PCA continues strong spring with 2-HR, 5-RBI game

MESA, Ariz. -- Chasing down fly balls in the outfield is at the top of Pete Crow-Armstrong's list of responsibilities for the Cubs. From there, he knows he can impact a game with his elite speed, creating an element of chaos when he finds himself on base.

Every so often, Crow-Armstrong will also remind people that he has some sneaky power, too.

¡°I definitely want to take pride in eventually becoming that well-rounded player,¡± Crow-Armstrong said. ¡°And I think that I¡¯m setting myself up well to do that. That¡¯s the goal at the end of the day, is to go play Gold Glove defense first and foremost, and then be able to produce wherever I¡¯m at in the lineup.¡±

In a wild 9-8 win over the Mariners on Saturday, Crow-Armstrong put on a show for the Spring Training-record crowd of 16,161 in attendance at Sloan Park. The center fielder took the day off from sprinting around the bases in favor of trotting, belting a pair of home runs in a five-RBI outburst for the Cubs.

Crow-Armstrong launched a grand slam in the third inning off Mariners righty Eduard Bazardo, following a solo blast against Logan Gilbert in the second. Crow-Armstrong currently leads the Cubs in hits (12) and runs (eight) in Cactus League play this spring, while sitting tied with Gage Workman for the team high for homers (three).

¡°I will never be the guy that¡¯s going to hit 40 [home runs],¡± Crow-Armstrong said. ¡°So, I think making the most of whatever I do in terms of putting the ball in play, is really the way to think about it for myself.¡±

Take for example what Crow-Armstrong did on Tuesday against the Padres. One day after being a late scratch due to mild tightness in his right hamstring, he pulled off a Little League-style homer on a single to left. On Thursday against the Royals, Crow-Armstrong scored from second base on a passed ball.

Through eight games this spring, the 22-year-old Crow-Armstrong has turned in a robust .522/.500/1.087 slash line that also includes two stolen bases, four doubles and 10 RBIs for the North Siders. That is the kind of all-around impact he is aspiring for as a catalyst in the lower half of Chicago¡¯s lineup.

¡°I want to put the ball in the gap and I want to run,¡± he said. ¡°Ultimate production offensively -- however that comes about -- is the goal.¡±

Next stop for Boyd: Tokyo Dome
Cubs lefty Matthew Boyd worked into the fourth inning on Saturday against the Mariners in his final outing before Chicago departs for Japan.

As things currently stand, Boyd¡¯s next outing will likely fall within the Cubs¡¯ exhibition game against the Yomiuri Giants on March 16 at the Tokyo Dome. The Cubs have an exhibition against the Hanshin Tigers one day earlier. Boyd is not expected to pitch in the Tokyo Series (March 18-19) against the Dodgers to open the regular season.

¡°It¡¯s very exciting,¡± said Boyd, who was charged with four runs on four hits with three strikeouts and two walks in 3 2/3 innings against the Mariners. ¡°Getting to open against the Dodgers there is going to be cool. But getting to play the Hanshin Tigers and the Giants -- getting to play one of those games, too -- those are going to be really fun experiences to take in the Tokyo Dome. Those are historic teams.¡±

Steele on target for Tokyo
Cubs lefty Justin Steele was back in the clubhouse on Saturday morning after being away from the team for a couple days due to illness. He was scratched from his planned start on Thursday, but the minor setback is not expected to disrupt the plans for having Steele pitch in the Tokyo Series.

Steele is scheduled to throw off the mound in a bullpen session on Sunday and is listed as the Cubs¡¯ probable starter for Tuesday against the Brewers. That would keep the lefty lined up to start Game 2 of the Tokyo Series against the Dodgers.

Quotable
¡°Matty Shaw¡¯s a pro. I definitely thanked him for that. It was a great at-bat. He kind of did that all day, too. Spring Training or not, that¡¯s kind of what I know about Matt Shaw. ¡­ That¡¯s the kind of stuff that you get excited about. I don¡¯t have that opportunity, necessarily, if he doesn¡¯t have that at-bat. I will feel very confident hitting behind Matt Shaw all year if it¡¯s his time to be a part of our lineup.¡± -- Crow-Armstrong, on Matt Shaw¡¯s walk setting up the grand slam