Schwarber leads U.S. to Futures Game rout

He may be a Cubs prospect, but Kyle Schwarber gave this year's Futures Game a definitive Cincinnati feel.

The Middletown, Ohio, native was named MVP after tripling, driving in two runs and catching five innings in the U.S. team's 10-1 rout of the World team at the All-Star Futures Game at Great American Ball Park.

Josh Bell (Pirates) and Trea Turner (Nationals) also contributed two RBIs apiece in the sixth straight win for the American side. Reds left-hander Amir Garrett earned the win while pitching for the first time in his parent club's home park.

After Phillies top prospect J.P. Crawford tied the game, 1-1, with an RBI single in the bottom of the third inning, Schwarber put the U.S. ahead for good by lacing a two-run triple down the right field line off Marlins left-hander Jarlin Garcia.

The big hit -- Schwarber's only one of the afternoon -- is nothing new for the Cubs catcher, who has raked at every level he's seen this season. The fourth overall pick in last year's Draft has a .323/.430/.591 line with 16 homers, two triples, 17 doubles and 49 RBIs in 75 games between Triple-A Iowa and Double-A Tennessee. He also made a six-game cameo with the big club last month and handled his own, going 8-for-22 with a homer, triple and six RBIs.

"It was a great experience, being able to play in front of all my friends and family and all these great fans and to play with a great group of guys," Schwarber told MLB.com. "It was easy to get along with these guys. There were no personalities [getting in the way]. We were all here for the same purpose -- to have fun."

 

Besides the hometown kid making good, the U.S. had plenty of offensive firepower Sunday.

Bell provided the only homer of the afternoon, going deep for a two-run shot to right-center in the fourth while batting left-handed off Mariners right-handed Edwin Diaz. The switch-hitting No. 3 Pirates prospect has been solid at Double-A Altoona, hitting .312/.380/.431, but his pop hasn't quite shown up yet with four homers in 80 games. At 6-foot-2 and 235 pounds, the first baseman should grow into his power and showed a flash of that Sunday.

"I feel like I've hit for power in the past. I'm hitting for average right now," Bell said. "I feel like there are guys in the big leagues who I can aspire to be like who are hitting for both power and average."

Like Schwarber, Turner provided a two-run triple to close out a five-run fifth. The Nationals shortstop went 2-for-2 after replacing Crawford and was one of two Americans with a two-hit game; Mets outfielder Michael Conforto was the other.

U.S. starter Lucas Giolito, MLB.com's No. 4 overall prospect, struck out one and allowed two hits over two innings. Garrett gave up the World's only run in the third but recorded the win, thanks to Schwarber's triple.

"It was awesome," Garrett told MLB.com of playing in Cincinnati. "I was kind of nervous at the beginning. Once I got on the mound and got the first one out of the way, I was like, 'This is the same thing I do every day, just a bigger crowd.' I was thinking to myself in the bullpen, 'Do not pass out, please.' It was great. It was a very good experience being here. The fans made it a lot better. I enjoyed my time here."

Tyler Beede (Giants), Mark Appel (Astros), Blake Snell (Rays) and Sean Newcomb (Angels) kept the World at bay with scoreless frames between the fourth and seventh.

Mariners shortstop and World leadoff hitter Ketel Marte was 2-for-2 with an RBI. Nomar Mazara (Rangers) and Raimel Tapia (Rockies) also had two hits apiece at the bottom of the order.

Twins No. 4 prospect Jose Berrios tossed a scoreless first inning and picked Tony Kemp off first base as the World Team starter.