Brewers beat Cubs 5-3, Wood and Cashner each touched for two runs

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MESA—Kerry Wood understands the comparisons but thinks they are unfair.Andrew Cashner, just 24, is a touted young pitcher from Texas — just like Wood was more than a decade ago. Back with the Cubs this year, Wood got a standing ovation Monday when he made his spring training debut during a 5-3 loss to a Milwaukee Brewers’ split squad.After coming up to the majors as a reliever last season, Cashner is trying to earn a job as the fifth starter. The 6-foot-6 right-hander with a 98 mph was the loser, allowing two runs, three hits and a walk in two innings.After making nine starts in the minor leagues last year, Cashner compiled a 4.80 ERA in 53 games with the Cubs. Mike Quade said at the very least Cashner will return to the bullpen, but he wanted to give him a chance to start.One of the other candidates for the fifth-starter spot is Randy Wells, who started the game and allowed two hits in two scoreless innings.Wood allowed two runs and three hits in one inning. He used a tight curveball to strike out two.Milwaukee used a defensive shift on left-handed-hitting Carlos Pena in his two at-bats.Ryan Braun doubled, made a nice running catch and threw out a runner at the plate. Carlos Gomez added a hit, run and stolen base in two plate appearances for the Brewers, and Mark Kotsay had a RBI single.Winner Tim Dillard allowed one run and two hits in two innings. Reed Johnson had two singles for the Cubs, and Zealous Wheeler had two hits for Milwaukee.

NOTES—The Cubs made three errors for the second straight game. “We need to find a way to put crooked numbers under the left side of the scoreboard under innings and not on the far end under errors,” Quade said. “We have work to do.” … The Cubs have sold out six regular-season home games: opening day on April 1, the June 17-19 series against the Yankees, July 2 against the White Sox and Aug. 20 against St. Louis.