"He was like, 'You got me,' and I said, 'Hit it if you can,"' Zambrano said. "We were kidding around, having fun with my teammates."

Cubs manager Lou Piniella got his first glimpse of Fukudome this spring because the outfielder remained in Japan to train with the WBC team.

"He made some contact and drove in a run," Piniella said. "He looked good in center field."

Earlier Thursday, Zambrano was named the team's opening day starter for the fifth straight season.

"It was between him and right-hander Ryan Dempster. We talked about it, (pitching coach) Larry (Rothschild) and I, and I talked to both pitchers," Piniella said. "We came up to the conclusion that this would be the best way to go."

Zambrano allowed two runs - one earned - and three hits with a walk and two strikeouts in four innings against Japan, which advanced to the second round of the WBC. He has a 3.00 ERA in nine innings this spring with 10 strikeouts and two walks.

"I'm ready to go," he said. "I'm 85, 90 percent and looking forward to the season."

Zambrano denied a report that he might be available for Valenzuela in the second round of the World Baseball Classic.

"I am not ready to go and pitch seven innings," he said. "I will be here and I am just trying to focus on my team here. I wish them the best of luck."

The Cubs also saw the return of closer candidate Carlos Marmol from the WBC after the Dominican Republic team was eliminated and non-roster invitee infielder Cory Koskie showed up for his physical after Canada's elimination.

One of the highlights of the game was Japan's 22-year-old starting pitcher Yu Darvish, who is expected to be the next highly sought after player if his current team, Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters, decide to post him for open bidding.

He worked two scoreless innings, allowing two htis, two walks and had two strikeouts.

"He is a good looking young pitcher," Piniella said. "He has a good fastball and good hard slider. There is a lot to like."

Darvish has a career record of 48-19 with a 2.33 ERA, including a 31-9 mark over the last two seasons with an ERA below 1.90.

Japan built a 2-0 lead in the third inning off of Zambrano when the No. 9 hitter Munenori Kawasaki tripled home Tampa Bay's Akinori Iwamura.

Kawasaki later scored on a passed ball by catcher Paul Bako. The Cubs cut the lead to 2-1 when Bako singled home second baseman Mike Fontenot, who led of the inning with a single and advanced to second on a wild pitch.

Then Fukudome hit a run-scoring single in the sixth off reliever David Patton, who walked two batters with two outs before Fukudomes singled to left-center field to make it 3-1.

Notes: Infielder Aaron Miles will miss the next few games due to a sore throwing shoulder. Piniella believes it is a reaction to playing three positions (second base, shortstop and third base) and the different throws required. ... Relievers Kevin Gregg, Angel Guzman, Neal Cotts and Randy Wells all threw scoreless innings.