Suriel Takes Back Team HR Lead as Cubs Edge Giants at Riverview

Anderson Suriel belted a solo HR over the RF fence in the 2nd inning, Frank Hernandez ripped a double into the LF corner, advanced to 3rd base on a WP, and scored on an Ismael Mena infield single in the 3rd, and SP Yenrri Rojas fired three innings of shutout ball, as the Cubs edged the Giants 2-1 in Cactus League Extended Spring Training game action Saturday morning on Field #6 at the Riverview Baseball Complex in Mesa, AZ.   

Giants third-baseman Elian Rayo lucked into an inside-the-park HR (Cubs LF Brayan Altuve lost the ball in the sun and it landed 20 feet behind him), which accounted for the lone Giants run. 

The game was called after seven innings of play. 

The Suriel HR was noteworthy for a couple of reasons, one being that it gave him the team lead in dingers with four (Jefferson Rojas and Geuri Lubo have three), and second that it was hit off ex-Cubs LHP Sean Newcomb (on the AAA Sacramento 7-day IL) -- the second HR hit by the left-hand hitting Suriel off a lefty pitcher.    

In EXST Cubs roster news, OF Cole Roederer (on AA Tennessee 7-day IL) has completed his rehab and is en route to rejoin the Smokies in Pensacola. Roederer played in only three EXST games but hit home runs in two of them (one pulled down the RF line, the other lofted oppo down the LF line), in addition to playing stellar outfield defense and running the bases like his hair is on fire.

Roederer was the Cubs 2nd round pick in 2018 and is still only 23, and while he has performed below expectations so far in his pro career and has been somewhat lost lately among the many Cubs outfield prospects, Roederer showed in EXST that he does have talent and should not be discounted.   

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

EXST CUBS LINEUP:
1a. Ismael Mena, RF: 1-2 (F-7, 1B, RBI, SB)
1b. Ke'Shun Collier, PH-RF: 0-1 (6-3)
2. Ed Howard, SS: 0-3 (K, K, 4-3)
3a. Adan Sanchez, DH: 0-2 (K, K) 
3b. Jefferson Rojas, PH: 0-1 (P-3)
4. Raino Coran, CF: 0-3 (K, K, F-9)
5a. Christopher Paciolla, 3B: 0-2 (L-4, K) 
5b. Christian Olivo, 2B: 0-1 (6-3)
6a. Anderson Suriel, LF: 1-2 (HR, 4-3, R, RBI)
6b. Brayan Altuve, LF: 0-1 (K) 
7a. Alexis Hernandez, 2B: 0-1 (K) 
7b. Geuri Lubo, PH-3B: 0-2 (L-6, K)
8a. Jairo Diaz, C: 0-2 (4-3, K)
8b. Wally Soto, C: NO AB 
9a. Frank Hernandez, 1B: 1-1 (2B, R) 
9b. Lizardo Ruiz, PH-1B: 1-1 (1B) 

EXST CUBS PITCHERS: 
1. Yenrri Rojas: 3.0 IP, 3 H. 0 R, 0 BB, 4 K, 3/1 GO/AO, 42 pitches (27 strikes) 
2. Tomy Sanchez: 2.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K, 1/4 GO/AO, 35 pitches (20 strikes) 
3. Wilme Mora: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K, 0/2 GO/AO, 13 pitches (7 strikes) 
4. Wilber Rodriguez: 1.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R (1 ER), 0 BB, 1 K, 1 HR, 1/0 GO/AO, 13 pitches (9 strikes) 

EXST CUBS ERRORS: 1 
P Tomy Sanchez: E-1 (errant pick-off attempt at 2nd base allowed runner to advance to 3rd) 

EXST CUBS CATCHERS DEFENSE: 
1. Jairo Diaz: 0-1 CS 
2. Wally Soto: 1-1 CS 

EXST CUBS OUTFIELD ASSISTS: 
LF Anderson Suriel - batter thrown out 7-4 attempting to stretch a single into a double 

WEATHER: Sunny with temperatures in the 90's 

ATTENDANCE: 12 

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