Rafael Mejia a Homer Short of the Cycle at Fitch Park

Rafael Mejia collected four RBI (an RBI triple, a two-run double, and an RBI single) and scored two runs and Miguel Amaya doubled twice and scored two runs, leading the Cubs to a 9-6 victory over the Athletics in Cactus League Extended Spring Training game action Saturday morning on Field #4 at the Lew Wolff Training Complex at Fitch Park in Mesa, AZ.
 
James Harris belted a two-run HR for the A's in a losing cause. 

The game was called after eight innings of play.

Rafael Mejia won the Home Run Derby (by a substantial margin) at Cubs AZ Instructs last fall when he also was moved from 3B to 1B. He made a lot of errors (especially throwing errors) playing 3B at age 18 for the AZL Cubs last summer, and the Cubs felt moving him to 1B might help him defensively as well as allow him to concentrate more on his hitting, but he has had a lot of problems defensively at 1B, too (at least so far). Mejia shows plus-power in BP, but it has rarely been displayed in games.

In EXST Cubs roster news, OF Eloy Jimenez (March 2017 bruised right shoulder) has completed his EXST rehab, has been reinstated from the Myrtle Beach 7-day DL, and has rejoined the Pelicans.

Eloy Jimenez 2017 Cactus League EXST game stats:
8 GAMES (31 PA)
240/355/320
2 2B, 5 RBI, 1 RUN, 1 SF, 4 BB, 1 HBP, 5 K, 0 SB (1 CS)
 
Here is the abridged box score from the game (Cubs players only):

CUBS LINEUP:
1a. Aramis Ademan, SS: 1-3 (1B, K, K, PO)
1b. Rafael Narea, SS: 1-2 (E-6, 1B)
2a. Yonathan Perlaza, 3B: 0-3 (6-3, 4-3, K)
2b. Orian Nunez, 3B: 0-2 (K, F-7)
3. Jemile Weeks, 2B: 1-4 (F-9, 1B, 6-3, K, R)
4a. Miguel Amaya, C: 2-3 (2B, 2B, F-8, 2 R)
4b. Henderson Perez, C: 1-1 (2B, R)
5. Jonathan Sierra, RF: 1-4 (K, K, L-7, 2B, R, RBI)
6. Rafael Mejia, 1B: 3-4 (1B, 2B, P-6, 3B, 2 R, 4 RBI)
7a. Jose Gutierrez, CF-DH: 2-3 (1B, 4-6 FC, 1B, R)
7b. Fernando Kelli, PH: 1-1 (1B, RBI)
8. Kwangmin Kwon, LF:  1-4 (1B, P-6, P-4, P-6, R)
9. Roberto Caro, DH-CF: 2-4 (1B, K, K, 1B, RBI)
10. Marcus Mastrobuoni, DH #2: 1-3 (1B, P-4, K, 2 RBI)
NOTE: SLOT WAS SKIPPED FOURTH TIME THRU BATTING ORDER

CUBS PITCHERS:
1. Carlos Ocampo: 2.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K, 2/3 GO/AO, 20 pitches (11 strikes)
2. Conor Mullee: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K, 1/1 GO/AO, 13 pitches (5 strikes)
3. Junior Marte: 0.2 IP, 2 H, 2 R (2 ER), 1 BB, 0 K, 1 HBP, 1 HR, 1 WP, 0/2 GO/AO, 26 pitches (14 strikes)
4. Fauris Guerrero: 2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K, 1/3 GO/AO, 29 pitches (17 strikes)
5. John Michael Knighton: 0.2 IP, 3 H, 3 R (1 ER), 0 BB, 1 K, 1/0 GO/AO, 19 pitches (14 strikes)
6. Yapson Gomez: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 1 R (1 ER), 2 BB, 2 K, 1 WP, 0/1 GO/AO, 24 pitches (11 strikes)
7. Mark Malave: 0.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K, 1/1 GO/AO, 16 pitches (12 strikes)

CUBS ERRORS: 1
1B Rafael Mejia - E-3 (fielding error allowed batter to reach base safely & runner to score from 2nd)

CUBS CATCHERS DEFENSE:
Miguel Amaya: 1-3 CS

ATTENDANCE: 12
WEATHER: Sunny with temperatures in the 90's

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