Denorfia Continues Rehab at Riverview Park

Robert Garcia slugged a solo HR and RHSP Austyn Willis hurled four innings of shutout ball for the Cubs, and RHSP Chris Johnson tossed four innings of one-hit shutout ball for the Giants, as the Cubs & Giants played to a 1-1 tie on Field #6, and 1B Nick Jones belted an RBI double and singled twice and Byron Murray drilled an RBI double, walked twice, and scored two runs, leading the Giants to a 9-3 victory over the Cubs on Field #5, in a Cactus League Extended Spring Training split-squad doubleheader played this morning at Mesa CubTown at Riverview Park.

Frandy de la Rosa slugged a two-run HR for the Cubs in a losing cause on Field #5.

The game on Field #5 was called after eight innings of play, and the game on Field #6 was called after seven innings.

Chris Denorfia (on Cubs MLB 15-day DL - hamstring strain) played LF for four innings and batted four times for the Cubs squad on Field #6. He walked on a 3-1 pitch his first time up, struck out swinging on three pitches in his second Plate Appearance, lined a double into the LF corner on a 3-0 pitch his third time up, and flied out to right in his fourth and final AB.

Shawon Dunston Jr (on Myrtle Beach 7-day DL - right shoulder injury) saw his first game action in more than a month, serving as a DH for the Cubs on Field #6. He went 0-3, striking out twice (both times swinging) and grounding back to the pitcher 1-3.

Prior to the Cactus League EXST doubleheader, RHP Marcelo Carreno (post-2013 shoulder surgery) and RHP Jesus Castillo squared-off in a two-inning "sim" game on Field #3.

In EXST Cubs medical news, RHP Yomar Morel has been diagnosed with a torn elbow UCL, and will be undergoing Tommy John Surgery next week. The 21-year old Morel will be the third Cub minor leaguer to undergo TJS this season, the other two being catcher Will Remillard (in March) and RHP Jose Rosario (in April).  

Here are the abridged box scores from today's two Cactus League EXST games (Cubs players only):

FIELD #5

CUBS SQUAD "A" LINEUP: 
1a. Kevonte Mitchell, CF-DH: 1-3 (1B, K, 6-3, R, SB)
1b. Adonis Paula, PH: 1-1 (1B)
2. Ho-Young Son, SS: 0-4 (K, K, 6-3, 6-3 DP)
3. Eloy Jimenez, RF: 1-4 (F-9, L-8, 6-3, 1B) 
4. Joey Martarano, 1B: 2-3 (HBP, 1B, K, 1B, R)
5. Frandy de la Rosa, 2B: 1-4 (HR, F-8, K, F-9, R, 2 RBI)
6. Tyler Alamo, C: 2-3 (6-3, 1B, 1B) 
7. Ricardo Marcano, LF: 0-3 (1-3, 3-1, 6-4 FC)
8. Jose Paniagua, DH-CF: 0-3 (K, 4-3, K)
9. Carlos Sepulveda, 3B: 1-3 (1B, K, 3-1)

CUBS SQUAD "A" PITCHERS:  
1. Justin Steele: 5.0 IP, 6 H, 5 R (4 ER), 0 BB, 3 K, 2 WP, 1 GIDP, 6/5 GO/FO, 62 pitches (44 strikes) 
2. Jordan Brink: 2.0 IP, 2 H, 2 R (2 ER), 2 BB, 2 K, 3 WP, 2/2 GO/FO, 37 pitches (20 strikes)
3. Corbin Hoffner: 1.0 IP, 2 H, 2 R (2 ER), 1 BB, 0 K, 1/2 GO/FO, 14 pitches (6 strikes) 

CUBS SQUAD "A" ERRORS: 4 
1. SS Ho-Young Son: E-6 (throwing error allowed batter to reach base safely) 
2. C Tyler Alamo: E-2 (overthrow at 2nd base on stolen base attempt allowed runner to advance to 3rd)
3. 1B Joey Martarano: E-3 (fielding error allowed batter to reach base safely) 
4. CF Kevonte Mitchell: E-8 (dropped pop fly allowing batter to reach base safely) 

CUBS SQUAD "A" CATCHERS DEFENSE:
Tyler Alamo:  0-2 CS, 1 E (see above)

FIELD #6

CUBS SQUAD "B" LINEUP:
X. Chris Denorfia, LF: 1-3 (BB, K, 2B, F-9)
NOTE: Denorfia batted 2nd in the bottom of the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th innings
1. Robert Garcia, CF: 1-3 (K+WP, 6-3, HR, R, RBI)
2. Shawon Dunston Jr, DH #1: 0-3 (K, K, 1-3)
3. Alberto Mineo, C: 1-2 (BB, 6-3, 1B)
4. Roney Alcala, 1B: 0-3 (1-2-3 DP 3-U, F-7)
5. Jenner Emeterio, RF: 1-3 (F-9, 1B, K)
6. Varonex Cuevas, 3B: 0-2 (3-U, F-9)
7. Carlos Jimenez, 2B: 0-2 (5-3, 6-3)
8. Andruw Monasterio, SS: 1-2 (5-3, 1B, CS)
9. Calvin Graves, DH-LF: 0-2 (4-3, K)

CUBS SQUAD "B" PITCHERS: 
1. Austyn Willis: 4.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 4 K, 1 GIDP, 4/3 GO/FO, 49 pitches (31 strikes)
2. Alexander Santana: 3.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R (1 ER), 2 BB, 4 K, 1 GIDP, 3/1 GO/FO, 51 pitches (30 strikes) 

CUBS SQUAD "B" ERRORS: NONE 

CUBS SQUAD "B" CATCHERS DEFENSE: 
Alberto Mineo: 0-1 CS 

WEATHER: Sunny with temperatures in the 90's 

ATTENDANCE: 14