Spring Training Game Thirteen – Cubs 3, Athletics 3 – 9 innings
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The Cubs took a 3-0 lead into the ninth inning after another excellent outing from Kyle Hendricks and home runs from Jeimer Candelario and John Andreoli. Hector Rondon struggled in the ninth, gave up three runs and the exhibition game was called after nine innings.
The Cubs played a good game on all phases until the ninth inning and should have posted their third spring win in four tries. Hector Rondon could not close it out and complete the shut out. Rondon allowed three runs, all earned, on three hits and a walk with one strikeout.
The Cubs jumped on a wild Jesse Hahn in the first inning. Anthony Rizzo (1-for-2 with a double and a run scored) led off with a double on Hahn’s first pitch of the game. Javier Baez (0-for-2 with a walk) walked and both runners moved up 90 feet on a wild pitch. The second wild pitch from Hahn with Kyle Schwarber (0-for-3) at the plate allowed Rizzo to score. Baez tried to score on the same wild pitch and was thrown out at the plate.
Jeimer Candelario (3-for-4 with a home run) went opposite field off Hahn and gave the Cubs a 2-0 lead with his second longball of the spring.
The Cubs added a run in the seventh on a solo shot by John Andreoli (1-for-4 with a home run) off Sean Doolittle.
Willson Contreras (2-for-4 with a double) collected two more hits. The Cubs scored three runs on 11 hits with three walks and struck out five times.
Kyle Hendricks started his second game this spring and was rather impressive in his third appearance in the Cactus League. Hendricks tossed four scoreless innings and gave up just one hit, a double to Billy Butler in the second inning.
Kyle Schwarber, Javier Baez and Munenori Kawasaki made three excellent defensive plays while Hendricks was on the hill that helped out the right-hander.
Kyle Hendricks turned the game over to Travis Wood in the fifth. Hendricks allowed one hit, walked one and struck out five, all swinging, in four innings.
Travis Wood replaced Hendricks for the fifth inning. Wood kept the A’s off the board for the next two innings. Wood allowed three hits and struck out a batter.
Manny Parra pitched the seventh and worked around an infield single and a walk to start the inning. Parra struck out two of the five batters he faced on Sunday afternoon.
Pedro Strop made his spring debut in the eighth. Strop made quick work of the A’s … a 1-2-3 eighth inning for Strop with a pair of strikeouts.
Hector Rondon had a bad outing, his second in a row. The A’s did not square up Rondon, but made just enough contact to keep the line moving and score three runs.
The Cubs defense played a big part in the Cubs taking a lead into the ninth inning. Javier Baez made a sensational play behind the second base bag to take away a hit and a RBI from Yonder Alonso to end the second inning. Kyle Schwarber made a nice running catch toward the wall in left to take a hit from Eric Sogard. And Munenori Kawasaki made a sliding catch to take away a knock from Coco Crisp to end the third.
David Ross picked off Josh Phegley from second base with two on and two down to end the fifth inning.
With Sunday’s tie game, the Cubs are 3-9-1 in the Cactus League.
The Cubs return to Sloan Park for a Monday afternoon (3:05pm CDT) spring game with the Padres. Jake Arrieta is scheduled to face Colin Rea.