8th

Rockies 8th:

Jeff Gray now in to pitch. Fireballer we got in the Fox/Gallagher trade. He's been out most of the spring with a groin problem. Throws strikes. It's weird seeing another Cub wear #34. That may take some getting used to.

Fowler walks after I complimented Gray's control. Fitting. Spillbourghs now up, he's 2-3 today. Fowler is a speed demon, so he may be going here, although the meat of the lineup is due.

Len is talking about Spillbourghs' facial hair. I search frantically for a pencil to jam in my ear.

Spillbourghs bounces an infield hit to third; 1st and 2nd with nobody out and Helton up.

Helton way late on a FB. 0-1. Helton flies out and runners hold. One out.

Gomez up for Tulo. Gomez drops a hit between 2nd and RF but Kosuke forces Spillbourghs at 2nd - not much Spillbourghs could have done there. Strange play.

Two down, runner on 1st and 3rd. Jay Payton up. Quickly down 0-2. Payton grounds out to 2nd - Gray does a nice job of working out of trouble.

Cubs 8th:

Speier in to pitch, and Kosuke bounces out to short. One down.

Jackson up. Good prospect, first round pick last year. Jackson hits one high and deep but Spillbourghs catches it at the wall. Misses a HR by about 2 feet. Two outs.

Tracy now up and knocks a base hit to right; Spillbourghs misplays it and Tracy ends up on second. Good heads-up baserunning.

LaHair at bat, and he's a big dude. But he pops out to the catcher and we're off to the 9th inning.