SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – The inning was bizarre even by spring training standards.
The Cubs’ 4-2 loss Sunday to the Giants began with a literal emergency alarm, running through parts of Matt Shaw and Alex Bregmans’ at-bats – It was definitely spring training, you know?” Bregman said – before spiraling into a triple play.
“I was confused about the fire drill, and then there’s three outs,” Cubs starting pitcher Colin Rea said. “And I’m like, ‘I don’t don’t know what just happened, but here we go.’”
With Cubs Shaw on second base and Bregman on first after both drawing walks, Seiya Suzuki blooped a single into shallow right field. Chaos ensued.
Giants second baseman Luis Arraez barehanded the ball on the bounce and tossed it home, prompting Suzuki to race for second. Giants first baseman Rafael Devers cut off the throw and fired.
One out.
Shaw had stopped in his tracks around third, while Bregman kept his head down and ran. They ended up on the same base.
“I thought I got a good read off the bat,” Bregman said, “and then I should have ran a little bit more with my head up.”
Giants shortstop Willy Adames ran over, tagged both runners, and handed the ball to third baseman Matt Chapman.
“I knew that, since I was the trail runner, I was out,” Bregman said. “But I’ve got to do a better job of just staying on the base, clarifying that.”
Two outs.
As Bregman headed to the dugout, correct in his assessment of the play, Shaw had a brief conversation with third-base coach Quintin Berry. Shaw stepped off the base, pulling off his sliding mitt and helmet as he talked. Chapman, still holding the ball, tagged him.
Three outs.
“I don’t know what happened,” Adames told Giants reporters. “That’s the beauty of baseball, I guess. Every day, you see something new.”
Said Bregman: “We’ll learn from it.”
Long set to see doctor
The Cubs hope that first baseman Jonathon Long’s left elbow sprain isn’t serious enough to force him to withdraw from the World Baseball Classic, manager Craig Counsell said.
Long, a non-roster invitee, sustained the sprain Saturday in a collision Saturday during the Cubs’ game against the Rangers.
The Cubs shut him down from baseball activities Sunday, and he’s set to see a doctor Monday.
“He’s sore today, and there’s some swelling there today,” Counsell said. “But if it’s just that, then, we’re probably at two, three days [off] here.”
Long was scheduled to leave Cubs camp this week to join Team Chinese Taipei for the WBC.
Gold for USA
The Cubs were gathered in their clubhouse Sunday morning, with the TVs turned to the men’s hockey Olympic gold medal game between the United States and Canada, when Jack Hughes’ “golden goal” delivered the victory to the stars and stripes.
“We were all fired up,” said Bregman, who will be representing the US in the WBC this year. “We were going crazy in the clubhouse when we scored.”
Can that be replicated in the upcoming baseball tournament?
“Let’s do it, let’s go win,” Bregman said. “USA, baby.”