I was as surprised as most of the rest of you when I discovered the White Sox were doing a video webcast of today’s game, with Chuck Garfien and Rich King. Those are familiar Chicago voices, and even though they were doing a White Sox-centric broadcast, it was good to see the Cubs and White Sox Monday afternoon as they played to a 4-4 tie.
The Sox took a 2-0 lead off Alec Mills in the first inning. After a one-out single, Mills walked the bases loaded and former Cubs prospect Eloy Jimenez singled in a pair of runs. Mills wound up throwing three innings, allowing six hits and three runs. It wasn’t the best we’ve seen from Millsy, who also issued three walks.
The Cubs broke through on the board in the fourth. Joc Pederson walked and Cameron Maybin singled with one out, and Jake Marisnick singled Pederson in [VIDEO].
After that run, there was a weird play (pictured at the top of this recap) that the umpires called incorrectly. Maybin had held at second on Marisnick’s hit. While David Bote was batting Maybin took off for third.
The Sox caught Maybin between second and third, and Maybin headed back to second base. But while this was going on, Marisnick took off for second. The Sox fielders correctly tagged both runners and the umpires signaled out/safe... but then Maybin took off for third.
The base belonged to Maybin. Marisnick should have been the player out, and then when Maybin took off and was tagged out, he was also out. The Sox announcers correctly said it should have been a double play.
That would have ended the inning. Instead, Marisnick was on second base and David Bote doubled him in [VIDEO].
That made it 3-2. The Cubs tied the game in the seventh. Bote led off with a double and one out later, Alfonso Rivas singled him in [VIDEO].
Unfortunately, as you can see, Rivas did something to his right hamstring taking second on the throw in. He had to leave the game. It doesn’t look too serious and I hope it doesn’t set him back too much. He’s valuable depth at Iowa this year.
That run was off Garrett Crochet, the Sox’ No. 1 pick last year.
The Sox took a 4-3 lead in the bottom of the seventh off Ryan Tepera, who was making his first appearance of the spring. Brad Wieck had previously also made his spring debut Monday afternoon, throwing a scoreless sixth with one strikeout, and another spring debut was made by lefthander Justin Steele, who threw a scoreless eighth.
In the ninth, Patrick Wisdom tied the game with a solo home run to left field off Sox closer Liam Hendriks:
Patrick Wisdom with a game-tying pic.twitter.com/AtuT7l0ds5
— Marquee Sports Network (@WatchMarquee) March 15, 2021
In the bottom of the ninth, Jake Jewell allowed a double and one-out walk, but ended things in the Cubs’ second straight tie game on a double-play ball.
One good sign during this game was the outing Shelby Miller had. He threw two shutout innings and struck out the side in the fifth. Small sample size, spring training, etc. but Miller has thrown seven innings in four appearances, allowed two runs (one earned) and struck out eight. He could very well be in the mix for a swingman role for the bullpen, but as is the case for a couple other non-roster guys (Eric Sogard, Cameron Maybin), the Cubs would have to clear a 40-man spot for him.
The Cubs have Tuesday off, their only off day of the spring. They’ll resume Cactus League play Wednesday evening when the Padres visit Sloan Park for the first home night game this spring. Game time is 8:05 p.m. CT. Kyle Hendricks will start for the Cubs and Chris Paddack will go for the Padres. TV coverage will be via Marquee Sports Network and the game will also be on 670 The Score.