Cubs 11, Rangers 4

With two spring starts left, Colby Lewis is more concerned with the work than the results.

Lewis allowed six runs and nine hits in five innings of the Texas Rangers split squad's 11-4 loss to the Chicago Cubs on Thursday. Lewis struck out three and walked one, and gave up long home runs to Joe Mather and Alfonso Soriano.

''I had pretty good energy, didn't get tired and located a lot of pitches,'' Lewis said. ''That's all I wanted to get out of today.''

Lewis was far from the form he showed throwing four perfect innings on March 10 but said he felt the same as he did that afternoon.

''Sometimes you get swings and misses and sometimes you don't,'' Lewis said. ''For me it's all about getting my feel and I feel like I've had a good feel on all my. I'm not too concerned about my results.''

Rangers manager Ron Washington is also not concerned by his pitcher's results on the mound.

''The only thing I'm concerned about is them getting out there, getting their work done and coming out of the game healthy,'' Washington said.

Ian Stewart and Brett Jackson also homered for the Cubs and Mather, who is in the running for one of the final roster spots, finished 3 for 3 with a double and two RBIs. Chicago managed 15 hits against five Texas pitchers.

Matt Garza made a strong bid to be the Cubs' opening-day starter a day before manager Dale Sveum said he'd announce his decision. Garza allowed three unearned runs and two hits with three walks, and struck out three in five innings. He threw 48 of his 81 pitches for strikes.

''It was a good day's work,'' Garza said. ''I wanted to go a little bit deeper but my pitch count caught up to me.''

Joe Nathan pitched a scoreless ninth for the Rangers three days after allowing three runs on three hits in an inning against Milwaukee.

NOTES: Cubs RHP Marcos Mateo left after seven pitches with an apparent injury in his right arm. ... Cubs RHP Carlos Marmol told reporters Thursday morning his right hand is feeling fine and he expects to pitch again on Monday. Marmol left his outing on Tuesday with cramping in the hand but a subsequent MRI revealed no nerve damage. ... Rangers RHP Neftali Feliz played long toss earlier on Thursday and does not expect to miss his next start. Feliz left the game after three innings Tuesday with stiffness in his right shoulder. ... Rangers 1B/OF Brad Hawpe was scheduled to DH in both of the team's Thursday games. ... Before the game the Cubs optioned RHP Andy Sonnanstine to Triple-A Iowa.