Spring Training Game Nineteen – Cubs (ss) 6, Mets (ss) 3
WP – Chris Rusin (2-2) LP – Jenrry Mejia (0-1) Save – Alberto Cabrera (3)
Dan Vogelbach, Donnie Murphy and Arismendy Alcantara hit solo home runs and Chris Rusin tossed four innings of scoreless baseball as the Cubs beat the Mets in Las Vegas on Sunday afternoon.
Chris Rusin helped his own cause Sunday by limiting a majority of the Mets everyday lineup to one hit in four innings of work. Rusin did not walk a batter and struck out two. Casey Coleman, up for the day from minor league camp, surrendered a run while Armando Rivero gave up two of his own in the sixth inning.
Marcus Hatley and Brian Schlitter tossed an inning of shutout ball. And Alberto Cabrera picked up his third save of the spring with a scoreless ninth inning.
The Cubs scored five of their six runs in the first four innings.
Ryan Kalish (1-for-2 with two walks, two runs scored and two stolen bases) had another good game and Darwin Barney (1-for-2 with a double) doubled in the second but was thrown out at the plate to end the inning. Donnie Murphy (1-for-1 with a home run and a walk) homered in the third. Ryan Sweeney (1-for-3 with a RBI) drove in one of the Cubs’ six runs.
Dan Vogelbach (2-for-4 with a home run) spent the weekend in Las Vegas and made the most of his playing time. Vogelbach hit a solo home run in the fourth. Arismendy Alcantara (3-for-3 with a home run) replaced Murphy at second base and hit a solo home run in the ninth that capped the Cubs’ scoring.
With Sunday’s victory, the Cubs improved to 9-10 in the Cactus League … and ended up splitting the two games against the Mets at Cashman Field.
Scoring Plays
The Cubs jumped out to an early lead after Ryan Kalish walked with one out in the first inning. Jenrry Mejia caught Ryan Sweeney looking for the second out. With Donnie Murphy at the plate, Kalish stole second. Murphy walked. George Kottaras was credited with an infield single after second baseman Anthony Seratelli made a throwing error that allowed Kalish and Murphy to score, 2-0 Cubs. Mejia hit Kris Bryant but Chris Coghlan lined out to center to end the inning.
Donnie Murphy made it 3-0 Cubs with a solo home run with one out in the third.
Dan Vogelbach led off the fourth inning with a home run to left. After Matt Szczur was caught looking and Javier Baez tapped out, Ryan Kalish walked. Kalish swiped second and scored on a single to right by Ryan Sweeney, 5-0 Cubs. Jonathan Mota ran for Sweeney and advanced to second on a single by Arismendy Alcantara. Both runners moved up 90 feet when Rafael Montero balked. George Kottaras popped out to David Wright to end the inning.
Zach Lutz put the Mets on the board with a homer to left center off of Casey Coleman in the fifth, 5-1 Cubs. Wilmer Flores followed with a single to center. Anthony Seratelli lined out to right. But Coleman walked Eric Young Jr. with two outs. Rick Renteria went to his pen for Tony Zych. Juan Lagares lined out to right to end the inning.
The Mets cut the Cubs’ lead to 5-3 in the sixth. Eric Campbell doubled to center to start the inning. Andrew Brown took Armando Rivero deep and his two-run shot to left center made it 5-3 Cubs. Rivero retired d’Arnaud, Nieuwenhuis and Lutz in order to end the inning.
The Cubs last run of the game came in the ninth when Arismendy Alcantara went yard against Carlos Torres for his first longball of the spring.
The Cubs wrap up three straight split squad games on Monday afternoon with a game against the Angels and a game against the Athletics. Edwin Jackson and the Cubs square off against the Angels at Cubs Park while James McDonald faces Scott Kazmir in Phoenix.