Rick Sutcliffe faces another test of his shoulder Monday morning, when he`ll try to throw a simulated game on the sidelines.
”We`re going to crank it up on the side,” he said. ”Monday is going to be like a game situation. I feel real good about it.”
Sutcliffe threw 85 pitches at two-thirds speed Friday and has reported no pain in his shoulder. But he still won`t guess as to when he can make his first exhibition appearance.
The other starter with shoulder trouble, Mike Harkey, pitched pain-free batting practice Sunday but also isn`t ready for a game.
Great Scott: Gary Scott might just play his way into the Opening Day lineup. Scott tripled in Sunday`s 9-3 victory over Milwaukee at Chandler`s Compadre Stadium. He`s 3 for 5 and has started two of the first three games, including the exhibition opener, when Don Zimmer sent out a lineup that had probable starters at the other positions.
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Though it`s rare for a non-roster player to make the team in spring training, Scott appears to at least have a chance to unseat Luis Salazar as the club`s regular third baseman.
Oh, those walks! There is peace between Zimmer and Mitch Williams, whose first outing of the season featured a grand slam by Willie Randolph to tie the game with two out in the ninth Saturday. Williams had walked lefty-swinging George Canale to load the bases.
Zimmer had mentioned that the walk irritated him most, and Williams echoed that sentiment Sunday.
”I wasn`t upset about the home run,” Williams said. ”I was more worried about the walk.”
Boskie untouchable: Shawn Boskie threw three no-hit innings Sunday in his first appearance since elbow surgery last August. Boskie walked two.
”It`s a good way to build up my confidence,” said Boskie, who figures prominently in the rotation. ”But I have to remember not to make these six weeks too big and get ready for the season.”
Other game news: Dwight Smith hit the Cubs` first homer, off Julio Machado. . . . Hector Villanueva had four of the Cubs` 17 hits.