Cody Bellinger finally hit his first spring home run — at least the first one that counted.
Bellinger’s homer last week against Team Canada is not applied to Cactus League totals because it was an exhibition matchup. His home run Thursday, though, prevented the Cubs from getting shut out in a 3-1 loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks. Left-hander Drew Smyly went 4⅓ innings, giving up two runs on three hits. He walked one and struck out four batters.
Jameson Taillon threw 72 pitches in a minor-league game against the San Francisco Giants on Thursday after his sim game was rained out Wednesday. He surrendered four runs and seven hits, walked one and struck out seven in five innings.
Sox manager Pedro Grifol saw some positives from the rain that canceled Wednesday’s game against the San Francisco Giants.
“I didn’t plan the weather but when I saw it (in the forecast) a few days ago it was something that we thought would be good for us,” Grifol said Thursday. “Get another day (off), get the guys rested another day before we crank it up because we were looking at 16 games and 15 days, so we needed another blow. So it was a good day.”
Lucas Giolito allowed three hits in four scoreless innings during a B game Thursday against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Giolito, who was scheduled to start Wednesday, had six strikeouts and no walks.
Chicago Tribune baseball writers LaMond Pope and Meghan Montemurro will be providing Cubs and White Sox updates throughout spring training.
Seiya Suzuki progressing with oblique strain
The right fielder is taking initial steps in resuming baseball activities.
Suzuki played light catch the last two days and took dry swings in the cage Thursday. Manager David Ross anticipates Suzuki will continue those activities through the week. By the weekend he could attempt a couple of swings off a tee if he continues to feel good.
“Really good spirits,” Ross said of Suzuki. “He’s in there every day working his program. He’s doing a ton, the workouts have been progressing. He’s been able to stay in shape in that way and he’ll start to ramp up, maybe some running, this week as well.”
Suzuki will begin the season on the injured list, but his progression to dry swings is encouraging and could put a return by late April in play.
Sox get a look at Oscar Colás in center field
Colás started in center Thursday for the first time this spring against the Cleveland Guardians in Goodyear, Ariz.
“He played it last year, a ton in the minor leagues,” Grifol said before the game. “And I know we have good people here and good evaluators in this organization. I’ve heard he can do it. And we have to be prepared to, if we make decisions that we based on whether we might need him to play center field on occasion, we all have to be comfortable with it.”
Colás is competing for a roster spot and the right-field job. He played 12 games in right this spring. Last year, …read more
Source:: The Mercury News – Entertainment
