Heathcliff Slocumb is on the verge of pitching his way into the last spot on the Cubs` staff.
His earned-run average, 5.90, is unimpressive, and he allowed an earned run in his only inning during the Cubs` 5-3 victory over California on Wednesday in Palm Springs, Calif. But manager Don Zimmer isn`t looking at that. He`s looking at Slocumb`s five walks in 10 2/3 innings.
”Every time he goes out there, I`m looking for this wildness I`ve heard everybody talk about,” Zimmer said. ”I haven`t seen it. He`ll walk a man, sure, but he throws strikes. I`ve been impressed with him.”
Slocumb is still an underdog to push aside lefty Steve Wilson, who has spent the last two years in Chicago, and he also has to beat out right-hander Dave Pavlas, who has a 2.57 ERA.
But Zimmer has been frustrated with Wilson`s spring performance-he has allowed 22 runners and three home runs in 9 1/3 innings. That could open the door for Slocumb.
The duel will be academic if Rick Sutcliffe is healthy by Opening Day, but it`s more likely he`ll be on the disabled list.
Sutcliffe made his second appearance of the spring Wednesday, allowing Triple-A Edmonton one earned run on six hits in four innings in Mesa`s Fitch Park. Sutcliffe walked none and struck out two during the 58-pitch outing.
Insurance policy: Doug Dascenzo went 2-for-4 and knocked in a run to raise his spring average to .432. He won`t unseat Jerome Walton as the starter in center field, but he`ll be there if Walton breaks down. Walton has missed a third of the games in his first two years.
”Dascenzo will play some this year,” Zimmer said. ”There ain`t no way Walton`s going to play 162 games. I`ve got a couple of good outfielders on the bench (Dwight Smith is the other) and I`ve got to get them some playing time.”
The victory, highlighted by Luis Salazar`s team-high third homer, broke a four-game losing streak.
Danny Jackson (2-0) gave up only two earned runs in six innings. He`s allowed six earned runs in 22 2/3 innings, a 2.38 ERA. Dave Smith notched another scoreless inning, as did Mitch Williams, who picked up his third save. Cunningham shelved: Earl Cunningham, the Cubs` first draft pick in 1989, has sprained ligaments in his left knee. The club said he`ll be out four to six weeks but will not require surgery.