Postgame Wrap: Cubs v Dbacks; An Offensive Explosion – VIDEO
I know there’s an unwritten rule about spring training baseball and how, good or bad, you’re not supposed to get too excited or read too much into it. I know this. I get it. But in the context of last night’s game, I don’t really care about it. Last night felt different. It was a nationally televised game in which the Cubs absolutely dismantled the home-town Diamondbacks. I honestly don’t know if anyone except Cubs and Diamondback fans were watching, mainly because it was also the first day of March Madness, but anyone that did watch had to think “damn these guys look good” and “they look like a team with something to prove and the weapons to prove it.”
It felt like Joe really ignited something when he decided to field a lineup that is close to the lineup we’ll see opening day. Everything and everyone clicked. It was a really fun night. This season is going to be fun.
Jason Hammel’s start was a little shaky, as he gave up one run in the first inning off a sacrifice fly ball. He settled down nicely after that, pitching four innings while striking out six batters and scattering five hits with no walks. He had good command of his fastball and off-speed stuff and was able to make adjustments after the first inning. He had men on base the first three innings but his rhythm and tempo from the stretch, with Kyle Schwarber catching behind the plate, looked good.
Dexter Fowler opened the first inning for the Cubs by ripping a pitch to the right field corner as he hustled to third for a triple, forcing an errant throw from the Diamondbacks Jean Segura that went well into the stands, allowing Fowler to trot home. From that point, the Cubs never looked back. They would go on to add four more runs in the inning, capped off by a towering home run by Jorge Soler to right center-field. Here’s video of all the damage that was done in the first inning by the Cubs:
It wasn’t only the Cubs starters that took aim on the Dbacks pitchers but the reserves stepped in and provided some hits too. Tim Federowicz tripled in the fifth inning, driving in two runs. Kristopher Negron hit his third home run of Cactus League play. And John Andreoli continued his hot-hitting by powering a deep, two-run drive to left field.
Like I said, this one was a lot of fun. Only seventeen more days to the Cubs opening game.
Later today the Cubs take on the White Sox at Camelback Ranch in Glendale. Game time is at 3:05 CST. It’ll be Kyle Hendricks going up against John Danks for the White Sox.