HOUSTON (AP) — It looks as if Addison Russell is feeling much better.
Russell homered and drove in three runs in the Chicago Cubs' 8-6 exhibition loss to the Houston Astros on Thursday night. The All-Star shortstop had been sidelined by back soreness.
Russell singled in Ben Zobrist in the second and scored on Javier Baez's groundout. Kyle Schwarber added an RBI double, helping the Cubs to a 3-0 lead.
Russell connected for a two-run shot with one out in the third, making it 5-2. It was his sixth homer of the spring.
Josh Reddick hit a two-run homer for the Astros, and Jose Altuve belted a solo shot for his first homer of the spring. Right-hander Lance McCullers, who will start Houston's second game of the season Tuesday against Seattle, allowed five hits and five runs in four innings in his fifth and longest start this spring.
"First inning was pretty electric ... I think as the game got on he just lost command of almost everything and just couldn't find a consistent breaking ball," manager A.J. Hinch said. "I think his changeup, he was throwing it a little too hard and it kind of spiraled on him a little bit."
Although the numbers weren't what McCullers hoped for on Thursday night, he is happy to be entering the season healthy after starting last year on the disabled list.
"Whether or not I threw my best or not, being able to compete and throw a lot of pitches again and still being able to bounce back is a great sign for me," he said. "And I feel really good as far as my body and how I've been able to work midweek, so that's a positive moving into the season for sure."
