Chicago Cubs Score and Recap (3/1/21): Cubs 1, Padres 0 F/7 – Baseball is Back, Cubs Undefeated
The Cubs kicked off the 2021 Cactus League season against the Padres in Peoria Monday. Much like late in 2020, a quality Cubs pitching effort was imperiled by a lack of hitting.
Chicago manufactured a the only of the game on a P.J. Higgins RBI grounder in the 5th to take a 1-0 lead. Kyle Hendricks and five other pitchers combined to make that tally hold up for the win. (Box score)
Why the Cubs Won
Three Padres double plays short-circuited potential rallies and helped preserve the narrow Cubs lead.
Key Moment
Ian Miller bunted David Bote to third with one out in the 5th. Bote would score the game’s only run later in the frame on Higgins’ groundout.
Stats That Matter
- Hendricks had a solid 2 innings of work: 0 R, 1 H, 2 K, and 1 BB.
- Javier Báez had the Cubs’ first hit of the spring.
- In keeping with a theme started by Ian, both Tyson Miller and Shelby Miller pitched around runners to keep runs off the board.
Bottom Line
Baseball is back! Also, games will be 7 innings this spring unless they’re on ESPN, so that should be efficient.
On Deck
The Cubs welcome the Royals to Sloan Park Tuesday at 2:10pm CT in a game airing on Marquee Sports Network.
