Major League Baseball

Cubs 8, Angels 7

Published Mar. 14, 2010 9:41 p.m. ET

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Kevin Millar hit a home run and double and drove in three runs, making his case for a spot on the Cubs roster in their 8-7 win over the Angels on Sunday.

The 38-year-old Millar signed a minor-league contract with Chicago over the offseason.

``I can play the outfield,'' he said. ``I've got 500 games in the outfield (actually 355). I can play third; I can play first. I don't think it would be a problem to go into the outfield if (manager Lou Piniella would) need me.''

Millar played first base Sunday while starter Derrek Lee mends a bruise to his left foot.

Millar hasn't played in the outfield since 2007, when he got in six games with Baltimore. He batted only 251 times for Toronto in 2009, his lowest total since he entered the majors with Florida in 1999.

``It's not my job to make that call,'' Millar said. ``The one thing you can do is try to bring some flexibility for (Piniella). I've just got to keep having good at-bats and today was a big step.

``It's my job to make it tough.''

Millar had a better day than Cubs starter Randy Wells. Wells, who was 12-10 with a 3.05 ERA last season, had his scoreless string of five innings over two spring starts snapped. The Angels got to him for six runs and six hits in the second.

``It got out of whack,'' Wells said. ``I tried to force pitches. I didn't have the slider at all today. My slider has been flat here. I made some terrible pitches.

``You try to take the positive. I pitched through a little adversity today.''

The Angels' Joel Pineiro was also hit hard in his second spring start, allowing seven hits and four earned runs in three innings.

Pineiro missed his second appearance for dental work. He allowed three hits and a run in his previous start against the White Sox on March 4.

Kendry Morales hit his first spring homer for the Angels. Morales' spring was delayed because of immigration paperwork. He had a breakthrough 2009 season with the Angels, hitting .304 with 34 homers and 108 RBIs.

Notes: Cubs 3B Aramis Ramirez said he would begin throwing in a couple of days after he was lifted from Saturday's game with a sore right triceps. ... The Angels held out SS Erick Aybar and RF Bobby Abreu. Abreu has tightness in his side and Aybar has stiffness in his right arm. ... Cubs closer Carlos Marmol allowed only a walk in one inning Sunday with a strikeout. It was his third spring appearance. ... Angels OF Reggie Willits left the game with a strained right hamstring after he delivered an RBI single in the second and took second on the throw home.

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