3/29 Volstad gets news, then goes to work

Chris Volstad had been nearly perfect this spring, giving up one run over 10 innings in three Cactus League games. On Thursday, the Padres roughed him up, scoring six runs on nine hits over 4 2/3 innings, including four runs in the third.

“Today wasn’t that great,” Volstad said. “Everything was two outs [when the runs scored] and it was one pitch each of those innings and I could be out of that. I’m kind of glad it happened. I was fighting my body a little bit today and had that feeling of fighting myself. It’s good to get that out of the way.”

He did help himself with a two-run single in the second.

“Those hits probably won’t keep coming like they have been but the bunts, I’ll take those all day,” he said.

The right-hander found out before the game that he had made the Cubs rotation and will start April 9 against the Brewers at Wrigley Field. Volstad will make one more start in a Minor League game Tuesday at Fitch Park, then head north to Chicago.

“I’ve been waiting for the season to start for a couple weeks,” he said. “I can’t wait for it.”

– Carrie Muskat