Spring Training Miscellany: Cubs Beat Sox 6-5, Lester Debuts, Happ Homers Again

Feb 27, 2018

The Cubs put up a four spot early as the semi-regulars and regulars were smacking the ball around against Carson Fulmer, and they ultimately beat the White Sox today 6-5 at Sloan.

Opening Day starter Jon Lester got in his 30-ish pitches of work, walking the first guy he faced on four, but then striking out the next, and then getting two groundouts to end the first inning. He didn’t quite get through the next inning, allowing a walk and a hit, and striking out a couple more. On the stadium gun, he was apparently sitting only in the high-80s, but, at his age, and in the first outing of the Spring, that actually might be right where you want to see him. No sense in maxing out.

Ian Happ did it again, leading another game off with a home run. And then in his second at bat, leading off the second inning, he doubled. I think the Cubs are gonna just need to go ahead and play every game from here on out in Arizona with Happ leading off.

We got to see some Oscar De La Cruz there at the end of the game, and although he battled his command a bit, he’s usually good on that front, and the stuff looked good. He’s got so much life on his fastball, and it’s easy to see why the Cubs have dreamed on him for so long.

Dario Alvarez has a heck of a slider … when he can locate it.

Willson Contreras ripped two liners for outs in his first two at bats, but sent out a deep double in his final at bat of the day:

Willson Contreras ends his day with an RBI-double #Cubs pic.twitter.com/B99qdp6a13

— North Side Update (@NsUpdate) February 27, 2018

Adventures in the outfield:

pic.twitter.com/2H2ud13sCy

— Kevin Marchina (@kg_holler) February 27, 2018

Other notes and visuals from the day:

#Cubs Bryant still day to day. Zobrist might see game action in a week

— Carrie Muskat (@CarrieMuskat) February 27, 2018

Too bad. Sounds like Ohtani will pitch in a B game Friday against Milwaukee, not the reg game vs Cubs. Not 100 percent certain but looks that way.
— Jesse Rogers (@ESPNChiCubs) February 27, 2018

Former #Cubs OF Matt Szczur painted this for Tom Ricketts. Players all signed it as well pic.twitter.com/FLrAuxebTg

— Carrie Muskat (@CarrieMuskat) February 27, 2018

Just enjoying some afternoon @Cubs baseball. #EverybodyIn pic.twitter.com/eLCxYVbAhX

— South Bend Cubs (@SBCubs) February 27, 2018

written by

Brett Taylor

Brett Taylor is the Lead Cubs Writer at Bleacher Nation, and you can find him on Twitter at @BleacherNation and on LinkedIn here. Brett is also the founder of Bleacher Nation, which opened up shop in 2008 as an independent blog about the Chicago Cubs. Later growing to incorporate coverage of other Chicago sports, Bleacher Nation is now one of the largest regional sports blogs on the web.

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Spring Training Miscellany: Cubs Beat Sox 6-5, Lester Debuts, Happ Homers Again

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