Cubs split squad games against Mariners, D-backs |
For those of you unfamiliar with how a Split Squad works, it's basically a mix of minor and major league players that combine to play a Spring Training game. How is that different than a regular Spring Training game? Instead of playing a regular doubleheader that you would play during the regular season, the Cubs played two games at one, just at two different parks.
The first of those games saw the Seattle Mariners come to Sloan Park, while the secondary game saw the Cubs on the road to face the Arizona Diamondbacks. Unlike most of the Spring, when the starting pitching has stepped up, Friday was all about the offense. The Cubs combined to score 15 runs in the two games, but they had to settle for a 1-1 record on the day.
Making his second start of the Spring for the Cubs was left-hander Shota Imanaga as he continues to prepare for the regular season. Expected to have some bumps along the way to get used to the American game, Imanaga has shown flashes of why he was so coveted this offseason, which continued again in this one. For the second start in a row, Imanaga would pitch into the third inning while striking out five, but he also allowed two runs as he took a little bit to settle in. Shota Imanaga throws 5 strikeouts in his second Spring Training appearance 👏 pic.twitter.com/xOwnMKr50Y That could be something to watch this season, as he takes a little while to settle in. Fortunately for Imanaga, the Cubs backed him with plenty of offensive support as Garrett Cooper continued his hot hitting with a three-run first-inning homer to put the Cubs in front as they never trailed. A no-doubter from Garrett Cooper makes it a 3-0 ballgame at Sloan Park! pic.twitter.com/BUXf3L5HVn Seattle did their best to respond in the top half of the second, with Luis Urias taking Imanaga deep for a solo shot. Ryan Bliss added an RBI single later in the frame to pull within 3-2. Those would be the only runs Imanaga would allow, as he did a phenomenal job battling back after a rough second inning. Not only did Cooper have a great game with his three-run shot, but so did Matt Shaw, whose RBI triple in the bottom of the second sparked another three-run inning to put the Cubs in front 6-2. Matt Shaw shows off the speed 💨 Seiya Suzuki and Dansby Swanson capped off the scoring in that inning with a pair of RBI knocks as the Cubs offense came out swinging. Still leading by four entering the fourth, Seattle took it upon themselves to get right back into the game as the Cal Raleigh homer pulled the Mariners back within one at 6-5. That would be as close as things would get as Dominic Smith connected for his first homer of the Spring, as did Shaw to cap off the scoring with the Cubs taking care of the Mariners 9-5. Dom Smith kisses this baseball goodbye! ✌️ pic.twitter.com/uHQMH7GSU9 Matt Shaw hits his first home run of Spring Training! pic.twitter.com/MdZjnH5WIb Shaw and Cooper led the way with three RBIs each as both are closing out an impressive Spring. Singing into the [W]eekend 🎶CUBS 9 - MARINERS 5
His triple makes it 4-2 #Cubs! pic.twitter.com/NcbRRNFF64
Shaw: 2-for-4, HR, 3 RBI
Cooper: HR, 3 RBI
Smith: HR pic.twitter.com/lcpvNfH5v0
DIAMONDBACKS 7 - CUBS 5:
While the Cubs were busy taking care of the Mariners at home, they were not as lucky on the road, as the Diamondbacks found a way to win 7-5. Kyle Hendricks and Chris Clarke had a rough go of things. They combined to allow all seven runs, with Hendricks getting charged for three of them in just over three innings of work.
That all started with Geraldo Perdomo putting the Diamondbacks in front for good in the second, while former Cub Joc Pederson extended the lead to 3-0 with a two-run blast in the third. Immediately following that Pederson blast, Mike Tauchman continued his hot stretch of play as he belted his second homer of the Spring to put the Cubs on the board 3-1.
Although in a good spot, the Cubs wouldn't get any closer than that as the Diamondbacks made quick work of Clarke in the bottom of the fourth to put Chicago in a massive hole. Pederson played a role in that with an RBI single for his third RBI in two at-bats, but Ketel Marte, Jorge Borrosa, and Eugenio Suarez all added RBI knocks as the Diamondbacks opened up a 7-1 lead.
Just like the last time the Diamondbacks scored, the Cubs did a great job battling back. An RBI fielder's choice made things 7-2, while the Brett Bateman double pulled the Cubs within 7-4. That would be the last of the runs until the Darius Hill homer in the top of the ninth pulled the Cubs within 7-5, but they would fall by that score to pick up the Split Squad Split.
