Chicago Cubs Score and Recap (3/17/22, Split Squad Away): White Sox 5, Cubs 2 – Minor Leaguers See Lots of Action

While Kyle Hendricks pitched in one of the Cubs’ split-squad contests, the name of the game on Thursday was giving minor leaguers plenty of action. The away game featured nary a major league player and the pitchers were a trio of NRIs looking for one more shot at the bigs.

Ben Holmes made the start for the Cubs after missing most of the last two seasons with an arm injury and the rust certainly showed. The hurler who made just two starts for Triple-A Iowa in 2021 was knocked around in his two innings of work. (Box score)

Why the Cubs Lost

Holmes allowed all the runs the White Sox would need as he allowed four runs in the first two innings. Both Cubs’ squads had problems scoring runs, though this group had the added excuse that none of the guys who played have ever even really sniffed the big leagues.

Key Moment

One batter after Zach Remillard bashed a solo homer in the bottom of the 2nd, Yoelqui Céspedes, the half-brother of Yoenis Cespedes, did the same. He also scored what would end up being the game-winning run to put the Sox up 3-1.

Stats That Matter

• Holmes had a rough start, allowing four runs on five hits, including three home runs in his two-inning start.
• Sox outfielder Andrew Vaughn — who hit 15 home runs in 2021 — hit his first homer of the spring in the bottom of the 1st inning.
• Eric Stout, who last pitched in the big leagues in 2018 for the Royals, went two innings with just one hit and struck out one to close out the contest.
• Both runs by the Cubs were scored thanks to shortstops, as starter Kevin Made had an RBI single in the 2nd and Delvin Zinn had his own RBI single in the 6th.

Bottom Line

The entire point of this particular split-squad game was to get as many Cubs minor leaguers some spring training action. It’s hard to imagine anyone who played in this game will get anything more than a cup of coffee (if that) in the majors at the end of the year.

On Deck

The Cubs will take on the Giants at 9:05pm CT on Friday. While Chicago’s starting pitcher is officially listed as TBD, newly acquired Marcus Stroman is expected to make his Cubs debut.