Spring Training Game Twelve – Cubs (ss) 3, Athletics (ss) 1
WP – Kyle Hendricks (1-0) LP – Jesse Hahn (0-1) Save – Drake Britton (1)
After being scratched from the starting lineup with right shoulder fatigue, Kris Bryant entered the game in the third inning and hit the first of two home runs on the afternoon. Bryant went yard twice, one to right field the other to left and drove in all three runs as the Cubs completed the sweep over the A’s in ‘The Big League Weekend’ at Cashman Field.
Kyle Hendricks’ excellent outing will be lost in Bryant’s second two-homer game in three days. Kyle Hendricks was outstanding and pitched five perfect innings against Oakland’s B-Team lineup. Hendricks did not allow a baserunner while striking out three on 54 pitches, 40 for strikes.
The A’s did not collect their first hit or baserunner until the eighth inning after Hendricks set the tone for the pitching staff. Joseph Ortiz and Jorge De Leon followed Hendricks with two perfect frames before Armando Rivero struggled in the eighth. Rivero was touched up for a run on two hits and a walk in one-third of an inning. And minor leaguer Frank Batista had to record the final two outs of the eighth inning.
Drake Britton picked up the spring save with a scoreless ninth.
Jonathan Herrera (1-for-2 with a run scored and a walk) singled with one out in the third and was along for the ride when Bryant came off the bench.
Kris Bryant (2-for-2 with two home runs, three RBI and a walk) hit for Anthony Rizzo (0-for-1) and drove Jesse Hahn’s first pitch over the wall in right. Bryant stayed in and was the designated hitter for the remainder of the game.
With Kyle Hendricks in full control, the A’s could not put a runner on base and the Cubs took a 2-0 lead into the sixth.
Kris Bryant gave the Cubs a 3-0 lead with his second homer of the day. Bryant led off the sixth and pulled a 2-2 pitch from Evan Scribner over the left center field wall.
The Cubs did not manage another run for the remainder of the game. And the backend of the Cubs’ bullpen did a good job of holding the lead.
Jorge Soler (1-for-3), Javier Baez (1-for-2), Tommy La Stella (1-for-2 with a double) and Taylor Teagarden (1-for-3) collected the Cubs other hits.
The Cubs scored three runs on seven hits with two walks and 10 strikeouts on Saturday afternoon in Las Vegas.
The Cubs have only one game Sunday. Travis Wood faces Johnny Cueto and the Reds at Sloan Park. Pat Hughes and Ron Coomer will have the call on WBBM … and Len Kasper and Jim Deshaies will be on the WGN-TV telecast.