CI Recap (3/16/18) – Cubs 6, White Sox 3: That Willson Bat Flip, Tho
Yu Darvish looked solid again in his start against the White Sox in Scottsdale. Willson Contreras showed his bat flip game was in mid-season form. (Box score)
Why The Cubs Won
The Cubs offense came to life in the middle innings, putting up six runs.
Key Moment
Contreras blasted a home run to very deep left off of Reynaldo Lopez in the 4th inning. The solo shot would be followed by three more runs to make it 4-0 Cubs.
That Willson Contreras bat flip tho!! pic.twitter.com/e8wLoi5anM
— Cubs Insider (@realcubsinsider) March 16, 2018
Stats That (Don’t) Matter
- Darvish went five innings, allowing a run on three hits with four strikeouts and a walk. He touched 98 on the radar gun, the only run he gave up was on a wild pitch. Oh and he got two at bats and singled in one of them.
- Contreras was robbed of a second extra-base hit later in the game and worked well with Darvish.
- Mike Freeman homered and singled for two more hits. The cult-legend shortstop is well on his way to earning the Joe Mather award for the journeyman player who most thoroughly destroys the Cactus League.
Bottom Line
Darvish looks like he is ready to go, Contreras as well. Keep an eye on Justin Hancock, who struck out three in 1.1 innings and has an outside chance for the final bullpen spot.
On Deck
The Cubs play the Indians twice on Saturday. One game is 3pm CT at Sloan Park, the other 6pm CT in Las Vegas. The Vegas game airs on WGN and the Mesa game is available on MLB.tv and 670 The Score.
