The Chicago Cubs picked up a 9-8 victory over the Kansas City Royals at Sloan Park on Wednesday in spring training action. Pedro Ramirez paced the offense, going 1-for-3 with a home run and four RBI, giving the coaching staff plenty to be encouraged about as the exhibition schedule continues. Colin Rea worked 4.0 innings on the mound, allowing 4 earned runs on 5 hits. The Cubs finished with 13 hits on the day while holding the Royals to 8. It was an encouraging performance for the Cubs as they continue sharpening the roster for the regular season. Games like these serve as a valuable measuring stick for where the team stands heading into the campaign.
Key Performers
Pedro Ramirez was the top performer at the plate, going 1-for-3 with a home run and four RBI. The long ball provided a major boost to the offensive attack. It was the kind of day at the plate that suggests good things ahead for the Cubs offense.
Nico Hoerner provided support, going 1-for-2 with a home run and an RBI, Scott Kingery also contributed, going 2-for-2 with two RBI, and Brett Bateman chipped in, going 1-for-2 with an RBI. It was a balanced attack that kept the pressure on from the first pitch to the last.
On the other side of the diamond, Brett Squires led the Royals offense with a 1-for-3 with a home run and two RBI day. Elias Díaz also contributed, going 1-for-4 with a home run and an RBI. Luca Tresh added a 1-for-3 with a home run and an RBI effort as well. Despite those contributions, the Cubs pitching staff did enough to limit the damage and secure the victory.
On the Mound
Colin Rea got the start, having a rough go of it, working 4.0 innings while allowing 4 earned runs on 5 hits with one strikeout. He threw 59 pitches in the outing. His outing provided the coaching staff with another data point as rotation and bullpen decisions loom.
The bullpen combined for 5.0 innings of work, allowing 2 earned runs while striking out eight. The relief corps did its job in protecting the lead 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.
Among the relievers, Hoby Milner stood out with 1.0 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
Royals got on the board first with a run in the first inning. The Cubs countered with five runs in the second. Royals struck back with two runs in the third. Royals added two runs in the fourth. Royals tacked on a run in the seventh. The Cubs countered with two runs in the seventh. Royals struck back with a run in the eighth. Royals added a run in the ninth. The Cubs responded with two runs in the ninth. The Cubs spread their scoring across three different innings, applying consistent pressure throughout the game. The Cubs out-hit Royals 13-8 on the day, with 4 errors committed between the two clubs. A crowd of 12,026 was on hand to take in the action.
Looking Ahead
It was a productive day for the Cubs, who continue to put the pieces in place ahead of the regular season. The coaching staff will take the positives from this outing and use the remaining spring games to finalize the roster. Days like this one suggest the Cubs are heading in the right direction as Opening Day draws closer.
