Boxscore

The Chicago Cubs came to Goodyear to face the Cincinnati Reds today and left after the 10-run rule came into play.

Johnny Cueto started for the Reds and went three innings, allowing no runs. He was followed by an unusually sharp Francisco Cordero. In what we can only hope is a harbinger of improvement this season, Cordero had a perfect inning and struck out two. That’s right! Instead of his usual bases-on-balls, he actually recorded some strikeouts!

Overall, the Reds pitching was outstanding, limiting the Cubs to two hits. At one point, they’d retired 16 batters in a row.

On the offensive side of things, it was the unusual tandem of Paul Janish and Edgar Renteria who got the beating started. Both were playing–Renteria at second and Janish at short–and both had two-hit days. Combined, they scored three runs, driven in by Juan Francisco and Chris Heisey. Only one of the 10 runs was from a homer, and that was from Zach Cozart in the 5th. Definitely not a good day to be a Cubs pitcher, if there ever is one.

Cueto picked up the win, while rotation candidate Todd Wellemeyer gets the loss.

This week, the St. Louis Cardinals and their fans–not too mention Albert Pujols–got a good look of how much on the brink their 2011 season is. They’ve already lost Adam Wainwright to Tommy John surgery. That places a lot of pressure on Chris Carpenter to somehow pick up the slack, which is why Cardinals fans everywhere felt a great disturbance Tuesday when Carpenter left a game early due to injury.

What’s even worse is that later in that same game, Wainwright replacement candidate Mitchell Boggs also left early thanks to an injury.

This weekend, Cardinals fans can relax somewhat. Carpenter threw catch yesterday. “I still feel (the leg injury) a little bit,” said Carpenter, “but if it keeps getting better every day like it has, then it will be fine.” He suffered a minor strain to his left hamstring that should improve by the start of the season. At 35, his health is a definite concern, though.

As for Boggs, it was his lower back that he hurt, and it is improving, as well. He played catch with Carpenter yesterday, from as far away as 90 feet. “Each day’s progression has been really good, what I’ve expected,” he said. “So I would be pretty shocked if within the next week I wasn’t ready to go.”

There are other injury concerns with the team, too. Third baseman David Freese has yet to play a game and is waiting to test out his surgically repaired ankles. And outfielder Lance Berkman’s legs are already starting to bother him, as he was scratched from a start due to calf tightness.

Will this be a snake-bit season for the Cardinals? Maybe, but the Reds still shouldn’t discount them. They’ve been winning a long time, and winning often begets winning, even when the talent doesn’t seem to be there.

As mentioned last week, Edinson Volquez has been having some Visa issues and is unable to pitch in games before paying fans until it’s resolved. Good news, everyone! It’s resolved!

“Everything is set,” Volquez said. “They’re just waiting for me to pick it up.”

Volquez said he will go to the Dominican on Sunday and return to camp on Tuesday.

“I’ll say hi to everyone then come back,” he said.

I hope he’s correct in his assessment of the situation. Spring training can fly by. John Fay calculated that he should have enough time for four or five starts. We’ll have to hope it’s enough to prepare Volquez for opening day.