Spring Training Game Twenty-One – Cubs 9, Reds 6
WP – Jean Machi (1-0) LP – Blake Wood (0-2, BS 2) Save – Trevor Cahill (1)
The Cubs hit a pair of two-run homers, Anthony Rizzo in the sixth and Tim Federowicz in the eighth. The Cubs scored two runs on wild pitches and Jason Hammel limited the Reds to two runs in five innings of work as the Cubs picked up a spring win Tuesday in Goodyear.
Joe Maddon used a majority of his regulars Tuesday as the team got back to work from Monday’s day off. The Cubs went down quickly and quietly over the first three innings against Alfredo Simon. Once Bryan Price went to his bullpen, the Cubs offense kicked it into gear.
The Cubs scored three runs in the fourth inning off Tony Cingrani. And it should have been more. Anthony Rizzo ran into an out.
Dexter Fowler (1-for-4 with a double and a run scored) led off with a double to left. Jason Heyward (0-for-4 with a run scored) reached on an error by Joey Votto. A wild pitch with Zobrist at the plate allowed Fowler to score and Heyward to take second base. Ben Zobrist (1-for-2 with a walk and two runs scored) and Anthony Rizzo (1-for-2 with a home run, a walk and two RBI) walked to load the bases with no outs.
Kris Bryant (1-for-3 with a RBI) singled to right. Heyward scored. But Zobrist was held at third and Rizzo wasn’t paying attention. Rizzo rounded second and became the first out of the inning. Kyle Schwarber (0-for-2 with a SF RBI) lifted a ball out to left. Scott Schebler hauled it in, Zobrist tagged and scored. Jorge Soler (1-for-3 with a run scored) lined out to second for the third out.
The Reds jumped back in the exhibition game in the home half of the fourth. After Billy Hamilton walked and stole second, he scored on a double from Zack Cozart. Hammel caught Joey Votto looking. Jorge Soler dropped a fly ball off the bat of Jay Bruce. Cozart scored, 3-2 Cubs. Hammel got out of the fourth inning by inducing a grounder off the bat of Eugenio Suarez and Devin Mesoraco popping out to Rizzo to end the inning.
The Cubs took a 5-2 lead in the sixth after Anthony Rizzo launched a two-run homer to center off lefty Chris O’Grady.
Brandon Gomes struggled in the bottom of the sixth and gave up four runs. After six complete, the Cubs trailed 6-5.
The Cubs tied the game in the seventh and took the lead in the eighth.
Jorge Soler led off the seventh with a single to center. Addison Russell (0-for-2 with a HBP) was hit by a pitch. Munenori Kawasaki batted for Gomes and bunted both runners up 90 feet.
A wild pitch with Fowler at the plate gave Soler a window to score from third, game tied at six.
Matt Murton (1-for-2 with a double and a run scored) doubled with one out in the eighth and scored the go ahead run on a Kris Negron (1-for-2 with a RBI and a run scored) single to left. Negron was on board when Tim Federowicz (1-for-2 with a home run and two RBI) smacked a two-run homer over the left field wall.
Kyle Schwarber had a good afternoon behind the plate catching Jason Hammel. Schwarber made two outs on back picks with throws to first base … and almost threw out Billy Hamilton trying to steal second base. With Mesoraco at the plate in the second, Schwarber threw behind Jay Bruce at first. Bruce was tagged out (2-3-4) to end the inning. In the third inning with Hamilton at the plate, Schwarber threw behind Ray Chang and picked him off to end the inning.
Jason Hammel made another excellent spring start. Hammel worked well with Kyle Schwarber, found a rhythm and threw strikes. The only mistake he made in five innings of work was the walk to Billy Hamilton. Hammel issued the free pass to Hamilton leading off the fourth. Even in the spring, there is no excuse for a Major League starting pitcher to walk the light-hitting Hamilton.
The Reds scored two runs, one earned, off Hammel in the fourth. Jorge Soler dropped a fly in left field that was charged as an error. Soler continues to struggle in the field. Two charged errors and one misplayed ball this spring for Soler in left field.
Jason Hammel completed five innings and allowed two runs, one earned, on three hits with a walk and three strikeouts.
Brandon Gomes took the hill for the sixth inning with the Cubs leading 5-2. The Reds teed off on Gomes and scored four runs on four hits in the sixth. Devin Mesoraco lifted a two-run homer out to left center that was the big blast of the inning. The Reds made a lot of loud contact off Gomes, even the outs were squared up.
Jean Machi gave up a hit in his inning of work.
Trevor Cahill picked up a spring save after facing the minimum in the eighth and ninth innings. Cahill tossed an efficient 1-2-3 eighth inning (two fly ball outs, one ground out). Cahill hit Beau Amaral with one out in the ninth but ended the game by inducing a 5-4-3 double play off the bat of Jordan Pacheco.
With Tuesday’s win, the Cubs improved to 7-13-1 in the Cactus League.
The Cubs hit the road again Wednesday and make the trip to Surprise to take on the Rangers. Kyle Hendricks is scheduled to face Derek Holland.