SURPRISE, Ariz. | Valparaiso High School graduate Jeff Samardzija allowed one hit in three scoreless innings Wednesday as the Cubs defeated the Kansas City Royals 6-4.
Samardzija, who has made only five starts in the majors, is trying to earn one of two vacancies in the Cubs' rotation after going 8-4 with a 2.97 ERA in 75 relief appearances last year. He threw 26 strikes in 35 pitches.
Left-hander Jonathan Sanchez, acquired by the Royals from San Francisco in an offseason trade, got little help from his fielders.
The Cubs took advantage of three errors, two by third baseman Mike Moustakas, to score four runs in the first off Sanchez. The inning included RBI singles by Bryan LaHair, Jae-Hoon Ha and Darwin Barney.
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