Spring Training Game Thirty-Two – Cubs 1, Diamondbacks 5
WP – Jeremy Hellickson (3-1) LP – Pedro Strop (0-1) Save – None
Edwin Jackson and seven relievers gave up single runs in five innings while Travis Wood supplied the only run, a pinch-hit homer in the third inning as the Cubs lost Friday night’s exhibition to the D-Backs.
Joe Maddon used eight pitchers Friday night at Chase Field as the Spring Training schedule came to end for a majority of the players. Edwin Jackson was scheduled to start the game and completed one inning. About two hours prior to first pitch, Maddon announced Jackson would begin the season in the bullpen and Travis Wood claimed the last open spot in the rotation.
Edwin Jackson struck out A.J. Pollock for the first out, but gave up a single to Chris Owings after being ahead in the count 0-2. Paul Goldschmidt lined out to Tommy La Stella in the shift after Owings swiped second base. Jackson appeared to get out of the inning when David Peralta hit a grounder toward second. La Stella tried to backhand the ball, bobbled it and kept the inning going for Mark Trumbo. The D-Backs right fielder singled to left and Owings scored. It was that kind of night for the Cubs.
The Diamondbacks scored single runs in the first, third, fifth, sixth and eighth innings. And Paul Goldschmidt broke up a 1-1 tie in the third with a mammoth homer to left off Pedro Strop.
Phil Coke, Strop, Hector Rondon, minor leaguer Michael Jensen, Jason Motte, Zac Rosscup and Brian Schlitter pitched Friday night in relief of Jackson. Rosscup was the only reliever that completed a clean inning. The Diamondbacks collected at least one hit off the other seven pitchers.
Arizona scored five runs on 12 hits without a walk and took advantage of the extra opportunities given to them by the Cubs defense.
Starlin Castro and Tommy La Stella had a rough time in the field Friday night. Castro and La Stella were both charged with an error but the Cubs middle infielders had a hard time fielding and throwing the baseball.
The Cubs offense did very little Friday night. Even with working three walks against Jeremy Hellickson over five innings, the Cubs scored only one run … a solo homer by Travis Wood leading off the third inning. Wood pinch-hit for Phil Coke and tied the game at one with his second pinch-hit homer of the spring.
Jorge Soler (1-for-3 with a double and a walk) doubled in the first but was stranded. Arismendy Alcantara tripled with one out in the second. Paul Goldschmidt threw out Alcantara at the plate after he tagged on a pop fly in foul territory down the first baseline.
Tommy La Stella (1-for-3), David Ross (1-for-2 with a double) and Welington Castillo (1-for-1) collected the Cubs other three hits. Maddon’s offense went 0-for-6 with runners in scoring position and left five men on base.
One more spring game to go … Travis Wood gets the start Saturday afternoon in the Cubs’ Spring Training finale. Wood is scheduled to pitch one inning. Kyle Hendricks is expected to follow Wood for an inning. Vidal Nuno is scheduled to start for the Diamondbacks.