Spring Training Miscellany: Fly the T Again, Hendricks Early Homer, Caratini’s Crushing, More

March 21, 2019, by Brett Taylor Chicago Cubs

The Cubs tied again today, which is always permissible in Spring Training. Kyle Hendricks allowed a two-run homer to scorching hot Brandon Belt in the first, but assuredly he will stop doing the first inning home run thing this year, right? Ultimately, he allowed one other earned run in his 5.2 innings of work.

On the bullpen front, Allen Webster and Brad Brach pitched the final two innings in perfect fashion, with a strikeout apiece. Brandon Kintzler allowed a couple hits when he came into a dirty inning, but struck out two. Brian Duensing cleaned up for Kyle Hendricks in the 6th, but gave up a hit and a walk in the 7th and was pulled.
If you’ve been wondering where Steve Cishek is:

Steve Cishek has been battling illness last few days. Doing better and expectation is that he will be fine to resume pitching on Friday.

— Jordan Bastian (@MLBastian) March 21, 2019

Meh. He’s fine. Save the bullets.
Albert Almora, Jr. said hello to old friend Jeff Samardzija by leading the game off with a homer, the second time he’s done that this Spring.
Victor Caratini also greeted Samardzija with a big boom:

Victor Caratini takes Samardzija deep for his second homer of the Spring! #Cubs pic.twitter.com/KEP7bC8FaR

— Cubs Insider (@realcubsinsider) March 21, 2019

Caratini had another hit in the game, and has his spring OPS up over 1.000.
It was fun that Cubs outfield prospect Kevonte Mitchell – a paragon of raw power that he’s working on actualizing in games – got a late homer in this one to get the Cubs the tie.
NICOOOOOOOOOO:

#Cubs brought Nico Hoerner up to the Big League game again today against the #Giants.

“He’s been spending a lot of time up there,” a staffer told me. “If you didn’t know him, you’d never be able to tell he doesn’t even have a full year under his belt.” @TheAthleticCHI

— Emily Waldon (@EmilyCWaldon) March 21, 2019