Dempster strong in final tuneup

Posted March 29, 2008 11:00 pm

Associated Press

LAS VEGAS -- Ryan Dempster spent the spring proving himself as a starter again, and his final tuneup for the Cubs was a success.

The right-hander allowed 1 run and 6 hits in 4 innings Saturday, sending the Cubs to a 4-2 victory over the Seattle Mariners in the exhibition finale for both teams.

Dempster was a starter with Florida and Cincinnati before spending almost all of the past four seasons in the Cubs' bullpen. He saved 85 games from 2005-07.

He will make his first regular-season start of 2008 against the Milwaukee Brewers at Wrigley Field on Thursday.

Mariners starter Jarrod Washburn also got ready, pitching 5 innings. He gave up 3 runs -- 2 earned -- and 7 hits while striking out two. He is slated to start Seattle's fourth game, at Baltimore on Friday.

The Mariners, who finished exhibition play 13-16-3, open the season Monday against Texas in Seattle. They will send Erik Bedard to the mound against the Rangers' Kevin Millwood.

Reed Johnson led off the game with a homer off Washburn to left field on the second pitch. Ronny Cedeno (3-for-4) and Henry Blanco each had an RBI single for the Cubs (15-15-2) in the fourth inning. Richie Sexson hit an RBI single for Seattle in the third.

Kerry Wood pitched a scoreless ninth for his second save.

Carlos Zambrano will start the season opener Monday for the Cubs against Milwaukee's Ben Sheets. The Cubs, looking for their first World Series title in 100 years, will try to repeat as NL Central champions.

"This is going to be no picnic for us," manager Lou Piniella said. "We like our team, but we're going to have to go out and play."

The Cubs start the season in cold-weather cities for the entire month of April, including a six-game homestand and then a road trip to Pittsburgh and Philadelphia.

The Cubs placed reliever Scott Eyre, who has a sore left elbow, on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to March 23.

"I don't think he'll be out too long," Piniella said.

Meanwhile, the Mariners' R.A. Dickey, who had a strong spring, was optioned to Triple-A Tacoma.