Soon-to-be departing Lilly set for Team USA

Posted February 27, 2009 10:00 pm

Associated Press

SURPRISE, Ariz. - Cubs left-hander Ted Lilly tuned up neatly for the World Baseball Classic.

In his only spring training start for the Cubs before joining Team USA, Lilly pitched 2 efficient innings Friday in a 10-4 win over the Texas Rangers.

Lilly allowed 2 hits and struck out two.

"I wasn't really hitting my spots real well, but the ball was coming out of my hand well," he said.

Manager Lou Piniella said Lilly would have pitched a third inning if not for the Cubs scoring 7 runs in the top of the second.

"If he hadn't sat out for so long we would have let him go to get him ready for the Classic," Piniella said. "He looked good."

Lilly, who was 17-9 with a 4.09 ERA for the Cubs last season, will leave camp in nearby Mesa on Sunday to join the rest of Team USA in Florida.

"That's going to be weird," Lilly said. "There's part of me that's excited, but part of me feels like I'm going to sneak out. I feel like I'm leaving the guys behind."

Lilly said he'll pitch an exhibition for Team USA against the Toronto Blue Jays before changing his focus for the WBC.

"The difference is in spring training I'm playing to prepare myself for the season," Lilly said. "With the WBC, you're going out there to do what you can to win. I want to win but I'm not going to be stupid. It's an absolute privilege to have the opportunity to pitch for my country, but my responsibility first and foremost is to the Chicago Cubs."

The Cubs' Mike Fontenot homered, tripled and drove in 4 runs. Micah Hoffpauir and Sam Fuld also homered for the Cubs, who have won their first three spring games for the first time in four years.

Rangers starter Scott Feldman struggled through what had been scheduled as a 2-inning stint. He lasted only 12/3 innings after allowing 7 runs on 9 hits and a walk.

"The good thing is that it happened now and not during the season," Feldman said. "I'm looking forward to getting the ball again and working on some stuff in the bullpen and on the side before I go back out there. I was behind everybody, and you can't pitch like that."