Wood scratched with bad back, then Marmol struggles

MESA, Ariz. (AP) -- Kerry Wood's back is bothering him, and the Chicago Cubs still have an opening at closer.

One of Wood's main competitors for the job, Carlos Marmol, was part of a bullpen collapse in the Cubs' split squad loss to an Oakland Athletics' split squad, 5-2 on Wednesday.

Wood was supposed to pitch, but was sidelined for the first of scheduled back-to-back, one-inning appearances because of lower back spasms.

Prior to the setback, Wood had the inside track on the job. Now, it's anybody's job. Marmol and Bobby Howry are the other candidates.

"The answer you all are looking for will have to wait until Sunday or Monday," said Cubs manager Lou Piniella, who had hoped to announce his decision by the weekend.

The Cubs led 2-0 before a four-run eighth in which Kevin Hart and Marmol issued bases-loaded walks.

Hart faced five batters and gave up two hits and two walks in one-third inning. Marmol yielded a walk and single to the four batters he faced. He also allowed a walk and a run-scoring single in the ninth.

"(Marmol) was aggressive," Piniella said. "He just wasn't getting the ball over the plate. When you do that (walks), you're going to lose."

Piniella was disappointed in not seeing Wood go back-to-back for the first time this spring. In the morning, he called the development a "little bit of a setback, but nothing, nothing serious."

He sounded more concerned after the game. "It's s shame, because we were looking forward to seeing him pitch (Wednesday) and (Thursday). Now we're caught with a trip to Tucson this weekend and we don't want him on the bus, so we'll have to wait until Sunday."

The Cubs bullpen collapse and another lackluster game at the plate put a damper on a great start for Ryan Dempster, who allowed a hit and two walks in 5 1-3 scoreless innings.

"I was glad to high-five some people today," Dempster said. "It felt better. Those five days cant come fast enough. That's the way I've been throwing the ball all spring. I just had a little hiccup."

Said Piniella: "He threw as well as ever."

Derrek Lee, who had almost twice as many strikeouts as hits coming into the game, hit his first home run of the spring in the seventh.

Lee had already grounded into a double play and struck out for the 11th time this spring when he came to the plate in the seventh. But he put himself and worriers at ease with his seventh hit of the Cactus League season, raising his average to .165.

"The ball jumped off his bat," Piniella said. "Hopefully it's a start for him."

Game notes
Alex Cintron is expected to miss a few days after suffering hamstring tightness in his left leg Tuesday against the Kansas City Royals. ... Kosuke Fukudome, hit in the left collarbone by an errant throw on a stolen base against the Royals, was back in the lineup Wednesday. ... Piniella expressed concern again for the Cubs lack of offense. They had seven hits Wednesday.. "It's been hard scoring runs. We're just not hitting. It's spring training, but the season is rapidly approaching. I've sounded the alarm. We'll just have to ride it out."