Spring Training / Highlights : Rookie Dunston Named Cub Shortstop; Bowa Irate

Manager Jim Frey of the Chicago Cubs attempted to cool an already explosive situation Thursday by naming rookie Shawon Dunston as the first-string shortstop over veteran Larry Bowa.

Frey told Bowa of the move at a morning meeting after Bowa and Don Zimmer, one of the Cub coaches, had traded barbs through the media the previous few days over the possibility of Dunston taking over at short.

Bowa, 39, complained bitterly that Frey was not communicating with him and was showing partiality to the 22-year-old Dunston by playing him more this spring.

“The bottom line is that Dunston really didn’t play that well in Triple-A,” Bowa said. “If he tore up Triple-A, I would say there is no doubt he should be up here.”

Zimmer reacted sharply to some of Bowa’s complaints by saying, “He’s the most selfish player I’ve ever known and the most negative person I’ve ever been around.”

Bowa is batting .238 this spring. He hit .223 last season with just 17 runs batted in and only two RBIs after Aug. 1.

Dunston has five hits in the last two games to raise his spring average to .267 and has made some brilliant plays in the field.

Cincinnati Reds’ right-hander Mario Soto says he’s still concerned about his tender right elbow, which forced him out of a game last Saturday.

Soto pitching six innings in a “B” game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Dunedin, Fla., striking out nine batters in six innings, but said his arm still bothered him.

Brad Komminsk, who has earned a starting berth in left field, celebrated with a home run, and Dale Murphy hit two homers as the Atlanta Braves beat the Minnesota Twins, 4-1, at Orlando, Fla.

Komminsk, batting .335 with two homers, three doubles and nine RBIs, beat out Terry Harper and Albert Hall for the left-field spot.