Pedro Strop

Dairon Blanco ripped a bases-loaded triple with two outs in the top of the 9th as the Stockton Ports (Oakland Athletics Hi-A affiliate) rallied to edge the Myrtle Beach Pelicans (Hi-A affiliate of the Chicago Cubs) 4-3 on Field #6, and Anthony Churlin went 4-4 with a solo HR (off an MLB pitcher) and three singles to lead the Beloit Snappers (A's Lo-A affiliate) to a 4-2 victory over the Cubs Lo-A South Bend affiliate on Field #5, in Cactus League Minor League Camp doubleheader game action Monday afternoon on John Arguello Way at the Riverview Baseball Complex in Mesa, AZ.  

Wladimir Galindo collected three hits (two singles and a double), drove-in a run, and scored a run, and RHSP Oscar de la Cruz hurled three shutout innings for Myrtle Beach, and Christopher Morel drilled two doubles (both pulled sharply into the LF corner) for South Bend (the SB Cubs managed only three hits, and Morel had two of them).

South Bend 1B Austin Filiere left the game after being hit on the helmet with a pitch in the bottom of the 5th.  

Both games were called after 8-1/2 innings of play.  
 
Cubs RHRP Pedro Strop (calf strain) made his 2018 debut in the game on Field #5, and he was outstanding, working 1.1 IP (18 pitches - 89% strikes) and allowing a single while striking out four (all four swinging, all four on hard sliders). Most of the Beloit kids probably have never seen a slider like Strop's so it was a true education for the youngsters, but no question Strop was on his game. Cubs closer Brandon Morrow and LHRP Brian Duensing also saw action in the South Bend game, with Morrow allowing an unearned run on a single and a walk with two strikeouts, and Duensing surrendering a solo HR in his one inning of work (and he also two recorded a couple of punch-outs). 

NRI catcher Ali Solis was sent to the Riverview backfields from the Cubs MLB squad, and he caught Strop, Morrow, and Duensing. AAA Iowa catcher Cael Brockmeyer was also assigned to the South Bend game to warm up the MLB guys in the bullpen, and he got a couple of token AB as a DH as part of the deal. 

Will Remillard (2015 & 2016 TJS) saw his first game action of 2018 on Field #6. He looked healthy and in great shape, throwing out a Stockton baserunner who was attempting to steal 2nd with a strong pinpoint throw, and he also reached base on an opposite-field double that bounced off the warning track and over the fence in RF.  

Here are the abridged box scores from the two games (Cubs players only):

Mark Gonzales at the Chicago Tribune is reporting that the Cubs have signed RHRP Pedro Strop to a contract extension that will keep the right-hander under club control through the 2019 season. 

Raul Linares ripped a game-winning walk-off RBI double with two outs in the bottom of the 9th, as the Angels rallied from a four-run deficit to edge the Cubs 7-6 in Cactus League Extended Spring Training action this morning at Diablo Park Field #7 in Tempe, AZ.

Eloy Jimenez belted a three-run home run and an RBI single, Jeffrey Baez singled twice, walked, stole a base, and scored three runs, and Kevin Brown singled twice, walked, and scored two runs to help the Cubs take an early 4-0 lead, and Nataniel Delgado doubled twice and scored and Trevor Gretzky laced a two-run triple to aid the Angel comeback.  

The Angels collected six doubles and one triple among their nine hits.

RHRP Pedro Strop (on Cubs MLB 15-day DL - groin) continued his EXST rehab with a shutout inning (18 pitches - 10 strikes). Strop was not as sharp this morning in Tempe as he was on Saturday in Scottsdale, as he walked one and was behind in the count on just about every hitter, but he did not allow a hit, he struck out two, and he got the third out on a broken bat 5-3 GO. 

Here is the abridged box score from today's game (Cubs players only): 

Johneshwy Fargas singled twice and drove-in the tying and winning runs with a two-run double as the Giants rallied to edge the Cubs 3-2 in 12 innings in Cactus League Extended Spring Training action this morning at Indian School Park Field #2 in Scottsdale AZ.

RHRP Pedro Strop (on the Cubs MLB 15-day DL retroactive to 5/6 - groin) started the game for the Cubs and threw one inning (12 pitches - 11 strikes), striking out three. One batter did reach base on a third strike WP, but Strop totally handcuffed the young Giants with his hard slider and mid-90's gas. He looks like he is ready to be reinstated from the DL and maybe provide some misery to big league hitters.    

The Cubs managed only four hits (three singles and a double) and struck out 13 times over the course of the 12 innings, although they did draw six walks.  

In EXST Cubs roster news, RHP Josh Davis (2013 NDFA - Belmont University) has been moved up to Daytona, and RHP Ben Wells has been sent to Extended Spring Training from Daytona. Davis began the season at Extended Spring Training, and then was moved up to Kane County on April 12th. He was sent back to EXST from KC on May 2nd.   

Also, LHP Michael Heesch (Cubs 2012 8th round draft pick - USCB) has been moved up to Kane County from Extended Spruing Training.

THE PITCHING LINES FROM JOSH DAVIS'S FOUR 2014 CACTUS LEAGUE EXST OUTINGS: 
4/9   - 2.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K, 3/1 GO/FO, 30 pitches (23 strikes)
4/12 - AT KANE COUNTY thru 5/2
5/5   - 2.0 IP, 2 H, 2 R (1 ER), 2 BB, 0 K, 1 GIDP, 5/1 GO/FO, 33 pitches (21 strikes)
5/13 - 2.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R (1 ER), 0 BB, 3 K, 1 GIDP, 2/1 GO/FO, 36 pitches (24 strikes)   
5/17 - INTRASQUAD GAME  
5/21 - 2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K, 0/3 GO/FO, 34 pitches (22 strikes)  
TOTAL: 8.0 IP, 8 H, 3 R (2 ER), 3 BB, 7 K, 2 GIDP, 10/6 GO/FO, 68% strikes, 2.25 ERA, 1.38 WHIP, .289 OppBA

THE PITCHING LINES FROM MICHAEL HEESCH'S FIVE 2014 CACTUS LEAGUE EXST OUTINGS: 
5/9   - 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K, 1/2 GO/FO, 5 pitches (4 strikes)  
5/12 - 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K, 1/0 GO/FO, 18 pitches (12 strikes)
5/14 - 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R,0 BB, 2 K, 18 pitches (13 strikes)
5/17 - INTRASQUAD GAME
5/20 - 2.1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K, 1 HBP, 3/1 GO/FO, 42 pitches (27 strikes)
5/23 - 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K, 0/1 GO/FO, 11 pitches (10 strikes) 
TOTAL: 6.1 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 8 K, 1 HBP, 5/4 GO/FO, 70% strikes, 0.00 ERA, 0.79 WHIP, .227 OppBA 

Here is the abridged box score from today's game (Cubs player only):

An unsigned player under club control who has accrued at least three but less than six years of MLB Service Time is automatically eligible for salary arbitration. Also, any unsigned player with at least two years but less than three years of MLB Service Time who accrued at least 86 days of MLB Service Time the previous season can qualify for salary arbitration as a so-called "Super Two" if the player is among the top 22% in MLB Service Time of players in that group.

If a club and a player eligible for salary arbitration cannot agree on a contract, the player can request the Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA) to file for salary arbitration.