 
03/22/2003 8:22 PM ET
Ainsworth makes rotation bid
Impressive six-inning performance boosts his stock
| By Rich Draper / MLB.com |
 |
MESA, Ariz. -- Backed by a four-run first inning, Giants starter Kurt Ainsworth pitched six solid frames and struck out seven as San Francisco tied the Chicago Cubs, 6-6, in 11 innings at HoHoKam Park on Saturday before a crowd of 12,072.
Ainsworth limited the Cubs to an infield single by Moises Alou over five innings, then gave up two runs in the sixth.
The 24-year-old right-hander left with a 6-1 lead, but poor defense and great hitting by the Cubs' Troy O'Leary helped the hosts bounce back and tie it in the ninth. O'Leary hit an RBI double in the sixth, an RBI triple in the eighth and a run-scoring single in the ninth.
"It was a good confidence-builder," said Ainsworth, who is vying for a starting spot. "Some of my teammates had told me to show more confidence on the mound and it felt good today."
Ruben Rivera, hitting .424 this spring, ignited the first-inning burst with a double off Chicago starter Alan Benes and scored on Rich Aurilia's base hit. Andres Galarraga singled in Rivera, then Carlos Mendoza banged home two runs with a single.
Aurilia also hit a sacrifice fly to score Jose Cruz Jr. in the fifth, and Galarraga doubled and scored on an infield error in the sixth. The Giants had won six of their last seven games and now hold a 12-12-2 spring mark.
Rich Draper is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
|
News
