Jose Quintana pitched well and Kris Bryant closed the spring on a hot note, but the Cubs offense could not do much against the Red Sox pitching staff. (Box score)
Why the Cubs Lost
The Cubs had trouble putting men on base today, and thus could not get anything going in a game that felt kind of like the last day of school.
Key Moment
The Cubs made a comeback bid in the top of the 8th, with Mark Zagunis and Chris Gimenez hitting RBI singles.
Stats that (Don’t) Matter
- Bryant went 2-for-2 with a triple
- Pedro Strop pitched a clean frame, only allowing a single and striking out none
- Jose Quintana did not register a K, but he didn’t walk anyone; in fact, the Cubs issued no walks at all
Bottom Line
The Cubs are healthy and ready to begin their National League Central title defense.