CI Recap (3/3/17) – Cubs 4, Reds 8: Eloy Jimenez Crushes Home Run to End Spring Training No-Hit Bid (Video)

If this was mid-season we’d all be totally freaking out right now. Fortunately it’s Spring Training so there will be none of that. But there will be celebratory libations when Eloy Jimenez pounds a dinger to score the Cubs’ first run, breaking up a no-hitter in the bottom of the 8th inning. See, isn’t Spring Training great!

The Cubs tacked on three more runs in the frame on the strength of a three-run shot by Yasiel Balaguert and, for a brief moment, it looked like a comeback was possible. It didn’t materialize but did you see that Jimenez home run?!

The low point for the Cubs came in the top of the 3rd, when Aaron Brooks and Dallas Beeler combined to hit three batters and walk a man all with the bases full of Reds. At that point it was fairly laughable, particularly when Brooks actually threw a fastball behind one of the Reds batters. To his credit, Cubs catcher Carlos Corporan actually caught the behind-the-back heater. So that was fun (box score).

Be sure to scroll down to the bottom to check out today’s photo gallery.

 Stats that matter

• Isn’t this section kind of against everything that Spring Training stands for? I mean, does any stat really matter in Spring Training?
• Jason Heyward is 0-for-13 in Spring Training and went 0-for-2 today with a walk and a strikeout.
• Did I mention Eloy Jimenez really pounded one today?

Bottom line

Not a lot to take from this one except it makes me long for the regular season. I can’t wait for Opening Night in St. Louis.

On Deck

The Cubs will stick around Sloan Park tomorrow for a matchup at 1:05 PM MST against the Los Angeles Dodgers in a rematch of the 2016 NLCS. Kyle Hendricks will get his first start of the Spring but get there early if you want to see him since he’ll likely only pitch one inning.

Joe Maddon‘s Respect Bald event is tomorrow at 11 AM MST at the field just to the west of Sloan Park. Get out there  early because it’s always fun to support a great cause. Joe and a few of the players will be there shaving their heads to raise money to benefit pediatric cancer research and programs.

Photo gallery