Spring Training Game Ten – Cubs 7, Reds (ss) 4
WP – Drew Rucinski (1-0) LP – Sal Romano (0-1, BS 1) Save – Spencer Patton (1)
Miguel Montero broke a 3-3 tie in the fourth inning with a two-run homer. Anthony Rizzo doubled twice, scored two runs and was on base three times. Addison Russell tied the game with a sac fly. And the bullpen allowed just one run to a split squad Reds team in relief of John Lackey as the Cubs posted its first spring win in a week on Friday afternoon in Mesa.
The Cubs snapped the seven-game Spring Training skid behind three home runs, two by the Cubs’ catchers.
Miguel Montero (1-for-3 with a home run and two RBI) stayed hot at the plate. Montero launched a two-run homer off Sal Romano in the fourth inning. Montero rolled into a 4-6-3 double play in the second inning that put the Cubs on the board. Dan Vogelbach (1-for-3 with a home run) made it a 3-2 game in the third with his first longball of the spring. Tim Federowicz (1-for-1 with a home run) capped the Cubs scoring with a solo homer in the eighth inning.
Anthony Rizzo (2-for-2 with two doubles, a walk and two runs scored) had a very good day at the plate. Rizzo doubled twice, scored two runs and walked in his third plate appearance before leaving the game.
The Cubs regulars made the young Reds pitchers work for the first six innings. Ben Zobrist (0-for-2 with a walk and a run scored) walked and scored the tying run on Addison Russell’s sac fly in the fourth. Russell was 1-for-2 with a sac fly RBI on the afternoon.
Dexter Fowler (0-for-2 with a walk) walked in three plate appearances. Fowler and Jason Heyward (0-for-3) seemingly worked deep counts in each of their combined six at bats.
The Cubs scored seven runs on nine hits with three walks and five strikeouts on the afternoon.
John Lackey made his first start of the spring Friday with mixed results. Lackey struck out the side in the first inning but gave up a long homer to Jose Peraza. Lackey allowed a leadoff single to Brandon Allen in the second. Lackey retired the next three batters he faced in the second with loud outs to the outfield.
Lackey stayed in for the third inning and was touched up for two more runs. Jake Cave singled with one out, moved to second on a bunt single by Jose Peraza. A wild pitch advanced the runners 90 feet. Lackey walked Eugenio Suarez and loaded the bases. Adam Duvall smacked a single to left. Cave and Peraza scored and gave the Reds a 3-1 lead. Lackey ended his day by inducing a 3-6-1 double play off the bat of Brandon Allen.
John Lackey surrendered three runs, all earned, on five hits (home run) with a walk, a wild pitch and four strikeouts in three innings.
Drew Rucinski pitched two scoreless innings in relief of Lackey. After Rucinski, Joe Maddon started running out relievers he will likely turn to with a lead when the season starts.
Justin Grimm set down all three batters he faced in the sixth with a pair of strikeouts.
Neil Ramirez replaced Grimm for the seventh and completed a 1-2-3 inning with a strikeout.
The Reds took advantage of an error by minor leaguer Bryant Flete in the eighth. Eric Jokisch was charged with a run in his inning of work.
Spencer Patton was handed the ninth inning. And he struck out the side in order to end the game.
Cubs’ pitching gave up four runs on seven hits with four walks and 13 strikeouts.
With Friday’s win, the Cubs improved to 2-8 in the Cactus League.
The Cubs play two on Saturday. Jason Hammel takes on Erik Johnson and the White Sox at Sloan Park in the afternoon (2:05pm CST) and Trevor Cahill faces lefty Alex Wood and the Dodgers under the lights in Glendale on Saturday night (8:05pm CST).