In the scorching Arizona heat, Edward Cabrera is finding his groove just in time for his role in the Cubs' rotation. On a day when temperatures soared above 90 degrees, Cabrera delivered an impressive outing against the Mariners, showcasing why he's a key piece for the Cubs.
Cabrera threw 60 pitches, 43 of them strikes, over nearly four innings. He struck out three batters and left the game with the lead, paving the way for the Cubs' 7-4 victory.
One of Cabrera’s standout moments came in the first inning against former Cubs prospect Brennen Davis. With a full count and a runner on, Cabrera threw what was initially called ball four.
However, catcher Carson Kelly challenged the call, and it was overturned to a strikeout. This challenge, while more common in practice games, was a smart move by Kelly, highlighting the strategic use of the ABS system.
The Mariners managed to score off Cabrera in the third inning, but the Cubs quickly responded. BJ Murray's leadoff double, followed by Michael Busch's single, set the stage for Ian Happ to drive in two runs with a double, putting the Cubs ahead.
Cabrera exited in the fourth, having shown a solid mix of pitches [VIDEO].
The Cubs added to their lead in the fifth. Jefferson Rojas singled and advanced on another Busch hit, allowing Nico Hoerner to bring Rojas home with a sacrifice fly, despite Busch being tagged out trying to advance.
The seventh inning saw the Cubs break the game open, thanks to contributions from minor leaguers and non-roster invitees. Chas McCormick, who is vying for a spot on the Opening Day roster, delivered a crucial home run.
Among the relievers likely to make the roster, Phil Maton pitched a scoreless inning, despite issuing two walks. Other relievers in the game included Corbin Martin, Jack Neely, Tyler Beede, and Vince Reilly, who are less likely to be on the Opening Day roster.
The game drew a crowd of 14,717, bringing the season attendance to 147,731 over 12 games, averaging 12,311 fans per game.
Next up, the Cubs travel to Glendale to face the White Sox. Ben Brown will take the mound for the Cubs, while Davis Martin starts for the Sox.
The game kicks off at 3:05 p.m. CT, with TV coverage on the White Sox channel CHSN and radio on WMVP/ESPN 1000.