Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — It wasn’t the first pitcher who got shelled who was the bigger concern for the Giants.
After Johnny Cueto, who’s in line to be the Opening Day starter, was blistered by Cubs bats — allowing nine hits and five runs in just 1 1/3 innings Tuesday — Andrew Suarez entered and did not extinguish the fire.
Suarez, who has stood out this spring and is in contention to open as the No. 5 starter, was knocked around in a three-run third then surrendered a Willson Contreras home run in the fourth during a 16-3 loss (yep, 16-3) to the Cubs at Scottsdale Stadium in front of 8,428.
Suarez, who has ditched his two-seam fastball and introduced a four-seam in camp, went 2 2/3 innings while allowing four runs on five hits and two walks, striking out one. He was in trouble right from the start, allowing a Contreras double and then Jason Heyward walk before inducing a double-play from Victor Caratini. With two outs, Chicago went double-walk-double, Ian Happ’s two-bagger driving in two and being the big blow.
From there Suarez settled, Contreras’ homer the only other run against him, but putting a dent in a spring campaign to earn a roster spot — and perhaps even in the rotation.
It’s fairly wide-open following Tyler Beede’s injury, both Trevors — Cahill and Oaks — looking solid and Dereck Rodriguez and Logan Webb in the mix.
Gabe Kapler blamed the slow start on Suarez falling behind in the count, but was more encouraged as the 27-year-old went on.
“I really liked his last inning. His fastball carried through the zone better, executed a back-foot breaking ball to a righty,” the manager said of the lefty, who had so much trouble against righties last season.
The situation is less serious with Cueto, who was in good spirits following getting battered, saying he’s still just getting his arm in shape. After leaving the mound, he threw another 20 pitches full intensity and 10 lighter in the bullpen to keep his arm on track.
“As a pitcher, I worry about it. You don’t want to get hit like that,” Cueto said in Spanish through translator Erwin Higueros. “At the same time, you can’t worry too much about it because this is just practice. I’m trying to get myself ready. I’m trying to get my pitches across the plate.”
He had little success of that, rising his camp ERA to 12.79, a number that won’t make much difference when he faces the Dodgers on March 26, a game that Kapler conceded he’s in line for, but was not ready to announce.
More takeaways from the loss that dropped the Giants to 8-9-2 in the Cactus League:
— Kapler said Buster Posey had “his best at-bat of the spring,” laying off a few breaking balls and working a 3-2 count, then lining a ground-rule double.
— Sam Coonrod, fighting with a host of relievers for a bullpen spot, allowed a homer to Javy Baez. He also struck out three in his 1 1/3 innings, his stuff looking overpowering but teasing sometimes.
— Rule 5 pick Dany Jimenez went two innings of one-run ball, his spring ERA now 2.57. It would be a big surprise if he doesn’t make the Opening Day roster.
— Kapler praised righty Rico Garcia, who went two clean batters and struck out one. Kapler said the Giants see the former minor league starter as a relief candidate.
— Pablo Sandoval had a nice 2-for-3 day with two doubles, one he had to hustle for.
— Darin Ruf walked on four pitches in the seventh and flew out to right in the ninth.