The Oakland A’s didn’t have many positive takeaways from a ho-hum loss in the Cactus League on Friday, but there was one particular bright spot on the mound.
Left-hander Cole Irvin, in the running for a potential fifth starter spot this spring, tossed four scoreless innings of relief to end a quiet 6-1 defeat to the Chicago Cubs on a high note.
The Cubs did some early damage against the A’s first two pitchers of the day. Frankie Montas served up a homer and two doubles while appearing to work on his splitter, and J.