Despite what looked like a very scary scene at Sloan Park Monday night, Red Sox pitcher Rick Porcello got up like nothing happened after taking a Willson Contreras line drive off his head. The ball ended up landing all the way in center field, but Porcello was all smiles when he got checked out by the team trainer.
The righty pitched four innings against the Cubs during the spring training game and even threw more pitches afterward in the bullpen, as he got his final tune up before the regular season. So, a big sigh of relief for Porcello and the Red Sox, but damn was that extremely close to being a truly horrific sight. As for the rest of the game, Cole Hamels followed up hitting a hole-in-one on Sunday with a bomb to center field.
Hamels pitched five innings and allowed just one run. The Cubs won 3-2, getting the go-ahead run on a huge blast from David Bote.
Look familiar?
Meanwhile, Pedro Strop returned to game action after dealing with a hamstring strain and looked ready to go for the real deal. He struck out two batters in his one inning of work.
Left-handed relievers Randy Rosario and Kyle Ryan also pitched Monday night and were both really good.
Both lefties, along with Allen Webster, are still battling for the last spot in the bullpen after the Cubs DFA'd Brian Duensing. Speaking of roster battles, it looks like Mark Zagunis will be the final man on the Cubs bench after the team optioned Ian Happ to Triple-A. Looking ahead to the first series of the regular season against the Rangers, Joe Maddon didn't confirm the 25-man roster, or the rotation order, but it's safe to say that Jon Lester, Yu Darvish and Hamels will start the first three regular season games in Texas.
Maddon is also going over different lineups with the DH against the Rangers.
The Cubs have one last spring training game against the Red Sox on Tuesday in Mesa and then it's off to Texas. Opening Day is on Thursday!
