MESA, Ariz. (AP) — Carlos Zambrano threw free and easy in his spring training debut, working two innings in the Chicago Cubs’ 15-7 exhibition loss to the Seattle Mariners on Sunday.
It may be a sign for the fiery right-hander of things to come in 2011 after a difficult 2010 when he was pulled from the rotation and suspended from the team in June after a scuffle with former teammate Derek Lee.
Despite the difficult start — demoted to the bullpen after four starts — and being placed on the restricted list while going through anger management, Zambrano salvaged the season by finishing on a tear, going 8-0 with a 1.40 ERA over his last 11 starts.
It wasn’t as smooth of a debut for Chicago’s big offseason acquisition as right-hander Matt Garza, who allowed five earned runs on five hits in his two innings.
