Rucker & Hatch Steal the Yu Show at Riverview

Michael Rucker (five innings) and Tom Hatch (four no hit innings) combined to hurl a three-hit shutout with 13 strikeouts, but neither team could push across a run, and so the Hartford Yard Goats (Colorado Rockies AA affiliate) and the Tennessee Smokies (Cubs AA affiliate) played to a scoreless tie on Field #5, and the Albuquerque Isotopes (Rockies AAA affiliate) blistered five HR en route to a 13-5 drubbing of the Iowa Cubs (AAA affiliate of the Cubs) on Field #6, in Cactus League Minor League Spring Training game action Sunday afternoon on John Arguello Way at the Riverview Baseball Complex in Mesa, AZ. 

Zack Short drilled a two-run double for the I-Cubs in a losing cause. 

Yu Darvish came over to the Riverview backfields from MLB Camp and got the start for Iowa, going 4.1 IP (71 pitches - 47 strikes), and allowing three runs on five hits (a HR on the very first pitch of the game, a double, and three singles), no walks, one HBP, two wild pitches, eight strikeouts, and 1/4 GO/AO. Despite allowing the three runs, it actually was a decent outing for Yu.

INF Daniel Descalso, who has been nursing a sore shoulder, also came over to the Minor League side from MLB Camp. Descalso batted second in each of the first six innings, going a combined 0-5 with a walk, a stolen base, and a run scored, and two strikeouts (one swinging and one looking). He looked a bit rusty at the plate. He played 2B for three innings, then moved to 3B for two innings, and then served as a DH, before retiring to the clubhouse in the 7th.  

Here are the abridged box scores from the game (Cubs players only) 

FIELD #5 

TENNESSEE LINEUP:
1. Roberto Caro, CF: 2-4 (1-3, 1-3, 1B, 1B, SB)
2. Cam Balego, 1B-C: 0-4 (E-5, L-7, K, F-8) 
3a. Rafelin Lorenzo, C: 1-3 (1-3, F-9, 1B)
3b. Tyler Alamo, 1B: 0-1 (6-3)  
4a. Kevonte Mitchell, RF: 0-2 (6-3, K)
4b. Eddy Julio Martinez, RF: 0-1 (K, BB, SB)
5. Carlos Sepulveda, 2B: 1-4 (1-3, 1B, K, 5-3)
6. Yeiler Peguero, SS: 0-4 (4-3, K, K, K)
7a. Christian Donahue, 3B: 1-3 (2B, F-9, F-9)
7b. Danny Zardon, PH: 0-1 (P-3) 
8. Jesse Hodges, DH: 0-3 (K, F-8, K) 
9. Luis Ayala, LF: 0-3 (P-5, 4-3, L-8)

TENNESSEE PITCHERS: 
1. Michael Rucker: 5.0 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 7 K, 1 HBP, 1 WP, 1/5 GO/AO, 75 pitches (51 strikes) 
2. Tom Hatch: 4.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 6 K, 1 PO, 1/3 GO/AO, 59 pitches (36 strikes) 

TENNESSEE ERRORS: 1 
SS Yeiler Peguero: E-6 (errant throw to 1st base allowed batter to reach base safely) 

TENNESSEE CATCHERS DEFENSE: 
1. Rafelin Lorenzo: 1-1 CS, 1 PO
2. Cam Balego: 1-1 CS  

+++++++++++++++++++++++++

FIELD #6 

IOWA LINEUP:
X. Daniel Descalso, 2B-3B-DH: 0-5 (1-3, K, 9-6 FC, K, E-3, BB, R, SB) 
NOTE: Descalso batted 2nd in the bottom of the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th innings
1. Jacob Hannemann, DH #1: 2-4 (3-U, 2B, 1B, 3-1, R)
2a. P. J. Higgins, C: 2-2 (1B, 1B, RBI)
2b. Fernando Arcia, C: 0-2 (L-4 DP, 3-1)
3. Trent Giambrone, DH-2B: 0-3 (F-8, K, BB, 4-3, R)
4. Vimael Machin, 3B-DH: 2-3 (1B, K, 1B, R, PO) 
5a. Charcer Burks, CF: 0-1 (F-8, BB, R)
5b. Fidel Mejia, 3B: 1-1 (1B, RBI)
6a. Zack Short, SS: 1-1 (BB, 2B, 2 RBI)
6b. Edmond Americaan, CF: 0-1 (6-4 FC, RBI)
7a. Tyler Payne, DH #3: 0-0 (BB) 
7b. Raymond Pena, PH: 0-1 (K)
7c. Josue Huma, SS: 0-1 (6-4-3 DP) 
8. Ian Rice, 1B: 0-2 (F-7, K, BB)
9. Brandon Hughes, RF: 0-3 (5-3, K, 6-4-3 DP)  
10. D. J. Artis, LF: 0-2 (P-2, BB, K) 

IOWA PITCHERS: 
1. Yu Darvish: 4.1 IP, 5 H, 3 R (3 ER), 0 BB, 8 K, 1 HBP, 1 HR, 2 WP, 1/4 GO/AO, 71 pitches (47 strikes) 
2. Colin Rea: 1.2 IP, 4 H, 3 R (3 ER), 0 BB, 3 K, 2 HR, 0/2 GO/AO, 35 pitches (23 strikes) 
3. Wyatt Short: 0.1 IP, 2 H, 4 R (1 ER), 2 BB, 1 K, 23 pitches (9 strikes) 
4. Ryan Williams: 1.2 IP, 3 H, 3 R (3 ER), 1 BB, 1 K, 2 HR, 1 WP, 2/2 GO/AO, 30 pitches (18 strikes) 

IOWA ERRORS: 2 
1. SS Josue Huma: E-6 (fielding error allowed batter to reach base safely) 
2. 3B Fidel Mejia: E-5 (fielding error allowed batter to reach base safely) 

IOWA CATCHERS DEFENSE: 
1. P. J. Higgins: 0-1 CS 
2. Fernando Arcia: 0-2 CS 

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++

ATTENDANCE: 94 

WEATHER: Sunny with temperatures in the 70's 

Arizona 
Scoring 
Service 

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