Cub Bats Go Nuts at Fitch Park

Cristian Hernandez blasted an opposite-field two-run HR over the RF fence in the third, singled and scored in the sixth, and drilled an RBI single in the eighth, Alejandro Rivero blooped an RBI double and scored in the second and belted an opposite-field two-run triple and scored in the fifth, Raino Coran hammered an RBI double into the LF corner and scored in the fourth and crushed a lead-off double off the LF fence and scored in the eighth, Brayan Altuve roped an RBI double and scored in the second and singled and scored in the fourth, Christian Olivo singled, stole a base, and scored a run in the third and cracked an RBI single in the fourth, and Dilan Granadillo laced two RBI singles, leading an 18-hit attack as the Cubs uploaded a 15-4 pasting of the Athletics in Cactus League Extended Spring Training game action Monday morning on Field #4 at the Lew Wolff Training Complex at Fitch Park in Mesa, AZ.    

Nelson Beltran slugged a two-run HR in the bottom of the third and made a spectacular HR saving catch by leaping high and reaching over the LF fence to take back what would have been a Frank Hernandez four-bagger in the top of the seventh, and Lester Madden and Ramon Martinez ripped RBI doubles for the A's in a losing couse.  

The game was called after eight innings of play. 

With today's HR, Cristian Hernandez has now hit six home runs in 23 EXST games, including four in 19 Cactus League EXST games, and two in four EXST intrasquad games. Javier Baez holds the all-time EXST Cubs HR record. He hit eight in 26 Cactus League EXST games 2012. 

Here is the abridged box score from the game (Cubs players only): 
CUBS LINEUP: 
1. Christian Olivo, CF: 2-5 (F-8, 1B, 1B, F-8, 1-3, R, RBI, SB) 
2a. Reivaj Garcia, 2B: 1-3 (4-3, 1B, P-6, R, RBI) 
2b. Joanfran Rojas, 2B: 0-1 (5-3, BB) 
3. Cristian Hernandez, SS: 3-5 (K, HR, K, 1B, 1B, 2 R, 3 RBI) 
4a. Moises Ballesteros, C: 1-3 (3-U, K, BB, 2B, R) 
4b. Miguel Pabon, C: 0-1 (F-8)
5. Rafael Morel, 3B: 1-3 (HBP, P-2, 1B, K, BB, 2 R) 
6a. Alejandro Rivero, 1B: 2-3 (2B, F-9, 3B, 2 R, 3 RBI) 
6b. Bryan Serra, 1B: 1-2 (1B, K, RBI)
7. Frank Hernandez, RF: 1-3 (5-3, 1B, BB, F-7, 2 R) 
8. Brayan Altuve, LF: 2-4 (2B, 1B, K, 5-3, 2 R, RBI)
9a. Dilan Granadillo, DH #1:  2-3 (1B, F-7, 1B, 2 RBI)
9b. Ronnier Quintero, PH: 0-1 (K) 
10. Raino Coran, DH #2: 2-4 (6-3, 2B, K, 2B, 2 R, RBI) 

CUBS PITCHERS: 
1. Starlyn Pichardo: 3.0 IP, 3 H, 2 R (2 ER), 4 BB, 3 K, 1 HR, 1 GIDP, 4/1 GO/AO, 53 pitches (29 strikes) 
2. Rony Baez: 1.1 IP, 2 H, 1 R (1 ER), 4 BB, 0 K, 1 GIDP, 2/1 GO/AO, 42 pitches (21 strikes) 
3. Yohan Crispin: 2.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 5 K, 1/1 GO/AO, 36 pitches (20 strikes) 
4. Tomy Sanchez: 1.1 IP, 1 H, 1 R (1 ER), 3 BB, 0 K, 1 HBP, 1 GIDP, 2/1 GO/AO, 35 pitches (13 strikes) 

CUBS ERRORS: 4 
1. P Rony Baez: E-1 (bobbled one-hop chopper back to mound allowing batter to reach base safely) 
2. 3B Rafael Morel: E-5 (booted grounder allowing batter to reach base safely)
3. SS Cristian Hernandez: E-6 (grounder bounced off glove allowing batter to reach base safely)
4. 1B Bryan Serra: E-3 (errant throw back to pitcher after pick-off attempt at 1st base allowed runner to advance to 3rd)

CUBS CATCHERS DEFENSE: 
Moises Ballesteros: 0-2 CS 

WEATHER: Sunny with temperatures in the 90's 

ATTENDANCE: 7 

Arizona 
Scoring 
Service 

"Just because it isn't official doesn't mean it didn't happen"