Morelli Extends Hit Streak to 15 Games As Cubs Rally to Drop Brewers

Carlos Romero bounced a game-tying RBI single to right, Alvaro Ramirez lined an RBI single down the RF line, and Pin-Chieh Chen knocked-in two insurance runs with a two-run single, as the EXST Cubs rallied to score four runs in the bottom of the 8th to defeat the EXST Brewers 5-2 in Cactus League Extended Spring Training action at Fitch Park Field #3 this morning in Mesa. The game was pre-planned as a ten-inning contest, so that more Brewer and Cub pitchers could get game work.

Besides the four-run rally in the 8th, other EXST Cubs highlights today included Tarlandus Mitchell and Austin Kirk combining to fan ten Brewers in just 5-1/3 innings, and Jesus Morelli extending his hit streak to 15 games with a 1st inning single. (Morelli is now hitting 382/447/574 in 21 EXST games since being moved down to Extended Spring Training from Peoria).

Here is today’s abridged box score (Cubs players only):

LINEUP:
1. Vismeldy Bieneme, 3B: 1-5 (P-4, F-9, 6-4 FC, 1B, F-7, R)
2. Alvaro Ramirez, CF: 1-4 (P-3, 4-3, F-7, 1B, RBI, R, SB)
3. Pin-Chieh Chen, 2B: 2-3 (1B, BB, 4-3, 1B, 2 RBI, R)
4a. Jesus Morelli, RF: 2-3 (1B, 1B, K)
4b. SLOT WAS SKIPPED 4th TIME THROUGH ORDER ALTHOUGH MORELLI REMAINED IN RF
5. Runey Davis, LF: 0-4 (K, K, F-8, 5-3)
6a. Sergio Burruel, DH-C: 1-3 (1B, 4-3, K, RBI)
6b. SLOT WAS SKIPPED 4th TIME THROUGH ORDER ALTHOUGH BURRUEL REMAINED IN GAME
7. Chris Huseby, DH #2: 1-4 (1B, K, 6-3, 5-3)
8a. Arismendy Alcantara, SS: 1-2 (K, 1B, BB, R, SB, CS)
8b. Wes Darvill, PH-SS: 0-1 (F-7)
9a. Jose Guevara, 1B: 0-3 (K, P-5, 3-1)
9b. Blair Springfield, PH-1B: 0-1 (5-3)
10a. Carlos Romero, C: 2-3 (P-4, 1B, 1B, RBI)
10b. Kyung-Min Na, PR-DH: 1-1 (1B, R)

PITCHERS:
1. Tarlandus Mitchell – 1.2 IP, 2 H, 1 R (1 ER), 2 BB, 4 K, 1/0 GO/FO, 45 pitches (26 strikes)
NOTE: Mitchell’s 1st inning was terminated (“rolled”) with two outs after Mitchell had thrown his 27th pitch of the inning
2. Austin Kirk – 3.2 IP, 1 H, 1 R (1 ER), 2 BB, 6 K, 4/1 GO/FO, 60 pitches (40 strikes)
3. Jesse Ginley – 1.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K, 2/1 GO/FO, 13 pitches (8 strikes)
4. Jose Rosario – 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K, 2/1 GO/FO, 18 pitches (11 strikes)
5. Danny Keefe - 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K, 1/1 GO/FO, 8 pitches (6 strikes)
6. Corey Martin – 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K, 2/1 GO/FO, 18 pitches (13 strikes)

ERRORS: NONE

CATCHERS DEFENSE:
Carlos Romero: 1-3 CS

BASERUNNING MISADVENTURES: Pin-Chieh Chen was thrown out 9-5 trying to advance from 1st to 3rd on a single to RF with two outs in the bottom of the 1st inning.

ATTENDANCE: 18

WEATHER: Sunny & cloudless, with temperatures in the 90’s