Spring Training Game Three – Cubs 2, Reds 4
WP – Brandon Finnegan (1-0) LP – Eric Jokisch (0-1) Save – Drew Hayes (2)
Miguel Montero stayed perfect on the spring. Montero went 3-for-3 with a double and a solo homer but the Cubs managed only two other hits as Joe Maddon’s team lost for the second time in the Cactus League on Saturday afternoon.
Miguel Montero is 5-for-5 this spring with all five hits going to the opposite field. Montero (3-for-3 with a double, a home run and two runs scored) was the team’s DH on Saturday and scored both of the Cubs runs. Arismendy Alcantara (0-for-2 with a RBI) plated Montero with a grounder to second with the bases loaded in the fourth inning. Montero made it a 3-2 game in the sixth with a solo homer to left center.
Albert Almora Jr. (1-for-2 with a double) and Tim Federowicz (1-for-2) recorded the other two hits. And Kyle Schwarber (0-for-2) went hitless in two at bats after replacing Federowicz behind the plate in the fifth inning.
Albert Almora Jr. made a sensational diving catch on the warning track in left center in the fifth inning to take away extra bases from Jesse Winker.
The Reds scored three of their four runs on two longballs. Tucker Barnhart smacked a two-run homer off Eric Jokisch in the third that put the Reds in front for good. And Philip Ervin launched a solo homer off Drew Rucinski in the sixth. The Cubs defense gave the Reds the fourth run in the seventh. A throwing error by Kyle Schwarber allowed Scott Schebler to trot home from third base.
Trevor Cahill made his first appearance of the spring. Cahill surrendered a couple of hits in the first inning. Tim Federowicz helped Cahill by throwing out leadoff man Jake Cave trying to steal second for the first out of the inning. Cahill set the side down in order in the second with a pair of strikeouts.
Cahill’s final line for Saturday … no runs, two hits, no walks and three strikeouts in two innings. Cahill faced seven batters.
Eric Jokisch had a rough start to his outing. The first three batters he faced reached base on a hit by pitch, home run and single to left. Jokisch induced a 5-4-3 double play off the bat of Jose Peraza and caught Joey Votto looking to end the third inning. Jokisch completed a quick 1-2-3 fourth inning.
Ryan Williams pitched the fifth with good, but not expected results. Williams set the Reds down in order with three fly ball outs. Williams has to keep the ball down and on the ground to be effective. It’s very likely he was just a little pumped up appearing in his first Cactus League game.
The Reds added two runs off Drew Rucinski, one earned in the sixth on a solo home run and one unearned on a throwing error by Kyle Schwarber.
Armando Rivero gave up a two-out double in the eighth, but that was all. And Jean Machi made his Cubs debut and faced the minimum in the ninth.
The Cubs defense had a rough seventh inning. The Reds added a run on a throwing error by Kyle Schwarber. Scott Schebler doubled with one out and stole third. Schwarber’s throw ended up in left field. Schebler trotted in and made it a 4-2 game. Jordan Pacheco reached on a throwing error by Jeimer Candelario. Taylor Davis could not scoop the low throw. Schwarber made up for his earlier mistake by completing the strike ‘em out, throw ‘em out double play to end the inning.
The Cubs just missed breaking another Spring Training attendance record on Saturday … 15,433 showed up Saturday at Sloan Park, just three fewer fans than Friday’s record setting attendance of 15,446.
The Cubs make the short trip to Scottsdale on Sunday (2:05pm CST) to take on the Arizona Diamondbacks at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick. Adam Warren is scheduled to face Patrick Corbin.