Spring Training Game Fourteen – Cubs 2, Reds 1
WP – Travis Wood (1-0) LP – Johnny Cueto (0-2) Save – Zac Rosscup (2)
Chris Denorfia belted a two-run homer off Johnny Cueto in the third inning. Travis Wood pitched five shutout innings and minor leaguer Rubi Silva cut down the tying run at the plate in the ninth inning as the Cubs hung on and beat the Reds for the team’s fourth straight spring win.
The Cubs completed the long weekend of baseball in record time with a good win at home against the Reds. It only took one hit and two hours and 14 minutes for the Cubs to post a victory in front of 15,316 at Sloan Park.
Travis Wood put together a good outing Sunday afternoon. Wood limited the Reds to three hits and no runs in five innings. Wood found a rhythm early working with David Ross and attacked the strike zone. Wood issued one free pass, struck out four and received a little early luck from the Irish when a deep drive off the bat of Brandon Phillips in the fourth inning hit off the top of the wall in center and stayed in the park.
Brian Schlitter pitched two scoreless innings in what was by far his best outing of the spring. And Corey Black was impressive in the eighth inning. Zac Rosscup ran into trouble in the ninth and would have allowed the Reds to tie the game if not for an excellent throw by Rubi Silva.
Zac Rosscup struck out Kyle Waldrop for the first out in the ninth. Felix Perez singled to left and a wild pitch moved him up 90 feet. Ivan DeJesus Jr. ripped a ground rule double to left center just out of the reach of a diving Albert Almora. Waldrop scored and the Reds had the tying run in scoring position. Brennan Boesch singled to right. But minor leaguer Rubi Silva charged the ball and threw a strike to the plate. Kyle Schwarber caught the ball and made an excellent sweeping tag for the out. Rosscup struck out Donald Lutz swinging to end the game.
The Cubs managed one hit Sunday afternoon, the home run by Chris Denorfia (1-for-3 with a home run and two RBI) with two outs in the third that was setup by Dexter Fowler (0-for-2 with a walk and a run scored) working a two-out walk ahead of him after being behind in the count 1-2.
Anthony Rizzo (0-for-1 with two walks) picked up the Cubs other two free passes and Tommy La Stella (0-for-2 with a HBP) was the only other Cubs player to reach base. La Stella was plunked in the bottom of the eighth by Jon Moscot.
The Cubs hit the road Monday and make the trip to Peoria to take on the Padres. Jon Lester is scheduled to face Brandon Morrow.