Cubs 7, Giants 5

3/25/2008 6:31 PM

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) -Reed Johnson was an immediate hit in his Chicago Cubs debut.

Two days after he was released by Toronto, Johnson agreed to a $1.3 million, one-year contract with the Cubs and then got two hits, including a double, and scored twice Tuesday in a 7-5 victory over the San Francisco Giants.

``I had three days off and to play a full nine innings, it's good to get all the flight out of me,'' Johnson said. ``You guys don't know how happy I am to be here.''

Rich Hill followed his worst spring training outing with his best, allowing two runs and five hits in five innings. He walked one and struck out six.

Hill walked six and struck out one in 1 1-3 innings against the Colorado Rockies last Thursday. He adjusted his delivery afterward, leveling his shoulders to help his control.

``It was something that's simple and really clean,'' Hill said. ``I have no doubt about the way my mechanics were before; I really liked them, but it just wasn't getting it done. I'm really encouraged by it. We've been working hard all week.''

Hill let one ball get away, a fastball that cut in on Aaron Rowand and hit him in the right shin. Rowand left the game as a precaution.

``I'm all right. It's just a shin burger,'' Rowand said. ``My left leg got out of the way quick enough but my right leg didn't.''

Rowand, the Giants' biggest free-agent signing during the offseason, singled in his first at-bat and is hitting .321 this spring with two home runs and 10 RBIs. He's expected to play in Wednesday's game at Triple-A Fresno.

``You don't want to see anything like that, especially in spring training,'' Hill said. ``That's not what I want to happen. I don't want anybody to get hurt out there.''

Derrick Lee and Geovany Soto each homered and drove in two runs for the Cubs. Aramis Ramirez added two hits.

Giants starter Jonathan Sanchez went five innings, allowing four runs and eight hits. He walked two and struck out seven.

Sanchez will start the season in the rotation, replacing injured Noah Lowry.

``I want to show that I can pitch in a starting role and that I can throw strikes and get people out,'' the 25-year-old left-hander said. ``My arm feels good right now and I'm ready to go.''

Randy Winn homered and drove in two runs. Rich Aurilia also had two RBIs while Eugenio Velez and Steve Holm each had two hits.

``It was a tough spring,'' said Giants manager Bruce Bochy, whose team finished 8-20-2 in the desert. ``We had more injuries than we wanted to deal with and we're still making mistakes. We have some work to do.''

Notes: The Giants averaged 11,748 fans over their final seven home games and matched the Scottsdale Stadium record with 11,999 on Tuesday. ... Giants 2B Ray Durham was scratched from the lineup for the sixth straight day with a left hamstring strain. ... The Cubs won their spring-best third straight and are unbeaten in four straight. ... Lee has reached base safely in eight straight games. ... In the five games played between the Cubs and Giants, the road team won each time. ... Velez got his major league-leading 14th stolen base.