Cubs trail 9-8 in 9th

Athletics 9, Cubs 8 (ninth inning)

The Cubs blew a 7-1 lead Sunday as the Athletics scored eight times in the sixth and seventh innings to rally to a 9-8 lead after eight innings before a sellout crowd of 10,606 at HoHoKam Park.

At the plate: Kris Bryant, working on hitting to the opposite field, hit a two-run home run to right center in the third inning. Kyle Schwarber collected two hits, including a drive that hit the 40-foot center field wall and caromed for a stand-up triple in the fifth.

On the mound: Left-hander Rob Zastryzny was out of sorts as he allowed three hits and three walks while failing to retire a batter in the seventh. Koji Uehara, making his third appearance, allowed two hits but pitched a scoreless fourth.

In the field: Schwarber battled a bright sun in left to catch a high fly by Matt Joyce to end the first, and then retreated to the gap in left center to catch a deep drive by Jed Lowrie in the third. Center fielder Jacob Hannemann made a diving catch to rob Matt Olson of a hit to end the eighth.

Key number: 7 – RBIs by Bryant this spring.

Up next: Cubs vs. Athletics, 3:10 pm., Monday at Peoria Sports Complex. HR John Lackey vs. TBA.

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