Kris Bryant homers as Cubs pummel White Sox
Joe Camporeale - USA Today Sports

Kris Bryant homers as Cubs pummel White Sox


by - Columnist -

Yu Darvish got his second start of the spring when the Cubs hosted the White Sox on Saturday afternoon at Sloan Park. Striking early and often, the Cubs would win this game by the end of the second inning, downing the South-Siders by a final score of 13-4.

T1: Yu Darvish came out throwing fire, delivering a 95 mph fastball to start the game, striking out the first man he faced (Garcia). He’d give up a walk to the #2 man (Moncada) but would retire the next two (Abreu/Alonso) in order, taking Alonso by strikeout as well. Top pitch speed 96 mph.

B1: After Ben Zobrist grounded out to start the inning, Bryant, Rizzo, Schwarber, and Bote would all draw walks to score the first run on no hits. The inning would end with an Ian Happ fly-out, leaving the bases loaded. Cubs lead 1-0.

T2: Darvish would retire the Sox in order in the second, grabbing his third strikeout of the day (Anderson), while reaching 97 mph on a fastball.

B2: With their best offensive showing so far this spring, the Cubs would add eight runs on as many hits. The Sox would send three pitchers to the mound in the second (Banuelos, Minaya, Bummer) but nobody was effective. The Cubs offense included Field being hit by a pitch, a walk by Zobrist, singles by Rizzo, Contreras, Schwarber, Russell and Field, doubles by Bote and Happ, and a three-run home run blast by Bryant.

T3: Making his first appearance of the year, lefty, Luis Lugo, would take the mound for the Cubs. Lugo would send them down in order, collecting a strikeout (Engel) along the way.

B3: KB would hit a leadoff single to left field, and although Rizzo would fan, Contreras would reach on an error. Schwarber would walk again to load the bases with one out, prompting yet another pitching change by the Sox (RHP Ryan Burr). Bote would add an RBI to his stats when he scored Bryant on a sac-fly to right field. Cubs lead 10-0.

T4: Eddie Barnette would take the mound for the fourth, allowing the Sox to get their first hit and score their first run when Jose Abreu hit a no-doubter to left-center with two out. Cubs lead 10-1.

B4: The Sox’ Ryan Burr would start the inning with a pair of strikeouts (Russell, Field), then would retire Zo on a fly ball to end the inning without allowing a run.

T5: Dillon Maples would give up a leadoff single (Collins) to start the frame, but he’d erase the runner on a 1-6 force-play. With Yolmer Sanchez now on first, Maples would give up a two-run homer to Adam Engel, giving the Sox their second and third runs. Maples would finish the inning with a pair of strikeouts (Anderson, Garcia). Cubs lead 10-3.

B5: Sox southpaw, Jace Fry would retire the Cubs in order in the fifth. Cubs lead 10-3.

T6: Junichi Tazawa would hurl for the Cubs in the sixth, sending the Sox down in order, with a pair of strikeouts (Moncada, Alonso).

B6: Righty, Kelvin Herrera, would face the Cubs in the sixth, issuing a leadoff walk to Evan Marzilli. Cristhian Adames would add two more runs when he hit a two-run blast over the right-centerfield wall. Cubs lead 12-3.

T7: Joe Maddon would give the ball to Carlos Ramirez for the seventh. Ramirez would issue a one-out walk to Alfredo Gonzalez; then Madrigal would reach on an error (Adames). No harm would come of it though, as Ramirez would get out of the inning on a 6-4-3 double-play (Short, Evans, Adduci).

B7: Although Jacob Hannemann would draw a leadoff walk, the Cubs would fail to score in the inning. Cubs up 12-3.

T8: Mike Zagurski would pitch the eighth, and despite collecting a pair of strikeouts (Rutherford, Delmonico), Zagurski would give up a solo-homerun (Mednick). Cubs lead 12-4.

B8: Cristhian Adames, Zack Short, and Wynton Bernard would each single, putting the Cubs up 13- 4.

T9: Dakota Mekkes would close it out for the Cubs this afternoon. Mekkes would issue a walk to Tilson and grab a strikeout from Adolfo, retiring the Sox without allowing a run. FINAL 13-4.

The Cubs will square off against the Reds tomorrow from Goodyear Ballpark at 3:05 PM Eastern. Cincinnati has scheduled RHP Tony Santillan to start the game, and Alec Mills will get the start for Chicago.

Comment on this story
Print   
Send Feedback to Ken Allison: Email | Comment
Post your comments!