Jason Marquis channeled a young Mark Prior on Tuesday, a day after Mark Prior channeled, oh, say, a young Bill Bonham.

In the Cubs 3-2 victory over the Brewers, Marquis pitched three scoreless innings, striking out two. Thanks to an effective sinker, Marquis retired six other Milwaukee hitters on groundballs. In five innings this spring, the former Greg Maddux protege has allowed just one run. (When you stink, you're an ex-Cardinal; when you're gold, you're a former Maddux protege.)

Ryan Dempster also pitched well, giving up a hit and no runs while striking out two in one inning. Micah Hoffpauir hit a game-winning homer in the bottom of the ninth to break a 2-2 tie.

Please note author's conscious avoidance of "walk-off homer."

The Cubs' spring record now stands at 2-3-1. Nice to pick up that point for a regulation tie with Oakland on Saturday, but it stinks that they wouldn't allow us to play a 5-minute sudden death overtime or go to a shootout. Let's just hope the potential point we missed out on doesn't hurt us in the Norris Division standings come playoff time.