Game Recap: Hanshin blank the Cubs in exhibition fun |
Dustin Riese
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- 4 hours ago
TOKYO - Although the Cubs are still a few days away from their meeting with the Los Angeles Dodgers, that doesn't mean they aren't playing baseball while over in Tokyo. In fact, the Cubs could consider this the Tokyo Tour as they opened this once-in-a-lifetime experience with an exhibition game against the Hanshin Tigers on Friday night at the Tokyo Dome.
This is the first of two exhibition games, and the second one will be played against the Yorimuri Giants on Sunday. Although the results weren't what the Cubs were hoping for to kick off this experience, this was still a moment no one on this team will forget, as the Tigers blanked the Cubs 3-0. I know what most of you are probably thinking when looking at a score like this, but this wasn't your typical Cubs game apart from the lineup. Craig Counsell went with more of a bullpen game, and Julian Merryweather got the start. He was one of 10 pitchers who saw action as seven of the 10 pitchers tossed scoreless innings, including Ryan Pressly, Jordan Wicks, Eli Morgan, and Nate Pearson. For the day, the Cubs pen was sharp as they scattered six hits, walked three, and struck out 11, but in the end, they allowed three runs, which was too much for the offense to overcome. Two of those runs came off Tyson Miller and Porter Hodge as their rough Spring continued, with Caleb Thielbar giving up the first run of the night. Given how the Cubs offense has looked most of the Spring, no one would've thought three runs would be too much to come back from, but when you are held to just three hits as an offense, it does make it more challenging to get the job done. Credit Mombetsu for that, as the right-hander tossed five scoreless frames, striking out two and allowing no hits. After neither team could put a baserunner on base through two innings, it was the Tigers taking the lead for good in the third and they never looked back. Ryutaro Umeno didn't waste any time jumping on Thielbar as he picked up the game's first hit with a leadoff double before advancing to third on a sacrifice bunt. You notice that much more in Japan than in the United States, as the NPB teams don't hesitate to play small ball, which often leads to success at the plate. In this instance, Koji Chikamoto delivered the go-ahead and game-winning run with an RBI double as the Tigers jumped in front 1-0. That was just the beginning of three straight innings where the Tigers scored a run as they managed to make some of the Cubs pitchers pay in a strange environment. With Miller on the mound in the fourth, Shota Morishita got things rolling with a leadoff single, and just like that, the Tigers had another runner on base. Two batters later, this was a 2-0 lead, with Ukyo Maegawa connecting for another RBI double. One inning later, it was the same story for Hanshin, but this time, the command of Hodge paved the way for the Tigers final run as he walked two of the first three batters in the fifth to set the Tigers offense up. That was followed up by the Teruaki Sato single, and just like that, it was a 3-0 Tigers lead. Hodge was lifted shortly after that in favor of Morgan, who walked another hitter to load the bases before escaping without further damage. It took the Cubs six innings to pick up their first hit as the one-out Miguel Amaya single ended the drought. Amaya was also the first baserunner of the night for the Cubs, but was erased shortly after on the Jon Berti double play. One of the Cubs better scoring chances came in the seventh as Taisei Kudo took over for Nick Nelson on the mound. For the second time in as many innings, it was a one-out single getting things started as Seiya Suzuki returned home and delivered that hit. Two batters later saw Justin Turner work a two-out walk to move Suzuki into scoring position, but they were unable to come through with the big hit and remained scoreless through seven. Down to their final three outs, the Cubs tried their best to keep things interesting off Saguru Iwazaki with Michael Busch coming through with another one-out single for the Cubs final hit of the night. Once again, the Cubs found themselves in a position to score with Suzuki working a walk, as the Cubs had two on with one out, and the tying run came to the plate. Unfortunately for them, Iwazaki buckled down when he had to and retired the final two hitters of the game to close things out and handed the Tigers the 3-0 victory. The Cubs will now have Saturday off before another exhibition game on Sunday, but weather permitting, the Cubs will have their prospect breakout game against the Angels on Saturday. Another day in Tokyo 🥰 pic.twitter.com/z9YIbMW188 .@Taylor_McGregor gives us an in-depth look on the iconic Japanese cheers heard throughout the game 📣 pic.twitter.com/ITAPYjOSOH
