(Courtesy of The Sports Xchange) Sean Marshall was told he made the Cubs' 25-man roster.

The left-hander will make his major league debut April 9 against St. Louis at Wrigley Field in an ESPN game.

For a guy who pitched just four games at the Double-A level, he should be fairly nervous. But he is not trying to make too much out of it.

"It's just a team, and I'll pitch against them like any other team," Marshall said Thursday. "If you make good pitches, you are going to get outs. Even though it's a rivalry and they are the best team in the (National League) Central, it's a Double-A team for me, and I'm not going to take it any different.

"It's just another game."

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NOTES

  --RHP Jerome Williams, who made 18 starts with the Cubs last year, will open the season as a long reliever. The Cubs, who have three off days in the first eight days of the season, will use four starters until April 15. Williams figures to be the pitcher who makes that April 15 start at Pittsburgh. Williams gave up one run on three hits in five innings against Arizona on Thursday after entering the game with an 8.00 ERA.

--3B Aramis Ramirez hit a three-run homer in the first inning against Arizona on Thursday, extending his hitting streak to 13 games. But he is not sure he can carry over the hot streak into the regular season. Ramirez has a .259 average in April.

--1B Derrek Lee broke out of his slump by picking up three hits against Arizona on Thursday. Lee has missed camp because of World Baseball Classic commitments, a shoulder injury and to tend to a family emergency.

--RHP Roberto Novoa, who missed most of the Cactus League season with a lung infection, was optioned to Triple-A Iowa on Thursday. Novoa, who made 49 relief appearances with the parent club last year, figures to eventually return to the team when he builds up his endurance.

--LHP Scott Eyre faced and retired one batter Thursday against Arizona. He has gone 11 innings without allowing an earned run this spring.

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