Cubs 2, Rockies 0 at HoHoKam Park
Hits: According to STATS Inc., no first baseman scooped more throws than Todd Helton last season. He put on a clinic in the sixth, snagging a hopper from Ian Stewart. . . . Seth Smith quietly keeps hitting, lacing two singles in his first two at-bats. . . . The Cubs averaged 10,892 fans during their Cactus League season, a number the Marlins would kill for in the regular season.
Misses: Matt Daley’s run of sharp appearances ended with a crack. Alfonso Soriano smashed a two-run home run to left field, plopping it onto the berm. Derrek Lee doubled to lead off the inning. . . . After Jeff Francis plunked Aramis Ramirez, which drew a glare, Carlos Marmol suspiciously threw a fastball near Troy Tulowitzki. Tulo stared at the mound, but no words were exchanged. . . . Stewart misread a groundball in the first and tried to catch it behind his back with no luck.
What’s next: Rockies vs. Mariners, 5:05 p.m. today, Isotopes Park, Albuquerque, FSN. Rockies: Aaron Cook, Rafael Betancourt, Matt Belisle, Randy Flores, Franklin Morales. Mariners: Ryan Rowland-Smith.
Troy E. Renck, The Denver Post
