Cubs 12, Brewers 0: Cade Horton is ready for the season

Cubs right-hander Cade Horton, who shapes up to be the No. 2 starter after Matthew Boyd begins the season, had an excellent six-inning outing against the Brewers Sunday at Sloan Park.

Okay, so it was against a team of Brewers minor leaguers, as all the MLB Brewers had departed for Milwaukee Sunday, as they have exhibition games there against the Reds Monday and Tuesday.

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Still, Horton was again dominant and the Cubs smashed the Double-A and Triple-A Brewers 12-0.

Horton threw 68 pitches (48 strikes). Here’s more on Horton’s outing [VIDEO].

As for the Cubs offense, most of the regulars played the first few innings of the game and hit those minor-league Brewers well.

Here’s an RBI double by Moisés Ballesteros in the second [VIDEO].

Ballesteros later doubled again. He’s a hitting machine, perfect for the DH role he’ll embody this year.

In the third, Alex Bregman homered [VIDEO].

Ian Happ followed that with a solo homer of his own [VIDEO].

Nico Hoerner had a pair of hits, including a two-run double. Dansby Swanson also drove in a pair.

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So, yes, against minor leaguers. Still, it has to be good for these hitters to get into a rhythm before Opening Day on Thursday. After today the Cubs don’t face the Brewers until May 18.

Ben Brown threw two scoreless innings of relief, and was touching 97-98 consistently. I think this will be an excellent role for him this year, and it appears he’s going to make the Opening Day roster and serve in that precise role.

Attendance watch: 14,375 paid on another hot (96 degrees) day at Sloan Park. That pushes the season total over 200,000, at 202,927 for 16 dates. That’s an average of 12,683 per date. (This does not include the Spring Breakout game.)

One more note, ICYMI: