Chicago Cubs: Travis Wood goes yard in 5-1 loss vs D’backs

Cubs use all relief pitchers in a 5-1 loss to Arizona

Today Chicago Cubs pitcher Edwin Jackson found out that he will not be apart of the starting rotation.  However, Jackson did start the game today for the Cubs – who would take a different approach to the game today.

Joe Maddon decided to use all relievers today – putting eight different pitchers on the mound to face the Arizona Diamondbacks.  

The Diamondbacks jumped on the board first as Mark Trumbo would single in Chris Owings in the first inning giving the D-Backs a 1-0 lead in the first.

Trumbo was the recipient of an early Cubs error when Tommy La Stella bobbled a ground ball that would allow Trumbo to bat with two outs.

In the third inning the Cubs would get themselves on the board and tie the game up when Travis Wood came up to pinch hit for Phil Coke.  Wood makes good on his pinch-hitting opportunities again – sending a bullet line drive home run to center field to tie up the game.  It would be his second homer of the spring.

In the bottom of the third – not to be outdone by a pitcher – the Diamondbacks all-star first baseman Paul Goldschmidt would hit a long ball of his own to deep center off of Pedro Strop – giving the lead right back to Arizona, 2-1.

As for Arizona’s starting pitcher Jeremy Hellickson – he was very good for his home team.  Going five strong innings while giving up only the one earned run, with five hits, three strikeouts, and three walks.  

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Bottom of the fifth the Diamondbacks would put some more on the board as Trumbo again comes through as he hits a RBI single off of Michael Jensen – now making the score 3-1.

In the next inning, Cliff Pennington would also get an RBI single this time off Jason Motte – adding to the lead for a 4-1 advantage.

The Diamondbacks would add another run in the eighth with Aaron Hill‘s double to score Evan Marzilli off of Cubs reliever Brian Schlitter making the score 5-1.

That would be enough for Arizona as the Cubs could only muster up one hit off of Arizona’s relief pitchers.  Giving Hellickson the win.

Final score:  Arizona Diamondbacks 5 and the Chicago Cubs 1.

What Stood Out:

Other than Travis Wood‘s solo home run – the Cubs couldn’t get anything else going – managing to only get six hits in the game.

On a bright note – the Cubs only struck out five times in the game – Olt leading the team with two of those five.

Hector Rondon pitched a solid inning of relief work – striking out two and allowing one hit.

Not much was expected out of this game I’m sure – just to get some extra work in and come out of it injury free which they did.

Edwin Jackson getting the news about the starting job not going to him can now start to accept his new role on the team for now.

What is next: 

The Chicago Cubs will finish the spring with one final game against these same Diamondbacks.  Pitchers Kyle Hendricks and Travis Wood are said to both expect to see limited work in the game.

As for the rest of the team – the Cubs will fill out their roster with minor league players as the major league players will be on their way back home to Chicago to get ready for Opening Night against the St. Louis Cardinals.

Game time is set for 3:10 CT tomorrow.

Next: David Price to reunite with Joe Maddon in 2016?