Almora's slam 1 of 6 HRs as Texas ties Cubs
SURPRISE, Ariz. -- The Cubs hit a grand slam for the second consecutive day Sunday as Albert Almora Jr.'s fifth-inning shot gave them the lead over the Rangers, but Texas strung together three homers in the seventh and eighth innings, including Drew Robinson's two-run blast, to end the game deadlocked
SURPRISE, Ariz. -- The Cubs hit a grand slam for the second consecutive day Sunday as Albert Almora Jr.'s fifth-inning shot gave them the lead over the Rangers, but Texas strung together three homers in the seventh and eighth innings, including
Robinson's homer in the seventh -- his second in the past three games -- pulled the Rangers within 9-7, and
Rangers starter
"I wasn't quite in sync," Martinez said. "I executed some good pitches at the right time, I was able to minimize, and on those pitches I was better in sync with my mechanics. They did damage on balls that I left elevated ... I was just rushed, I just wasn't quite staying behind. Now I know what I need to do to get myself back on track."
Martinez was off the hook, though, after the Rangers scored two runs in the second inning off Cubs starter
Lester, who will start Opening Day for the Cubs, said he threw mostly fastballs as he continues to build up arm strength.
"The first [start] is always the hardest because it's the first one," Lester said. "It's the first time getting on the mound, getting in the element of fans and the warmup. That's the biggest thing is just getting through it."
Cubs Up Next:
Rangers Up Next:A.J. Griffin will make his first start and third appearance of the spring in Peoria at 2:05 p.m. CT as the Rangers take on the Mariners and lefty Drew Smyly. Griffin was banged around in the Cactus League opener Feb. 25, allowing three earned runs in two innings, but he threw three scoreless innings and allowed just one hit in his second outing on March 1.live on MLB.TV.
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Dave Sessions is a contributor to MLB.com.