The Cubs continued their five-game Spring Training homestand after their season-opening trip to Japan and once again the bats were silent as they lost to the Sacramento Athletics 8-1 before 13,024 at Sloan Park.
New Cub Matthew Boyd started and gave the Cubs a yeoman-like outing, giving up three runs on six hits over 5.2 innings. Two of those hits were solo home runs—one by DH Brent Rooker in the first inning and another by second baseman Max Schuemann to lead off the fifth. The other run came when center fielder JJ Bleday hit a sacrifice fly to score shortstop Jacob Wilson in the third.