SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- It seemed like old times when San Francisco defenders took dizzying routes, routine popups fell, hot dog wrappers blew across the infield and the stands cleared early.
Scottsdale Stadium played like Candlestick Park in the Giants' 5-3 victory against the Chicago Cubs on Thursday night, a game that was called after 6½ innings because of wind that was measured at 21 mph with gusts to 33 mph.
"If Candlestick was like that, I wouldn't have wished that on anybody," Giants right fielder Randy Winn said. "My eyes were red. Dirt and debris was flying. You never felt like you could see the ball or get a good read on it."
The game was called by mutual consent of the managers after the Cubs batted in the top of the seventh inning.
"I got a pound of dirt in my eyes," Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. "The risk of injury factor became involved. It was the right thing to do."
San Francisco left-hander Barry Zito gave up three runs and seven hits in five innings, striking out seven. He had eight strikeouts in 19 2/3 innings entering the game.
"It was totally blowing you during warm-ups. I remember one time it blew Bengie (catcher Molina) back out of his crouch, and we had to call timeout," Zito said. "You just hoped a gust doesn't hit during a pitch."
Milton Bradley was 2-for-2 with a home run taken by the wind to right-center field and is hitting .500 this spring.
Giants third baseman Pablo Sandoval had two run-scoring singles to raise his batting average to .446. He is tied for the major league lead with 25 hits.
Fred Lewis had two hits and drove in a run, and Aaron Rowand walked twice and had an RBI double.
Zito struck out the side in the first inning, getting Alfonso Soriano, Mike Fontenot and Derrek Lee swinging.
"I knew I had their 'A' lineup. I wanted to come out and make a statement," Zito said. "That's a result of being aggressive."
Cubs left-hander Sean Marshall, who has secured the No. 5 spot in the rotation, gave up two runs and four hits and five walks in four innings.
Notes
San Francisco's top two starters, Tim Lincecum and Randy Johnson, will start minor league games Saturday and Sunday, respectively, Bochy said, to better monitor their progress as the regular season looms. "They're fine. It's more that we can control their outings," Bochy said. "We can dictate how many pitches they throw an inning. These are big starts. Randy knows." Johnson threw only 40 pitches in his last start March 23, and has only two starts remaining before his first regular-season start April 8 against Milwaukee. Lincecum is to start the Giants' regular-season opener April 7. The Giants will declare the winner of the second base competition between Emmanuel Burriss and Kevin Frandsen before they leave Arizona on Wednesday, Bochy said. "We'll definitely do something in the next few days," he said. ... Cubs outfielder Kosuke Fukodome, who was on Japan's winning team in the World Baseball Classic, reported to the Cubs' camp Thursday but was not in the lineup against the Giants. Reed Johnson played center field.
