The starters played today, but only Seiya Suzuki shined under the Arizona sun.
The Spring Training games after the Tokyo trip continued today and while the regulars did show up today, they didn’t really show up, if you know what I mean. Except for Seiya Suzuki. The result was a 7-3 loss to a Colorado Rockies split-squad team before 13,257 fans at Sloan Park.
Jameson Taillon, whom manager Craig Counsell announced would get the Game 2 start in the domestic Opening Series in Arizona, was shaky in his start today against the Rockies, giving up five runs over 4.2 innings. The big issue was that the ball was flying out of Sloan Park, as Taillon gave up a two-run home run to catcher Hunter Goodman in the third inning and a solo home run to first baseman Michael Toglia in the fifth. Still, in the spirit of no Spring Training appearance is bad if you leave the field healthy, Taillon pitched 4.2 innings and struck out six and walked one. So as long as he feels good, that’s not bad.
Meanwhile, left fielder Seiya Suzuki hit a solo home run in the first inning off of Rockies starter Austin Gomber and then followed that up with another solo home run off of Gomber in the third. Like yesterday, there was no television for today’s game and thus, no video highlights. So here’s an artist’s rendition of Suzuki’s day.
Seriously folks, this may be the last one of these drawings you’re going to get for a while.
The Cubs cut the deficit to 4-3 in the third when Kyle Tucker reached on a bloop single and Michael Busch plated him with a two-out double.
Cayne Ueckert relieved Taillon in the fifth inning and was greeted by a solo home run by Sam Hilliard, the first batter he faced.
Ryan Pressly pitched the sixth inning and gave up a pair of two-out singles, but a sharp lineup to center fielder Vidal Bruján ended the inning without any damage. Pressly struck out one.
Caleb Thielbar came on to pitch the seventh inning and Michael Toglia hit his second home run of the game off of him to make it 7-3 Rockies.
Nate Pearson pitched a scoreless eighth inning and Porter Hodge did likewise in the ninth to close things out. The Cubs mounted a mini-rally in the bottom of the ninth after singles by Haydn McGeary and Darius Hill put runners on first and third with two outs. But Chase Strumpf then struck out to end the game.
Tomorrow the Cubs face off against the Athletics at Sloan Park at 3:05 Central Time. Once again, there’s no video broadcast of the game, but there will be radio coverage on 670 The Score.