Royals blank Cubs |
SURPRISE - Despite scoring the third-most runs in the National League last season, the Chicago Cubs' offense was more of a feast-or-famine type of offense. That is something they have been trying to address for the past few years, yet no matter what moves they make, it always ends up being the same.
Although it may only be Spring Training, the feast-or-famine style the Cubs have grown accustomed to has come full circle again, which is incredibly frustrating in Arizona. Coming off a shutout loss to the Padres on Sunday, the Cub's offense was again stifled as it was the Royals' turn to shut out the Cubs 6-0 for their second straight shutout loss. There weren't many positives to take from this game, but you did see Seiya Suzuki and Michael Busch make their spring debuts. Both picked up a hit, with Busch also adding a walk as he looked very good at the plate. Someone who didn't look good is Hayden Wesneski, who is looking to win the No. 5 starting spot out of camp. After Jordan Wicks and Drew Smyly pitched well in their outing, Javier Assad and Wesneski haven't, as they appear to be the odd men out after one turn through the rotation. Wesneski is trying to avoid the Caleb Kilian curse as someone who came to the Cubs organization with plenty of potential but, for whatever reason, couldn't put it together. Wesneski had a rough go of things in the first, allowing a leadoff MJ Melendez single, but picking up a double play, he was on the verge of escaping without any damage. Then came the next three hitters, with Michael Massey and Austin Nola keeping the inning alive before Nick Pratto took Wesneski deep for the three-run shot and a 3-0 Royals lead. That was the final batter Wesneski would face as Hunter Bigge finished the first inning, but the Royals never trailed. Looking to battle back in their half of the second, Nick Madrigal started things off by getting hit with a pitch before advancing to second on the Jorge Alfaro single. As was the case so often last season, the Cubs wasted that scoring chance with a double play as their offense continued to struggle. One of the most challenging things to get used to when it comes to Spring is that pitchers can reenter a game if they are removed. Knowing that, Wesneski was back to work in the second, but it was more of the same as he continued to struggle. This time, it was back-to-back doubles from Dairon Blanco and Carter Jensen doing the damage as the Royals opened up a 4-0 lead. It was the second time in as many innings that Wesneski was unable to finish an inning, as most of the Royals' damage came in those two innings. With Seth Lugo now out of the game in place of former Cub Tyler Duffey, Chicago was hoping to get something offensively as a two-out rally appeared to be the trick. Suzuki and Busch were responsible for that with consecutive singles, but once again, the Cubs were left searching for answers as they remained scoreless. The same can be said against Luis Cessa in the fourth, as this was the Cubs' best scoring chance. That all started with Madrigal ripping a leadoff double, but after Miles Mastrobuoni picked up a one-out single and Madrigal was not able to score, it would come back to haunt the Cubs. That is because Cessa bounced back to get Luis Vazquez to ground into an inning-ending double play as the Cubs stayed scoreless. Following those rough innings, the pitching for the Cubs started to settle in, with Porter Hodge battling through some command issues to toss a scoreless fourth ahead of another scoreless frame by Bailey Horn. Even with them doing their part, when the offense can't score, it doesn't matter, as the Royals were back in business against Colten Brewer in the sixth. What started with a leadoff single by Mike Brosseau single turned into a 5-0 lead as Tyler Cropley picked up a two-out single to bring home a run. Kansas City wasn't done as Richard Gallardo surrendered a leadoff triple to Ryan Fitzgerald to begin the bottom half of the seventh, while an error later in the inning brought home another run to make things 6-0. Those were the final runs of the game for the Royals, but the Cubs were looking to end the shutout in the eighth. With Haydn McGeary leading things off with a walk, the Jake Slaughter single put a pair of runners on base with one out. Needing a hit to break through, that hit was nowhere to be found as Noah Murdock and Will Klein retired the final five hitters of the game to cap off the 6-0 shutout. The Cubs will look to get back on track at Sloan Park tomorrow when the Cincinnati Reds come to town. Kyle Hendricks will be making his first start of the Spring as all eyes will be on Cody Bellinger and when he will step on the field. Final: Royals 6, Cubs 0.
