MESA, Ariz. — Hitting is definitely ahead of pitching right now for new Chicago Cubs righty Matt Garza(notes).

Garza made up for a blah performance on the mound Sunday afternoon by getting his first base hit as a professional ballplayer in his Cactus League debut.

Garza found it hard to contain his joy after hitting a single down the first-base line against left-hander Josh Outman(notes) to lead off the bottom of the fourth inning against the Oakland Athletics.

“It wasn’t pretty, but it was a hit,” teammate Carlos Peña said. “So we’ll take it. He was so pumped up, it was funny.”

Garza got to the bag and the A’s Daric Barton(notes) made a request.

“When I got to first,” Garza said, “Barton’s at first and he’s like, ‘Don’t smile.’ I’m like, ‘Dude, it’s my first hit.’

“He’s like, ‘Just turn around and smile, then.’ “

So he did.

Garza also ran the bases well, to the satisfaction of manager Mike Quade. The A’s won 15-7 at Hohokam Stadium.

Garza’s first Cubs pitching performance was forgettable, at least to observe. After Carlos Zambrano(notes) pitched two shutout innings, Garza struggled — allowing five runs and five hits, including a grand slam by Coco Crisp(notes) — over two frames.

Not that he sounded particularly worried about it.

“It’s spring,” Garza said. “I wasn’t throwing any breaking balls today. It was just mainly fastball and change-up. My location was off, but like I said, it’s spring. At least the ball felt good coming out of my hand. It felt like I was very explosive toward home plate. Everything that needs to be there, is there.

“Location will come with time and more innings. I’m not disappointed, I’m pretty upbeat about it. I’m pumped that the fastball came out of my hand the way it did.”

Peña, a teammate of Garza’s in recent seasons with the Tampa Bay Rays, was curious about how Garza felt in his Cubs debut.

“The first question I asked him at the end of the game was, ‘How do you feel?’ He said, ‘I feel good.’ That was the end of it,” said Peña, who went 0-for-2 with a walk and a run scored in his own Cubs debut.

“I think we are a little bit more mature than allowing the result to take over what we’re trying to do,” Peña said. “I told him, ‘Did you accomplish what you wanted to do?’ And he said, ‘I felt good. And, on top of that, I got a base hit.’ It was great to see him smile after that and enjoy himself. I’m glad he got that knock out of the way.

Garza, who spent the first five seasons of his career in the American League with the Twins and Rays, has gone 0-for-11 with nine strikeouts and a walk in interleague play. He’s also 0 for 2 in the playoffs, and he said he never had gotten a hit in spring training.

Until now.

“He was the only pitcher that didn’t get a hit on our staff,” Penã said. “They were all over him.”

Peña was even more impressed that Garza knew what to do once he reached base.

“He was concerned about how he ran the bases afterwards,” Peña said. “He was asking me, ‘Did I do that right?’ I’m like, ‘Dude, that’s just perfect.’ “

Quade considered pinch running for Garza, but has been mindful of him switching leagues.

“I could pinch hit for him and be careful, but he’s got to learn,” Quade said. “They’ve been through two weeks of serious conditioning. You’ve got to find out some time and I think now’s the time.”

Peña said Garza has a great attitude for a baseball clubhouse.

“He’s very active,” Peña said. “He’s very intense with everything he does, I think you can see it on the mound. He’s a fun-loving guy, always having a good time. Always laughing, always smiling. But when he gets on the mound, he just wants to beat the other team so bad and dominate.

“It’s just cool to see how he can turn it on like that. You think he’s unapproachable and the next thing you know, he’s just the friendliest guy on the ballclub.”

Follow Dave throughout spring training on Twitter — @AnswerDave — and check out the Stew on Facebook for more coverage.

Related: Carlos Zambrano, Coco Crisp, Daric Barton, Josh Outman, Matt Garza, Chicago Cubs, Oakland Athletics, Tampa Bay Rays, 2011 Spring Swing, 2011 Spring Swing — DB

Mesa, AZ (Sports Network) – Caleb Gindl had an RBI triple and Zelous Wheeler added an RBI double on the next at-bat in the top of the sixth inning as the Brewers topped the Cubs, 5-3, in Cactus League action.

Mark Kotsay went 1-for-2 with an RBI while Tim Dillard allowed one run on two hits in two inning of work to record the win.

Tyler Colvin, Bobby Scales and Scott Moore each added an RBI for the Cubs, who dropped to 0-2 in spring training.

Andrew Cashner was tagged for two runs on three hits in two innings of work to get charged with the loss.

GAME NOTES:

The Sports Network

MESA, Ariz. – The Cubs are searching for the next public-address announcer at Wrigley Field.

The team said Monday that applications can be submitted through March 7, including audio or video samples.

Finalists will be selected for auditions at Wrigley Field by March 14 and the final selection will be hired by March 25.

Applications can be submitted through CareerBuilders.com.

February 28, 2011 (CHICAGO) (WLS) – Wanted: Chicago Cubs fan with strong vocal talent willing to attend every game — and get paid for it.

The Chicago Cubs are looking for a real team player — in the announcer booth as the voice of Wrigley Field. The North Side team posted a position on Cubs.CareerBuilder.com for a Public Address Announcer, who calls out the players as they take the field.

Applicants should create a video of three scripts, which will be posted to youtube.com, and fill out an online application. All the details can be found at Cubs.Careerbuilder.com

Requirements/qualifications include strong vocal talent, public speaking skills and a knowledge of baseball. Also, the announcer should be available for all home games– 81 regular season games, makeup games, tie breaker games, play-off games and non-game day events –and be able to work outdoors during extreme weather.

The schedule includes “nights, weekends, non-traditional hours and holidays as needed.”

Applications are due by March 7, 2011.

(Copyright ©2011 WLS-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.)

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Updated Feb 28, 2011 2:09 PM ET

This could be your chance to channel your inner Harry Caray.

OK, so you’re not gonna be a radio star, like the late Caray, but you could become the voice of the Chicago Cubs in Wrigley Field.

The Chicago Cubs on Monday announced they are seeking a public-address announcer for home games, and they’ve apparently begun a nationwide search.

According to the team, current PA announcer Paul Friedman has decided n to “pursue a new job opportunity” and will be unable to work day games at Wrigley.

The team said in a news release that candidates must have “strong vocal talent, skilled readership and a deep knowledge of baseball.” Candidates also must “be comfortable announcing to sold-out crowds and proficient at enunciating complex player names.”

Typically a PA announcer reads starting lineups and advertisements and introduce players as they come to bat.

Interested parties may submit applications, including audio or videos, to Chicago Cubs Dream Job.  Professional experience is not necessary but preferred.

The Chicago Cubs’ streak of three consecutive winning seasons ended in 2010, when they never held the NL Central lead or climbed above .500.

The fifth-place Cubs lost 87 games and manager Lou Piniella, who resigned in August. Chicago had 11 streaks of at least three losses under Piniella and didn’t have a five-game winning streak until mid-September under successor Mike Quade. But the Cubs finished 24-13, earning Quade the full-time job.

Matt Garza gets a lot of popups, but he also had a no-hitter last season. (AP Photo)

A team once able to bludgeon its opponents finished in the bottom half of the majors in runs, homers and OPS last season and has an MLB-worst 111 stolen bases over the past two seasons. No Cub scored or drove in 85 runs in 2010.

Left fielder Alfonso Soriano averaged 108 runs, 37 homers and 97 RBIs in five seasons before signing an eight-year, $136 million deal with Chicago prior to the 2007 season. Since then, he has failed to score 100 runs or drive in 80 runs in a single season and has managed just one 30-homer campaign.

Oft-injured third baseman Aramis Ramirez was hitting .168 with five homers when he went on the disabled list with an injured thumb in June. He finished with 25 homers and 83 RBIs but has played in only 206 games over the past two seasons.

This offseason, the Cubs added first baseman Carlos Pena, who tied for the AL lead with 39 homers in 2009. Like many of his new teammates, however, Pena is prone to massive strikeout totals. Second base remains a riddle. Blake DeWitt projects as the starter, with utilityman Jeff Baker providing depth. The Cubs received the league’s fewest RBIs and third-lowest on-base percentage at the position last season.

On the bright side, catcher Geovany Soto bounced back well in 2010 after a disappointing 2009. And youth provides another reason for optimism. Shortstop Starlin Castro, 20, debuted last May and finished with a .300 average. Tyler Colvin, 25, hit 20 homers in 358 at-bats and played all three outfield positions.

The outfield remains deep with Soriano, Colvin, Kosuke Fukudome and Marlon Byrd. On a team rife with underachievers last season, Byrd offered a semblance of value and reliability. Fukudome, who has struggled mightily since arriving from Japan, is the front-runner to lead off.

The Cubs’ success typically is accompanied by a deep, hard-throwing rotation. But Chicago received more than 140 innings and 23 starts from only two pitchers—Ryan Dempster and Randy Wells—last season. As a result, the offensive deficiencies became more obvious. Righthander Matt Garza, acquired from the Tampa Bay Rays this offseason, should help. He has averaged 31 starts and 197 innings pitched the past three seasons.

Carlos Zambrano, who was placed on the restricted list last summer following a dugout tirade, shuttled between the rotation and bullpen last season but will start in 2011. Dempster is a serviceable No. 2 starter but is miscast as an ace. The final two rotation spots will be decided this spring, but Wells and Carlos Silva are the early front-runners.

Only the Diamondbacks had a worse bullpen ERA than the Cubs (4.55) last season. Getting leads to closer Carlos Marmol was a big issue, but the return of Kerry Wood should help.

— Joe Strauss, for Sporting News

PROJECTED LINEUP

1. RF Kosuke Fukudome. .377 OBP vs. RHP in 2010; .327 vs. LHP

2. SS Starlin Castro. .300 AVG, .347 OBP as rookie, but just 29 BBs

3. CF Marlon Byrd. 20 HRS, 89 RBIS in ’09 with TEX; 12, 66 in ’10 with CHC

4. 3B Aramis Ramirez. .207 AVG, 32 RBIs in first half; .276, 51 after break

5. 1B Carlos Pena. All or nothing: .196 AVG, 28 HRs with TB last season

6. LF Alfonso Soriano. Team highs in ’10: 40 doubles, 123 K’s

7. 2B Blake DeWitt. 1 HR, .352 OBP with LAD in ’10; 4, .314 with CHC

8. C Geovany Soto. .218 AVG, .702 OPS in ’09; .280, .890 in ’10

PROJECTED ROTATION

1. RHP Ryan Dempster. 15 Ws, 215 1/3 IP, 208 K’s led rotation in 2010

2. RHP Carlos Zambrano. 8-0, 1.41 ERA after rejoining rotation Aug. 9

3. RHP Matt Garza. Career-best 15 Ws, 204 2/3 IP with TB last season

4. RHP Randy Wells. Allowed at least 5 ER in 9 of 32 starts in ’10

5. RHP Carlos Silva. 1.76 WHIP with SEA in ’09; 1.27 with CHC in ’10

PROJECTED CLOSER

RHP Carlos Marmol. 138 K’s (77 2/3 innings) led all MLB relievers in ’10

THREE STRIKES

Sporting News baseball writer Anthony Witrado analyzes the Cubs:

1. Matt Garza must stabilize the rotation. The starting five lacks a true ace and though Matt Garza never has been one, he has the stuff and mental toughness to be. However, leaving pitcher-friendly Tropicana Field for Wrigley Field could spell trouble. And while Garza won’t have to deal with the A.L. East sluggers anymore, the N.L. Central hitters aren’t too shabby.

2. Carlos Pena is a middle-of-the-order presence. He hit 28 homers last season but batted a career-low .196. It’s fair to expect improvement, but Pena’s average and on-base percentage have declined the past three season. Still, he should pump enough fear into the opposition to be treated like a real power threat.

3. Mike Quade will continue to inject new life. Lou Piniella’s message was clearly lost on the Cubs’ sometimes cantankerous clubhouse last season, but Quade’s message still should be fresh after last season’s strong finish.

Sporting News prediction: The Cubs will make it a four-team race in the NL Central for much of the season but will settle for fourth place.

COMING WEDNESDAY: St. Louis Cardinals preview