Rizzo hits first two spring homers in Vegas
First baseman drives in three runs; Wada knocked around by Mets
LAS VEGAS -- The Cubs' Anthony Rizzo hit two home runs, but Wilmer Flores hit a tie-breaking two-run shot in the eighth to lift the Mets to a 9-4 victory Saturday in split-squad games for both teams.
David Wright smacked a two-run double and Andrew Brown drove in three runs for the Mets. New York starter Bartolo Colon, in his second spring start, allowed seven hits over 4 2/3 innings, walking one and serving up both of Rizzo's home runs.
With the game tied at 4 in the eighth, Cubs reliever Zac Rosscup walked Brown, who advanced on a throwing error by the lefty. One out later, Flores drove the first pitch he saw over the left-field wall. After Paolo Espino replaced Rosscup in the eighth, the Mets tacked on another run when Eric Young doubled and plated Kevin Plawecki, who had walked.
This was Tsuyoshi Wada's first start and third appearance this spring for the Cubs, and the plan was for the lefty to go three innings. He had a tough time getting through the first, as the first three Mets collected hits, including a two-run double by Wright off the right-field wall. One out later, Brown hit an RBI double, and the Mets went ahead, 3-0.
Rizzo came into the game batting .381 this spring, and he led off the Chicago second with his first spring homer, clearing the 20-foot wall in right.
The Mets loaded the bases in the third as Wada walked two batters and then hit Curtis Granderson. Brown followed with an RBI single to chase Wada with a final line of four runs on five hits and two walks in two-plus innings.
Nate Schierholtz singled to lead off the Chicago fourth and Rizzo followed with his second blast, also a towering shot to right.
With two outs in the Cubs' fifth, Donnie Murphy doubled and Schierholtz walked. Colon was pulled for Ryan Reid, who then walked Rizzo to load the bases and walked Ryan Sweeney to force in the tying run. But Reid escaped further damage when he struck out Javier Baez.
In the ninth, the Mets added two more on Kirk Nieuwenhuis' bloop double and Brown's sacrifice fly -- his third RBI -- both off Cubs reliever Justin Grimm.
Up next: The Cubs will play split-squad games Sunday, with Chris Rusin getting the start in Las Vegas against the Mets, and Travis Wood facing the Indians at Cubs Park in Mesa, Ariz.. Wood is set for the rotation, and will be slotted second, while Rusin is battling for a spot. In Rusin's last outing, he held the Giants hitless over three innings. The Cubs-Indians game will be broadcast on MLB.TV and on an exclusive, free cubs.com audio webcast.