SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — The Cubs came back from an early deficit to take five-run leads in the fifth and eighth innings before the Rockies scored the final six – including five in the ninth – for a walkoff, 11-10 victory at Salt River Fields on Tuesday in Scottsdale. The Cubs fell to 5-7 in Cactus League play.
Q factor: Delayed for a week because of a bout with the flu, left-handed starter Jose Quintana gave up some hard contact in his first spring start – albeit, one run scoring after a “double” off the glove of Kyle Schwarber in left – but otherwise deemed the two-inning start a success. He said he felt more in a bullpen mode in the three-run first, but then “started to pitch and make some pitches and hit my spots,” he added of a 1-2-3 second inning. “I felt great for the first time. I enjoyed being back on the mound.”
Center of attention: Switch-hitting Ian Happ was at it again, throwing down the gauntlet in the centerfield battle with Albert Almora Jr. by drawing a walk, hitting a homer and a single and making a nice catch in center to start the first. Almora, the better defensive player, is 8-for-15 (.533) with two walks and two homers this spring; Happ, 7-for-15 (.467) with two homers and a walk.
Second chance? Nico Hoerner, the rookie who skipped Class AAA and turned in an impressive emergency September for the Cubs at short last year, had three hits, including a double, as Tuesday’s shortstop. Hoerner is trying to win enough playing time as part of the second base mix to justify a big-league job and avoid starting the year in development mode as an everyday player at AAA Iowa. One advantage for him is he’s one of the few infielders in camp qualified to back up Javy Baez at short.
Injury update: Hard-throwing prospect Manuel Rodriguez, who left the mound with an arm injury Sunday, was diagnosed with a Grade 2 biceps strain that is expected to require rest and rehab. “Pretty good news all things considered,” Ross said.
On deck:Cubs at Reds, Goodyear, 2:05 p.m., Wednesday, MSN, Tyler Chatwood vs. Tejay Antone.
