Vogelbomb Sinks Snakes at Salt River Fields

Dan Vogelbach crushed a towering three-run home run over the right-centerfield fence in the top of the 6th to give the Cubs a 4-2 lead, and a two-run Diamondback rally in the bottom of the 9th fell just a bit short as Nathan Dorris struck out Justin Bianco looking on a 3-2 pitch with the potential tying and winning runs on base, earning the Cubs a 5-4 victory in Arizona Instructional League action at Whirlwind Field at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick Resort east of Scottsdale this morning.

In addition to Vogelbach’s Big Fly, Shawon Dunston Jr drilled a double and an RBI single, stole a base, and recorded an outfield assist, and RHP Pierce Johnson threw three innings of one-hit ball.

And FWIW, Vogelbach's mega-dinger came off a LHP (South Bend lefty reliever Keith Hessler).

Stud RHP prospect Archie Bradley started the game for the Diamondbacks and threw two shutout innings (34 pitches - 21 strikes, 1/1 GO/FO), allowing three hits (two singles and a double) and no walks, with three strikeouts (one swinging).

The Cubs drew six more walks today (and three of the players who walked scored), bringing their BB total to 48 in seven AZIL games, including two nine-walk games. (They have not drawn fewer than five walks in any game).

The Cubs have scored 34 runs so far in their first seven Instructs games, and 13 of the 34 runs (38%) were scored by players who reached base on a walk.

Here is the abridged box score from today’s game (Cubs players only)

CUBS LINEUP:
1. Shawon Dunston Jr, CF: 2-4 (2B, 1B, 5-3, 4-3, RBI, SB)
2a. Gioskar Amaya, 2B: 1-2 (1B, F-7, BB, R, CS)
2b. Stephen Bruno, 2B: 1-1 (1B, RBI)
3a. Jeimer Candelario, 3B: 0-1 (K, BB, BB, R)
3b. Jesse Hodges, 3B: 0-1 (F-9)
4. Dan Vogelbach, DH #1: 1-4 (K, K, HR, F-7, R, 3 RBI)
5a. Marco Hernandez, SS: 0-3 (F-7, 4-3, K)
5b. David Bote, SS: 0-1 (5-3)
6a. Yasiel Balaguert, RF: 0-3 (4-3, K, K)
6b. Tim Saunders, RF: 0-1 (F-7)
7a. Chadd Krist, C: 1-2 (1B, 6-3)
7b. Wilson Contreras, C: 0-0 (BB, BB, CS)
8. Rafael Lopez, DH #2: 0-3 (K, F-9, K, BB)
9. Ben Carhart, 1B: 1-4 (2B, 5-3, K, 6-U FC, R)
10. Trevor Gretzky, LF: 0-2 (4-3, K, BB, R, SB)

CUBS PITCHERS:
1. Starling Peralta: 2.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R (1 ER), 1 BB, 2 K, 31 pitches (18 strikes), 1/2 GO/FO
2. Pierce Johnson: 3.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R (1 ER), 2 BB, 2 K, 1 GIDP, 32 pitches (19 strikes), 6/1 GO/FO
3. Paul Blackburn: 2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K, 1 WP, 1 GIDP, 20 pitches (14 strikes), 2/2 GO/FO
4. Duane Underwood: 1.2 IP, 2 H, 2 R (2 ER), 2 BB, 3 K, 31 pitches (17 strikes), 2/0 GO/FO
5. Nathan Dorris: 0.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K, 6 pitches (3 strikes)

CUBS ERRORS (2):
1. 1B Ben Carhart - E-3 (fielding error allowed batter to reach base safely)
2. SS David Bote - E-6 (throwing error allowed batter to reach base safely)

CUBS CATCHERS DEFENSE:
1. Chadd Krist: 0-2 CS
2. Wilson Contreras: 1-1 CS

CUBS OUTFIELD ASSISTS:
CF Shawon Dunston Jr - runner thrown out 8-3-6 trying to advance to 2nd base on RBI single to CF

WEATHER: Sunny and hot with temperatures in the low 90’s

ATTENDANCE: 17 (mostly scouts)