Spring Training Game Twenty-Six – Cubs 9, Mariners 12
WP – James Paxton (2-1) LP – Jason Hammel (2-1) Save – None
In front of another sellout crowd at Sloan Park in a game that was delayed in the top of third due to bees in the outfield, the Cubs hit four home runs one each by Addison Russell, Dexter Fowler, Jason Heyward and Matt Szczur. Jason Hammel was hammered in 4 1/3 innings of work. And Robinson Cano hit three home runs as the Mariners handed the Cubs a spring loss on Sunday afternoon at Sloan Park.
Robinson Cano was the difference in Sunday’s exhibition game. Cano was 4-for-4 with three home runs, a walk, four runs scored and seven RBI. Cano put on a show with multi-run homers leaving Sloan Park to all fields.
A majority of Joe Maddon’s every day lineup did not quit Sunday after the Mariners jumped out to an early lead. The Cubs scored five runs in the third and tied the game at seven in the fourth before the Mariners scored five times in their last four at bats.
Dexter Fowler (1-for-1 with a home runs) played only one inning Sunday. Fowler had to leave the game with tightness in his left side. Jason Heyward moved to center in the second inning and Mark Zagunis took over in right. Fowler made the most out of his one at bat. Fowler cranked a home run leading off the first inning and made it a 2-1 game.
The Mariners scored five runs in the second inning but the Cubs jumped back in the practice games with a five-run third inning.
Mark Zagunis (1-for-2 with a triple, a walk and two runs scored) walked to start the third. Jason Heyward (1-for-4 with a home run and two RBI) made it a 7-3 game with a two-run homer.
Anthony Rizzo (1-for-3 with a walk and a run scored) reached with a one out single and went to second on a two-out single from Ben Zobrist (1-for-3 with a walk and a run scored).
Addison Russell (1-for-4 with a home run and three RBI) went yard for the second time in as many days. And his three-run shot made it 7-6.
The Cubs tied the game in the fourth after Zagunis started the inning with a triple and scored on a Kris Bryant (2-for-4 with a double and a RBI) single to center.
Matt Szczur (2-for-5 with a home run) hit his first homer of the spring, a solo shot in the eighth.
And Carlos Penalver plated Jacob Rogers with a sac fly in the ninth to cap the scoring for the Cubs on the afternoon.
The Cubs scored nine runs on 11 hits with four walks and only five strikeouts.
Jason Hammel’s final start in the Cactus League this spring was a rough one. Jason Hammel struggled against the Mariners’ American League lineup. Hammel appeared to have issues with his release point. Hammel elevated too many pitches on a day the ball was really carrying at Sloan Park. The Mariners took advantage of the poor location and put a nine-spot on the board against Hammel in 4 1/3 innings.
Hammel completed one clean inning out of the five he started. Hammel’s breaking stuff was sharp. His fastball command was off Sunday.
Jason Hammel was charged with nine runs on eight hits with three walks and four strikeouts. Hammel served up two home runs to Robinson Cano that accounted for five of the runs and faced 24 batters on 103 pitches.
Spencer Patton was sharp in relief of Hammel. Patton was called on in the fifth with a runner on second and one down. Patton retired Chris Iannetta and Dae-Ho Lee on grounders to third base.
Trevor Cahill gave up a run in the sixth. Cahill took over for Spencer Patton. Cahill issued a leadoff walk to Luis Sardinas and he ended up scoring. Robinson Cano singled to center with two outs to prolong the inning. Adam Lind ripped a 3-1 pitch into right. Sardinas scored the Mariners 10th run of the game. Cahill completed a quick and efficient 1-2-3 seventh inning.
Joe Maddon sent Cahill out for the eighth inning. And Robinson Cano completed his big day with a two-run shot to center. Cahill allowed three runs on four hits with two walks and three strikeouts in three innings.
Adam Warren made quick work of the Mariners in the ninth inning.
Cubs’ pitching gave up 12 runs on 12 hits with five walks and nine strikeouts.
With Sunday’s spring loss, the Cubs dropped to 8-17-1 in the Cactus League.
The Cubs hit the road Monday for the last time this spring in the Cactus League. The Cubs make the short trip to Tempe to take on the Angels. Kyle Hendricks is scheduled to face Nick Tropeano.