Cubs Fall to Team Italy 9-4 in Exhibition Showdown

The Chicago Cubs faced off against Team Italy in an exhibition game at Sloan Park, donning their iconic white pinstripe home jerseys. However, the day was not just about aesthetics, as several Cubs minor leaguers, clad in blue alternates representing Italy, made their mark against the Cubs’ pitching staff. Owen Ayers, a promising catching prospect fresh off a strong performance in the Arizona Fall League, showcased his skills with a two-run homer and a single, while Parker Chavers made his presence felt by getting hit by a pitch with the bases loaded. This offensive output contributed significantly to Team Italy’s 9-4 victory over the Cubs in front of a modest crowd of 8,068 fans.

Despite the final score, the Cubs’ major leaguers held their own early in the game. Cade Horton delivered a solid performance on the mound, tossing three innings where he allowed just one hit while striking out three batters. Dansby Swanson ignited the offense in the second inning with a solo home run that gave the Cubs a brief 1-0 lead, connecting with a pitch that was right in the middle of the zone and sending it deep into the stands.

The Cubs extended their lead in the fourth inning, scoring three more runs. Matt Shaw opened the frame with a double, followed by a walk from Pedro Ramirez. Both runners advanced on a flyout from Jefferson Rojas and subsequently crossed the plate on an infield single by Nico Hoerner, which was compounded by an error from Italy shortstop Thomas Saggese, a familiar name to Cubs fans as a former member of the Cardinals.

As the game progressed, Cubs pitchers Jacob Webb and Ethan Roberts kept Team Italy at bay with scoreless innings in the fourth and fifth, leaving the Cubs ahead 4-0 heading into the sixth. However, a throwing error by Ben Cowles, who had just returned from a brief stint with Toronto, opened the door for Team Italy. Jack Neely, who was on the mound, managed to retire the next two batters, but Ayers capitalized on the miscue, launching a homer that sparked a four-run inning for Italy, turning the tide of the game.

Italy continued to build on their momentum, with another home run from Saggese in the seventh off Cubs reliever Jeff Brigham, taking a commanding lead and ultimately sealing the game with a four-run inning against Cubs minor leaguers Ben Heller and Tyler Santana.

While the Cubs’ major leaguers performed as expected, the loss underscored the challenges faced by the minor-league players, some of whom were outperformed by their own teammates from Italy. The attendance of 8,068 marked one of the smallest crowds in Sloan Park’s history, bringing the total attendance for the spring to 79,377, averaging 11,340 fans per game.

Looking ahead, the Cubs will travel to the west side of Phoenix to take on the Milwaukee Brewers on Wednesday afternoon. Edward Cabrera is slated to start for the Cubs, while Brandon Sproat, one of the top prospects acquired by the Brewers in the Freddy Peralta trade, will take the mound for Milwaukee. The game is set to begin at 2:10 p.m. CT and will be broadcast on Marquee Sports Network and Brewers TV, with radio coverage available on WTMJ 620.

Note: This recap is an independently written summary based on publicly available reporting.