March 9th Spring Training Recap

By Andrew Green

Despite the Cubs’ 6-3 defeat to the San Diego Padres Monday, several former Smokies performed well for Chicago, including hurlers Kyle Hendricks and C.J. Edwards, in addition to catcher Miguel Montero. A Smokies alum also kept the Cubs in check through the first three innings in right-hander Andrew Cashner.

Hendricks (2.0 IP, 3 H, SO) shined in his first outing of the spring, firing two frames of shutout ball, yielding three hits while fanning one batter in relief of Edwin Jackson. The Dartmouth alum, who also holds the Smokies’ single-season earned-run average record (1.83) from 2013, is considered a strong possibility, if not already a lock, for a rotation spot this season.

Edwards (1.0 IP, 2 SO) also got his Spring Training started on the right foot with a solid inning of work in relief. The 2014 Smoky was perfect in his lone frame, striking out the first two batters he faced before yielding a groundout in his 2015 debut.

Montero (1-3, R, HR, RBI), who was acquired by the Cubs this past offseason from Arizona Diamondbacks, slammed his first home run of the spring with a solo shot in the sixth inning. The backstop, who wore a Smokies uniform during the 2005 season when they were affiliated with Arizona, early on has posted a .250 average (2-8) with one longball and two RBI over three contests for Chicago.

Another former Smokies hitter who fared well Monday afternoon was 2014 third baseman Kris Bryant (1-1, BB), who reached base twice courtesy of a single to right in the sixth and a four-pitch walk in the eighth. In his four games for the Cubs this spring, Bryant owns a .286 average (2-7) with one homer and two RBI.

On the opposite end of the diamond, 2008-11 Smokies hurler Andrew Cashner (3.0 IP, BB, 3 SO) tossed three solid shutout innings, surrendering a lone walk and no hits while striking out three in his second start of 2015. Over those two outings, the right-hander has posted a 1-0 record and 2.25 ERA (1 ER in 4.0 IP), adding four strikeouts.

The Cubs return to action Tuesday in search of their first victory of the spring as they face off against the Cleveland Indians in Goodyear. Southpaw Travis Wood is expected to take the ball for the first time this spring, while the Indians are slated to give the nod to RHP Trevor Bauer. First pitch is scheduled for 4:05 p.m. ET at Goodyear Ballpark, and can be seen on MLB.tv, in addition to heard online via Cubs.com, with Smokies broadcaster Mick Gillispie teaming up with Cubs television announcer Len Kasper.

 

OTHER GAMES

– Reliever Rafael Dolis (2010-12) tossed a scoreless inning of support in the Detroit Tigers’ 6-4 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays.

– 2014 southpaw Andrew McKirahan threw the final shutout frame in the Miami Marlins’ 13-2 rout of the New York Mets.

– 2003 Smokies backstop Yadier Molina collected a hit in the St. Louis Cardinals’ 3-0 defeat to the Boston Red Sox.

– Catcher Steve Clevenger (2008-11) went 1-for-2 in the Baltimore Orioles’ 1-0 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies.

– Skip Schumaker (2003-04) recorded a hit and scored a run in the Cincinnati Reds’ 7-5 triumph of the Los Angeles Angels.