March 15--LAS VEGAS -- Kyle Hendricks earned a bachelor's degree in economics from Dartmouth College, so it was difficult to question his logic.
"I'd rather hit two home runs any day than pitch five perfect (innings)," Hendricks said Saturday after getting upstaged by teammate Kris Bryant in a 3-1 win over the Athletics at Cashman Field in front of 10,375 fans that including many of Bryant's family members and friends.
Hendricks pitched the first five of seven perfect innings by the Cubs' pitching staff. But Bryant seized the attention from the start. After being scratched from the starting lineup at third base about 30 minutes before the game because of right shoulder fatigue, Bryant made up for lost time.
Taking over the designated hitter duties for Anthony Rizzo, Bryant drove the first pitch he saw from Jesse Hahn over the right field fence in the bottom of the third inning.
In his next at-bat against Evan Scribner, Bryant hit a high drive that carried over the wall in left center that he downplayed.
"Just a Vegas home run," said Bryant, referring to the fact that the ball carries well at Cashman Field. "I don't know if that would have been a home run anywhere else.
"I'm blessed with that power. That's my approach. I try to hit the ball in the air and good things usually come when I do that. And I happened to get two of them."
Once Bryant was scratched as a third baseman, the plan was for him to enter the game after Anthony Rizzo had one at-bat as the DH.
"That was fun," Bryant said. "I just need to get a hit for the hometown. It turned out to be a really good game. I faced that guy (Hahn) before and knew a little bit what he had. I was looking for a two-seam (fastball) that came back over the plate, and it came back right where I wanted it to be the first pitch. It's good to get the crowd into it and hit one for my family and friends. It was a cool day for me.''
Bryant was deprived of a shot at a third home run when he was walked in the eighth, prompting many fans to boo A's reliever R.J. Alvarez.
Bryant was more adamant about his right shoulder not being a major concern. He said his shoulder started to bother him on Thursday. Bryant committed a throwing error against the Angels, but he refused to use the soreness as an excuse.
"It really wasn't that bad," Bryant said. "I came to the park prepared to play third base. We thought it was precautionary to take this day. I'll be out there (Sunday) ready to go.''
There are three weeks left in spring training, so it will be interesting to see how Bryant can keep up an amazing start in which he's batting .450 with six home runs, nine RBIs and 28 total bases in an effort to make the opening day roster.
Hendricks, meanwhile, was scheduled to pitch only three innings. But he pitched so efficiently that he was allowed to throw five innings, in which he threw 40 of 54 pitches for strikes.
Hendricks also said that teammate Eric Jokisch correctly predicted that Bryant would hit two home runs.
"Before the (third) inning, I said at least we'll get one (run) because Kris is coming up," Jokisch said.
There also was an amusing lapse after Bryant's second home run off Scribner. After Christian Villanueva struck out for the second out, the A's players ran off the field with the umpires seemingly in agreement that the half inning was over.
The Cubs' players even took their defensive positions before home plate umpire Scott Barry talked to Cubs interim manager Davey Martinez and another umpire for several minutes before ordering the A's back to the field.
Junior Lake flied to right for the final out.
"I heard the catcher (Luke Carlin) sold it and rolled the ball back," Hendricks said. "(Lake) said, 'I want to hit.' "
