Hector Neris Stops By for a Brief Visit on the Riverview Backfields
Cubs 2018 3rd round draft pick Jimmy Herron (traded to Colorado for International Signing Bonus Pool space in July 2019) drilled a two-run HR, Hunter Goodman (Rockies # 12 prospect) belted a solo HR and doubled and scored, and SP Andrew Quezada tossed four innings of one hit shutout ball, leading the Albuquerque Isotopes (AAA affiliate of the Colorado Rockies) to an 8-5 victory over the Iowa Cubs (AAA affiliate of the Chicago Cubs) on Field # 6, and Yanquiel Fernandez (Rockies # 3 prospect) slugged a towering two-run HR off the top of the RF "foul pole," Adael Amador (Rockies # 1 prospect) singled twice, stole two bases, and scored two runs, and SP Mason Albright (Rockies # 22 prospect) hurled four innings of no run / one hit ball and combined with four relievers on a five-hit shutout, as the Hartford Yard Goats (Rockies AA affiliate) blanked the Tennessee Smokies (Cubs AA affiliate) 4-0 on Field # 5, in Cactus League Minor League Spring Training game action Thursday afternoon at the Riverview Baseball Complex in Mesa, AZ.
Matt Mervis mashed a three-run HR for the Iowa Cubs on Field # 6.
Cubs RHRP Hector Neris got the start in the AA game on Field # 5, facing just three batters and throwing only 11 pitches, as he was tasked with working in a game on back-to-back days, something he will presumably will do many times in 2024. (Neris threw an inning versus the Oakland Athletics Wednesday afternoon in an MLB Cactus League game at HoHoKam Park). So it wasn't so much about how many batters he faced or how many pitches he threw, it was just a matter of getting on the mound in a game two days in a row.
Here are the abridged box scores from the games (Cubs players only):
FIELD # 5
TENNESSEE SMOKIES LINEUP:
1. Bradlee Beesley, CF: 0-4 (K, K, K, E-4)
2a. Matt Shaw, 3B: 0-2 (3-U, 6-3)
2b. James Triantos, 3B: 1-2 (6-3, 1B)
3a. Moises Ballesteros, C: 1-3 (6-3, L-5, 1B)
3b. Carter Trice, C: 0-1 (K)
4. Haydn McGeary, 1B: 0-4 (4-3, K, 6-3, K)
5. Jefferson Rojas, DH: 0-4 (F-9, K, F-9, P-3)
6a. Christian Franklin, LF: 1-2 (F-9, 1B)
6b. Yohendrick Pinango, LF: 0-2 (5-3, 6-3)
7a. Ezequiel Pagan, RF: 0-1 (3-U, BB)
7b. Geuri Lubo, RF: 0-2 (K, 4-03)
8. Hayden Cantrelle, SS: 1-2 (1B, HBP, K, SB)
9. Scott McKeon, 2B: 1-2 (BB, K, 1B)
TENNESSEE SMOKIES PITCHERS:
1. Hector Neris: 0.2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K, 1 GIDP, 1/0 GO/AO, 11 pitches (6 strikes)
2. Michael Arias: 2.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K, 0/4 GO/AO, 24 pitches (15 strikes)
3. Manuel Espinoza: 3.0 IP, 3 H, 2 R (2 ER), 0 BB, 2 K, 1 HR, 1 WP, 6/1 GO/AO, 42 pitches (27 strikes)
4. Angel Hernandez: 1.2 IP, 2 H, 1 R (1 ER), 3 BB, 1 K, 2 WP, 1 PO, 1 GIDP, 1/1 GO/AO, 34 pitches (15 strikes)
5. Scarlyn Lebron: 1.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 0 K, 2 HBP, 1 WP, 1 GIDP, 4/0 GO/AO, 35 pitches (18 strikes)
TENNESSEE SMOKIES ERRORS: NONE
TENNESSEE SMOKIES CATCHERS DEFENSE:
Moises Ballesteros: 0-2 CS
FIELD # 6
IOWA CUBS LINEUP:
1a. Pete Crow-Armstrong, CF: 0-2 (E-4, 4-3, CS)
1b. Christian Olivo, CF: 2-3 (1B, 2-U, 1B, R, RBI, PO)
2. Jake Slaughter, 1B: 1-5 (3-1, F-7, 1B, F-7, L-7, R)
3a. Owen Caissie, RF: 1-2 (6-3, 1B, CS)
3b. Kevin Alcantara, RF: 0-3 (F-7, 5-3, K)
4. Matt Mervis, DH: 1-4 (3-U, K, HR, 4-3, R, 3 RBI)
5a. BJ Murray, 3B: 0-1 (F-8)
5b. Luis Verdugo, 3B: 1-2 (K, 1B, BB)
6. Darius Hill, LF: 1-3 (BB, 3-U, K, 1B)
7. Chase Strumpf, 2B: 0-2 (K, BB, BB, K, R)
8. Luis Vazquez, SS: 2-3 (4-3, 1B, 1-3 SH, 1B, R)
9a. Caleb Knight, C: 1-3 (K, F-8, 1B, RBI)
9b. Dilan Granadillo, C: 0-0, (BB)
IOWA CUBS PITCHERS:
1. Walker Powell: 3.0 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 BB, 2 K, 1 HR, 1 WP, 1 GIDP, 5/1 GO/AO, 42 pitches (29 strikes)
2. Luis Devers: 1.0 IP, 2 H, 3 R (3 ER), 3 BB, 0 K, 1 WP, 1 GIDP, 2/0 GO/AO, 31 pitches (13 strikes)
3. Zac Leigh: 2.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 0 K, 1 PO, 1 GIDP, 2/2 GO/AO, 26 pitches (13 strikes)
4. Tyler Santana: 2.0 IP, 4 H, 3 R (3 ER), 1 BB, 1 K, 1 HR, 1 GIDP, 2/1 GO/AO, 32 pitches (20 strikes)
IOWA CUBS ERRORS: NONE
IOWA CUBS OUTFIELD ASSIST:
CF Christrian Olivo - batter thrown out 8-6 attempting to stretch single into double
WEATHER: Sunny with temprartyures in the 80's
ATTENDANCE: 35
Arizona
Scoring
Service
"Just because it isn't official doesn't mean it didn't happen"
Comments