only five innings this spring.

“That’s just a number,” he said. “I feel good. My body feels ready to go.”

He added that with side sessions and other activity he has had plenty of work to be ready.

Arizona’s Chris Young hit his fifth homer of the spring and second in as many games. Young hit .407 this spring. Half of his 24 hits were for extra bases, seven doubles and five homers.

Notes:
Cubs starter Jay Jackson, also expected to start the season in the minors, allowed three runs and five hits in four innings. ... Soto has three home runs this spring and is hitting .300. ... In a rather unusual play, the Cubs scored a run on Alfonso Soriano’s first-inning sacrifice fly to second baseman Aaron Hill.

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