CI Recap: Cubs 2, Indians 4: Two Outfielders Leave Early, Happ Leaves Yard

Hey, at least it wasn’t a tie, right?

John Lackey went six innings Friday afternoon, striking out five and allowing a single run on five hits and a walk. The tally came via the longball, as Giovanni Urshela led off the 6th with a home run to left-center.

Urshela had singled in his previous at-bat, a soft fly to center in the 3rd that Albert Almora barely missed after a diving attempt. Almora would remain in the game for his next at-bat, but came up rubbing his neck after grounding out to Urshela at short.

Albert Almora exited after this diving attempt. pic.twitter.com/yufmWSpN4z

— Cubs Insider (@realcubsinsider) March 24, 2017

Note to self: don’t ever pitch or hit to Giovanni Urshela.

Munenori Kawasaki gave the fans at Sloan Park something to cheer about when he smoked a ball to right back in the 2nd. Both the ball and right fielder Lonnie Chisenhall banged off the wall and Kawasaki ended up on third. Chisenhall was checked out by the training staff and left the game rubbing his right shoulder.

Geez, not a great game to be an outfielder.

The Indians added three more runs, one on a Chris Colabello home run, while the Cubs failed to string together hits of any consequence. Until, that is, Jeffrey Baez laced a two-out double to set up Ian Happ’s fourth homer of the spring.

Though his 1-for-3 day actually dropped him from the .415 he was hitting coming into the game, I think the Beach Boys would say Happ’s average is real fine.

Stats that matter

• Jason Heyward rapped a single to right to raise his average to .140
• Tommy La Stella reached twice on a single and a walk
• Dylan Floro allowed an earned run in his inning of work, which actually lowered his ERA to 9.64

Bottom line

Lackey was able to face 22 batters over 6 innings as he readies for regular-season action. Heyward got another hit, which is always nice to see. Fingers crossed that Almora’s deal is just a precautionary move.

On deck

The Cubs send one split squad to Las Vegas to take on the Reds behind fifth starter Kyle Hendricks. Look for Kris Bryant to launch five or six homecoming homers, fresh off a night in his own bed. The rest of the team heads to Talking Stick to play the Rockies. First pitch of the Vegas game is 3:05pm CT and will be broadcast on both CSN Chicago and 670 The Score.