8th Inning Rally Helps Cubs Avoid Sweep at Riverview

Luke Lowery slugged a solo HR, Joel Novas belted a two-run double, Jorge Perez singled twice, stole a base, and scored two runs, and RHSP Jhoan Duran hurled five innings of shutout ball, leading the Diamondbacks to a 5-3 victory over the Cubs on Field #6, and on Field #5 RHSP Jesus Camargo tossed four innings of no-hit ball for the Cubs and RHSP Matt Koch (on AAA Reno 7-day DL) fired four innings of shutout ball for the D'backs, and then with the Cubs trailing 4-1 going into the bottom of the 8th, Kwangmin Kwon tripled and Yonathan Perlaza walked to start the inning and Franklin Tineo and Orian Nunez followed with RBI singles as the Cubs rallied to tie the Diamondbacks 4-4, in Cactus League Extended Spring Training doubleheader action Thursday morning at the Riverview Baseball Complex In Mesa, AZ. 

The game on Field #5 was called after eight innings of play, and the game on Field #6 was halted after seven innings.

Eloy Jimenez (on Myrtle Beach 7-day DL - right shoulder injury) served as a DH and went 0-4 with a walk in five PA.  

RHSP Casey Kelly made what will probably be his last Cactus League EXST appearance before moving-up to AAA Iowa, getting the start on Field #6 and throwing 4.1 IP (75 pitches) and allowing three runs (two earned) on six hits (three singles, two doubles, and the Lowery HR) and a walk, with two strikeouts and a 7/2 GO/AO. Although Kelly's fastball velocity has shown a slight uptick since Spring Training in March (when he was working in the upper-80's and topping out at 90 MPH) and his curve and change-up have been fairly sharp and his command has been good, he still isn't missing many bats as opposing hitters seem to be consistently squaring-up his offerings.

Casey Kelly 2017 Cactus League EXST game stats:
3 GAMES (3 GS)
4.91 ERA, 1.45 WHIP, .293 OppBA 
11.0 IP, 12 H, 7 R (6 ER), 4 BB, 5 K, 1 HR, 2 WP, 14/10 GO/AO    
 
Meanwhile, INF Elliot Soto (March 2017 foot injury) has completed his EXST rehab and has been reinstated from the AAA Iowa 7-day DL. Soto was absolutely on fire both offensively and defensively at EXST. Nobody could get him out, and the slick-fielding Soto (one of the best defensive middle-infielders in pro ball) made several acrobatic defensive plays at both SS and 2B (much to the delight of the young Cub pitchers).  
 
Elliot Soto 2017 Cactus League EXST game stats:     
6 GAMES (23 PA)
562/695/750
1 HR, 2 RBI, 6 RUNS, 5 BB, 2 HBP, 2 K
 
Here are the box scores from the games (Cubs players only):
FIELD #6  

CUBS SQUAD "A" LINEUP:
1. Zach Davis, CF: 0-4 (F-7, K, K, K)
2. Andruw Monasterio, SS: 0-3 (HBP, 3-U, K, P-6)
3. Jonathan Sierra, RF: 1-4 (4-3, 1B, K, K)
4. Kevin Zamudio, 1B: 1-3 (F-7, 4-6 FC, 2B)
5. Joe Martarano, LF: 1-2 (1B, K, BB)
6. Marcus Mastrobuoni, DH #1: 0-3 (K, F-7, F-7)
7. Fidel Mejia, 3B: 1-3 (2-U, F-7, 2B, R)
8. Edgar Rondon, 2B: 1-3 (K, K, 1B, R, RBI)
9. Carlos Diaz, C-DH: 2-3 (1B, E-6, 2B, R, RBI)
10. Richard Nunez, DH-C: 2-3 (6-4 FC, 2B, 1B, RBI)

CUBS SQUAD "A" PITCHERS:
1. Casey Kelly: 4.1 IP, 6 H, 4 R (3 ER), 1 BB, 2 K, 1 HR, 9/2 GO/AO, 75 pitches (47 strikes)
2. Faustino Carrera: 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 0 K, 1 BALK, 1 PO, 1/2 GO/AO, 19 pitches (13 strikes)
3. Luis Aquino: 1.1 IP, 2 H, 1 R (1 ER), 2 BB, 4 K, 1 WP, 39 pitches (23 strikes)

CUBS SQUAD "A" ERRORS: 2
1. 2B Edgar Rondon: E-4 (fielding error allowed batter to reach base safely)
2. SS Andruw Monasterio: E-6 (fielding error allowed batter to reach base safely)

CUBS SQUAD "A" CATCHERS DEFENSE:
Richard Nunez: 0-2 CS

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

FIELD #5

CUBS SQUAD "B" LINEUP:
X. Eloy Jimenez, DH #1: 0-4 (P-4, K, F-7, 5-4-3 DP, BB)
NOTE: Jimenez batted third in the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th innings
1. Aramis Ademan, SS: 0-3 (F-8, BB, 3-U, K, R)
2. Fernando Kelli, CF: 0-2 (L-8, BB, K)
3. Miguel Amaya, 1B: 1-3 (1B, E-6, E-6)
4. Rafael Mejia, DH #2: 0-3 (F-9, K, F-8)
5. Kwangmin Kwon, RF: 1-3 (K, 3-6 FC, 3B, R)
6. Yonathan Perlaza, 2B: 0-1 (4-3, BB, BB, R)
7. Franklin Tineo, DH-C: 1-2 (K, 1B, R, RBI)
NOTE: SLOT WAS SKIPPED FIRST TIME THRU BATTING ORDER
8. Henderson Perez, C-DH: 0-3 (K, F-9, E-3)
9. Ruben Reyes, LF: 1-3 (K, 1B, 4-6-3 DP)
10. Orian Nunez, 3B: 2-3 (1B, P-6, 1B, RBI)
11. Tolly Filotei, DH #4: 0-2 (K, L-7, BB)

CUBS SQUAD "B" PITCHERS:
1. Jesus Camargo: 4.0 IP, 0 H, 1 R (1 ER), 2 BB, 4 K, 2 WP, 3/5 GO/AO, 52 pitches (28 strikes)
2. Yunior Perez: 2.0 IP, 4 H, 2 R (1 ER), 0 BB, 2 K, 1/2 GO/AO, 29 pitches (20 strikes)
3. Andry Rondon: 2.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R (1 ER), 2 BB, 2 K, 1 WP, 0/2 GO/AO, 34 pitches (21 strikes)

CUBS SQUAD "B" ERRORS: 2
1. 1B Miguel Amaya: E-3 (fielding error allowed batter to reach base asafely)
2. P Andry Rondon: E-1 (errant pick-off attempt at 2nd base allowed runner to advance to 3rd)

CUBS SQUAD "B" CATCHERS DEFENSE:
Franklin Tineo: 1-1 CS

ATTENDANCE: 19
WEATHER: Sunny with temperatures in the 80's

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