Angels rally to defeat Cubs, 6-4, in final exhibition game

Highlights from the Angels’ 6-4 exhibition victory over the Chicago Cubs on Sunday:

AT THE PLATE: The Angels overcame a 4-2 deficit with four runs in the eighth inning, David Fletcher and Gregorio Petit highlighting the rally with two-run singles. Geovany Soto reached on Cubs shortstop Addison Russell’s two-base error to open the second, took third on Cliff Pennington’s bunt and scored on Todd Cunningham’s sacrifice fly.

C.J. Cron doubled to left to lead off the fourth, took third on Soto’s single and scored on Pennington’s single to right. Russell hit his sixth homer of the spring, a solo shot to center, in the third.

Chicago first baseman Anthony Rizzo hit a solo homer in the fourth that traveled almost halfway up the right-field bleachers. “I think that thing scraped the paint off of a 747,” Angels Manager Mike Scioscia said.

Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant hit a two-run homer to left-center off Angels reliever Lucas Luetge in the sixth.

ON THE MOUND: Angels starter Matt Shoemaker gave up the homers to Russell and Rizzo. But his five-inning, three-hit, four-strikeout, one-walk effort was an improvement over a rough spring in which the right-hander gave up 17 earned runs and 27 hits, including seven homers, in 20 innings of five Cactus League games for a 7.65 ERA.

“No doubt, coming out of Arizona, his secondary stuff was crisper,” Scioscia said. “Matt is where he needs to be.”

Cubs right-hander Kyle Hendricks gave up two runs — one earned — and five hits in five innings, striking out seven and walking none.

IN THE FIELD: Cron made a nice backhand diving stop of Miguel Montero’s fourth-inning grounder to the first-base hole and flipped to Shoemaker for the out. Right fielder Shane Robinson made a superb diving catch of Tim Federowicz’s flare toward the line in the eighth. Cubs right fielder Albert Almora made a diving catch of Fletcher’s sinking liner in the sixth.

EXTRA BASES: The Angels added a left-handed short-relief option by signing Neal Cotts, 36, to a minor league deal. Cotts, released by Houston in late March, has held left-handed hitters to a .239 average over 10 big league seasons. He had a 3.41 ERA and held left-handers to a .186 average in 61 1/3 innings for Milwaukee and Minnesota last season. He will open at triple-A Salt Lake, where he will be joined in the bullpen by 22-year-old left-hander Greg Mahle, who was among the team’s final cuts Saturday.

Jered Weaver, slowed by neck and shoulder problems, is scheduled to throw a simulated game Tuesday, which could put the veteran right-hander in line to make his 2016 debut Sunday against Texas.

The Angels finished with a 19-8-6 spring record.