Rain washes out both Sox, Cubs
MESA, Ariz. — The spring training game between the San Francisco Giants and a split squad of Chicago Cubs was rained out Saturday.
A short but steady downpour fell about a half-hour before the scheduled start. Managers Rick Renteria of the Cubs and Bruce Bochy of the Giants repeatedly inspected the field and determined conditions were unplayable.
Matt Cain had been set to start for the Giants against Travis Wood. In general, spring training games that get rained out are not rescheduled.
Saturday's scheduled exhibition game between the Cleveland Indians and White Sox was also called off because of rain. The starting pitchers were to have been Trevor Bauer for Cleveland and John Danks for the White Sox.
BETTER LUCK NEXT TIME
Cubs pitcher James McDonald got hit hard in his first spring outing on Friday against the Los Angeles Angels, giving up six runs in one inning. He walked three and gave up two homers in the Angels' 15-3 win in Tempe.
“I actually spoke to James this morning,” Renteria said, adding he told him: “That's a blip. Don't worry about that.”
“He's going to have plenty of opportunities to go out there and put himself in position to show everybody what he's got,” Renteria said.
WHAT ROLE FOR LAKE?
One piece of the Cubs' puzzle will be how to use outfielder Junior Lake, who can play either center or left field. In 64 games last season, he hit .284 with six homers and 16 RBIs.
“Junior is a guy who can steal a base. He can bunt. He can hit for power. He's trying to incorporate hitting to all parts of the field. He's a multifaceted individual who can slot in any number of positions,” Renteria said. “As spring progresses, and we see how he's coming along and the adjustments he's making, that will help us determine how we'll slot him in the lineup.”
Lake's defensive prowess is working in his favor, Renteria indicated.
“Almost every ball that's hit, he chases it down,” he said.