Chicago Cubs Score and Recap (2/21/26): Rangers 3, Cubs 2 – Boyd Makes First Spring Appearance
More of the Cubs’ starters saw their first action of the spring when they hosted the Rangers at Sloan Park Saturday afternoon. They came up just short in a low-scoring contest that was lacking much action.
Matthew Boyd made his first start of the spring and allowed a 2nd-inning run on a single by Sam Haggerty after Pete Crow-Armstrong lost a Tyler Wade fly ball in the high Arizona sky that dropped in for a double. Chicago evened the score on an RBI single by infield prospect Jefferson Rojas in the bottom of the frame.
Texas grabbed the lead against new Cubs acquisition Hoby Milner in the top of the 4th via a two-run double by Haggerty. The home team cut the deficit in half on an RBI groundout by Rojas in the bottom of the inning but stranded the bases loaded in the same frame.
That would be the end of the scoring Saturday as both squads went relatively quietly down the stretch and the Rangers won by a final of 3-2. (Box score)
Key Moment
PCA and Carson Kelly each came up with the bases loaded in the 4th inning down 3-2 and could not bring in the tying run.
Why the Cubs Lost
A defensive miscue and the inability to get a big hit were the deciding factors Saturday.
Stats That Matter
- Boyd allowed five hits but he also struck out four in 1.2 innings of work.
- Closer Daniel Palencia had a clean 3rd inning Saturday in his first appearance.
- Matt Shaw made his first start in right field and had a single.
- Kelly hit a double in his first action of the year.
Bottom Line
Everyone is still getting their feet wet at this point of the spring, although things might be accelerated a bit with the WBC looming.
On Deck
The Cubs head on the road for the first time, traveling to Scottsdale for a matchup with the Giants Sunday at 2:05pm CT. Colin Rea faces off against Robbie Ray in a battle of homophones.
