updated 9:04 p.m. ET March 3, 2007

PHOENIX - Michael Barrett isn’t known for his speed, but the Chicago Cubs’ catcher made quite an impression Saturday on manager Lou Piniella.

Barrett doubled and turned a deep fly ball into an inside-the-park home run during the Cubs’ 5-5 tie with the Oakland Athletics in 10 innings.

“This kid here motored around the bases pretty good,” Piniella said. “Barrett’s an athlete.”

Ronny Cedeno homered off Oakland starter Dan Haren and went 2-for-5 for the Cubs, who have yet to win this spring. Chicago led 5-3 but couldn’t hold off the A’s, who scored twice in the seventh to tie it.

Mike Piazza continued his strong start to the Cactus League season. The A’s designated hitter had two hits, scored twice and drove in a run.

The game featured the spring training debut of Chicago rookie Jeff Samardzija, the former Notre Dame standout wide receiver who spurned a possible future in the NFL to join the Cubs. The 22-year-old right-hander retired the A’s in order in the sixth, setting down Eric Chavez, Mark Ellis and Travis Buck, then left to a standing ovation from hundreds of Cubs fans who attended the game.

“That was impressive,” Piniella said. “You can tell he’s played before 80,000 fans before.”

But while Piniella was pleased with his catcher and young pitcher, Chicago’s inability to hold on for the win after leading late in the game was disappointing to him.

“You don’t win ballgames with a two-run lead in the seventh by hitting people and walking people,” Piniella said. “That’s just a fact. These are things we have to work on. We have talent here. We just have to get it to mesh.”

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Chicago led 2-1 in the fourth after Barrett doubled and scored on an RBI single by Buck Coats. The A’s scored twice in the bottom half, getting an RBI double from Piazza, who scored on a sacrifice fly.

The Cubs tied the game in the fifth, then took the lead when Barrett drilled a pitch from Marcus McBeth over the head of Oakland center fielder Charles Thomas. The ball bounced off the wall and by the time Thomas came up with it, Barrett was nearing third base and heading for home.

Tomas Perez added a sacrifice fly to put Chicago up 5-3.

A’s right fielder Nick Swisher hit a two-run single in the seventh to tie the score. Oakland had a chance to win in the 10th, but Les Walrond struck out Ryan Goleski with two outs and runners on first and second.

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