The Chicago Cubs fell 4-2 to the Chicago White Sox at Camelback Ranch on Friday in spring training play. Despite Moisés Ballesteros's 2-for-3 effort at the plate, the Cubs could not pull even when it mattered. Riley Martin worked 2.0 innings on the mound, allowing 1 earned run on 3 hits. The Sox out-hit the Cubs 9-5 on the day. The Cubs will look to regroup as spring training rolls on. There is still time to work through the rough patches before the regular season arrives, and the coaching staff will use today's performance as a learning opportunity.
Key Performers
Moisés Ballesteros was the top performer at the plate, going 2-for-3. He put together quality at-bats throughout the game. It was the kind of day at the plate that suggests good things ahead for the Cubs offense.
Michael Busch provided support, going 1-for-3, Kane Kepley also contributed, going 1-for-3, and Ben Cowles chipped in, going 1-for-3. Despite the individual efforts, the offense could not generate enough sustained production.
On the other side of the diamond, Korey Lee led the Sox offense with a 2-for-2 with a home run and two RBI day. Everson Pereira also contributed, going 1-for-3 with a home run and an RBI. Andrew Benintendi added a 1-for-2 with a double and an RBI effort as well. The Sox offense proved to be too much for the Cubs pitching staff to contain on this particular day.
On the Mound
Riley Martin took the loss after having a rough go of it, working 2.0 innings while allowing 1 earned run on 3 hits with two strikeouts. He threw 37 pitches in the outing. His outing provided the coaching staff with another data point as rotation and bullpen decisions loom.
The bullpen combined for 5.3 innings of work, allowing 2 earned runs while striking out six. The relief corps kept the game within reach after the starter departed. Managing the bullpen workload is a key priority during the spring, and every outing helps the coaching staff gauge who is ready for high-leverage situations. Jordan Leasure recorded the save to close out the game.
Among the relievers, Collin Snider stood out with 1.1 innings of 1-run work, striking out two. The outing gave the coaching staff confidence in his ability to contribute this season.
How It Happened
Sox got on the board first with a run in the second inning. Sox pushed across a run in the fourth. Sox plated a run in the fifth. The Cubs answered with two runs in the sixth. Sox responded with a run in the sixth. The Sox were able to score in four separate innings, keeping the pressure on throughout the contest. Sox out-hit the Cubs 9-5, with 3 errors committed between the two clubs. A crowd of 9,109 was on hand to take in the action.
Looking Ahead
The Cubs will regroup and get back to work in their next outing. While the final score was not in their favor, the exhibition season is about building toward the regular season, and this game provided useful reps for a roster still taking shape. The coaching staff will review the performance and make adjustments before the next time out.
