Chicago Cubs Final Spring Game Takeaways: Smyly Knocked Around, Prospects Shine
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Despite most of the regulars en route to Wrigley Field, the Chicago Cubs beat the Chicago White, 8-5, in their final Cactus League game.
The Cubs finished the spring 17-12, winning seven out of their last ten games to close out Spring Training.
Tuesday's contest saw the North Siders fall behind before plating five runs in the fifth inning, taking the lead for good.
Here are a few pros (+) and cons (+) from the game.
+ Owen Caissie, Everyone
It's been a whirlwind spring for the 20-year-old, but Owen Caissie finished his spring with a terrific show both in the field and at the plate.
In the top half of the second inning, Caissie started a relay throw home in left field, throwing out Moises Castillo at home plate. With the bat, the Burlington, Can., native drove in the go-ahead runs with a beautiful opposite-field two-run single.
He finished the day 1-for-3, with two RBI and a strikeout.
- Smyly Knocked Around
In his final tuneup before the regular season, Drew Smyly was not sharp. The 33-year-old was attacking the strike zone for most of his outing, but the White Sox made a lot of contact. Hoping to get through five innings, Smyly made it through just four, allowing ten hits, five runs (four unearned), and two home runs.
Tommy Hottovy, who was the acting manager on Tuesday with David Ross en route to Chicago, indicated that he wasn't too concerned with Smyly's outing, given the Cubs don't do too much scouting for the opposition at this point of the year.
Smyly finished the Cactus League schedule with a 6.06 ERA in five starts, fanning 13 batters in 16.1 innings and a 1.84 WHIP.
+ Cubs Offense Comes Alive
Outside of a B.J. Murray Jr. two-run double, the Cubs offense was held in check by White Sox starter Michael Kopech through the first few innings. But the Cubs broke through in the fifth inning.
Murrary drew a walk before Luis Vazquez smacked his second home run of the spring to right-center field. Luis Verdugo followed with a single before Kopech struck out Pablo Aliendo, and his day was done.
However, the Cubs offense continued to pile it on even after the pitching change, plating the go-ahead run on Owen Caissie's two-run single deposited into the left-center field gap.
+ Bailey Horn Fans Four
As a non-roster invite to camp, Bailey Horn will not break camp with the team on Opening Day, but his performance on Tuesday should stick with the Cubs' brass.
Horn, 25, had a rough start to the spring, but he progressively improved with each outing. Against the White Sox, he fanned four batters in 2.0 innings.
The former White Sox 2020 fifth-round pick attacked his former team, throwing 16 of his 17 pitches for strikes.
+ PCA Flashes the Arm
The 21-year-old's defense has stood out all spring, which continued on Tuesday with a terrific heads-up play in center field.
After coming up short on a diving catch, he had the wherewithal to quickly get back up and throw Ben Norman out at second base, who was trying to extend his single into a double.
The Cubs will have Wednesday off before opening their season at Wrigley Field against the Milwaukee Brewers. Marcus Stroman will get the ball, with first pitch set for 1:20 pm CST.
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