The box score is going to say that Seiya Suzuki hit into a triple play, but the first-inning embarrassment has one main culprit and it was Matt Shaw. The second-year player was the last out recorded after Suzuki blooped a single over the head of San Francisco Giants second baseman Luis Arraez during Sunday’s spring training matchup and suddenly something short-circuited in Shaw’s brain.
After beginning the game with a leadoff walk and stealing second base, Shaw wasn’t able to read Suzuki’s hit correctly and instead of scoring on the base hit he was caught at third base with Alex Bregman on his heels as he raced around second base.
Not only did Shaw not score, but he then abandoned third base after the Giants tagged out Suzuki at second, and Bregman at third. Shaw was initially tagged alongside Bregman as both players were on the third-base bag, but Shaw wasn’t actually called out until he started toward the Cubs dugout. That’s when the Giants noticed Shaw wasn’t on the base and the play was still live.
Shaw was tagged out, completing the triple play.
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A brutal look for Shaw, but you also have to question Cubs third base coach Quintin Berry, who didn’t give Shaw any backup, telling him to stay on the bag. Instead, there was confusion, Shaw began to walk away with Berry and the Giants made sure to make the Cubs pay for their mistake. Still, Shaw’s 100% responsible here. He’s supposed to be a high IQ player and that entire play was far from it.
A poor showing for the Cubs and overall not their best effort running the bases on Sunday. Later in the sixth inning two runners were thrown out at home. First, Brett Bateman was waved home by Berry after a Miguel Amaya fly ball was misjudged in center field. Two relay throws cut down Bateman at home for the first out of the inning.
Then, Kane Kepley, who came in to pinch run for Amaya and stole third base, was thrown out by Jung Hoo Lee to end the sixth on a double play.
Hey, it’s spring training, so hopefully this will all be a learning experience for everyone involved.
