Spring Training Game Twenty-One – Cubs 1, Padres 6
WP – Nick Vincent (1-0) LP – Francisley Bueno (0-1) Save – None
Jason Hammel struck out nine over five shutout innings and Arismendy Alcantara went deep Sunday. But the Cubs didn’t manage a hit against James Shields and the pen couldn’t keep the Padres off the board as the Cubs lost Sunday afternoon at Sloan Park.
Jason Hammel and James Shields locked in a pitcher’s duel Sunday afternoon. The two veteran right-handers combined on 15 strikeouts and just five total baserunners over the first five innings of the game.
Jason Hammel had excellent command for the second outing in a row. Hammel pounded the strike zone throughout his five innings and limited a Padres’ lineup without a majority of its regulars to just three hits. Hammel did not walk a batter and worked extremely well with Miguel Montero.
Jason Hammel turned the game over to the bullpen after five innings but the pen could not keep the Padres in check.
Jason Motte wiggled out of a bases loaded, one out jam in the sixth without allowing any runs and was in line for the spring win after Arismendy Alcantara (1-for-3 with a home run) hit a solo shot to left center in the bottom of the sixth. But the Padres scored all six of their runs in the last three innings.
Felix Doubront had another rough outing. Doubront was used in relief of Motte for just one inning and gave up a run on two hits. Doubront was not sharp and struggled with his command again.
Francisley Bueno allowed the Padres to take the lead in the eighth. The lefty gave up two runs on three hits, with both runs scoring on a Tommy Medica two-run homer to left. And the Padres put the game out of reach in the ninth against Gonzalez Germen.
Gonzalez Germen surrendered three runs on three hits with a walk and a strikeout in the ninth.
The Cubs relievers Sunday allowed six runs on nine hits with two walks and only two strikeouts.
James Shields shut down the Cubs over the first five innings. Javier Baez (1-for-3 with a walk) and Mike Olt (0-for-2 with a walk) were the only two Cubs that reached base. Baez and Olt worked back-to-back walks in the second inning.
The Cubs lone run came courtesy of Arismendy Alcantara in the sixth inning. Alcantara smacked a solo homer to left center off Jose Valverde and gave the Cubs a short-lived 1-0 lead.
Junior Lake (1-for-1) and Jorge Soler (1-for-3) managed the Cubs other two hits on the afternoon. The Cubs scored just the one run on four hits and two walks. Padres’ pitching collected 13 strikeouts in nine innings.
Monday is the Cubs only scheduled day off in the Cactus League. Jake Arrieta will pitch in a minor league game Monday to stay on schedule while the rest of his teammates receive a short break.
The Cubs have two games scheduled for Tuesday. Kyle Hendricks is expected to start in a B-Game Tuesday morning and Edwin Jackson is slated to face Drew Pomeranz and the Athletics at HoHoKam Park at 3:05pm CDT.