Brendon Little Throws "Live" BP & Danny Hultzen gets Game Work at EXST

Jorge Barrosa belted a two-run triple and singled twice, Jose Corpa drilled a two-run triple and scored a run, and Luvin Valbuena doubled, walked, and scored two runs, leading the Diamondbacks past the Cubs "A" team 6-4 in Cactus League Extended Spring Training game action Tuesday morning on Field #5 at the Riverview Baseball Complex on John Arguello Way in Mesa, AZ. 

Jake Slaughter laced an RBI double and a single, Edmond Americaan singled, doubled, walked, and scored a run, and Marcus Mastrobuoni drove-in two runs with an RBI single and an RBI FC, stole a base, and threw out a runner attempting to steal a base, to aid the Cubs in a losing cause. 

LHP Danny Hultzen (on AAA Iowa 60-day IL - 2016 shoulder surgery rehab) saw his first game action of 2019, getting the start and striking out the side (all three swinging, and he threw 83% strikes) in the top of the 1st inning, and RHRP Chad Hockin (on Myrtle Beach 7-day IL - May 2018 TJS) threw a 1-2-3 2nd inning (4-3, 6-3, K-swinging) as he continues to look sharp while rehabbing from May 2018 TJS.

Once one of the top pitching prospects in baseball (he was the Seattle Mariners 1st round pick and the 2nd overall pick in the 2011 draft out of UVA), the 29-year old Hultzen still has a plus-CH and a very solid breaking ball and he runs his cutter at a respectable 88-90 MPH, and he has outstanding command of all of his pitches, too, but the problem he had last year (and it remains to be seen if the issue has been resolved) was that he was unable to throw more than one inning per appearance and he was also unable to throw two days in a row. If he is going to be an MLB lefty reliever he will need to be able to either throw multiple innings or pitch at least two days in a row.    

Prior to the game on Field #5, LHP Brendon Little (Cubs 2017 1st round draft pick) and RHP John Pomeroy (ex-PIT) threw "live" BP on Field #6. This was the first time Little has faced hitters since straining his lat in his first "live" BP session of Minor League Camp the first week of March.   
 
Here is the abridged box score from the game (Cubs players only): 
CUBS "A" TEAM LINEUP:
1. D. J. Wilson, DH #1: 0-4 (L-3, K, 4-3, K)
2a. Abraham Rodriguez, DH #2: 1-1 (2B, R)
2b. Alexander Guerra, PH-DH: 1-3 (1B, K, F-9)
3. Edmond Americaan, LF: 2-3 (1B, BB, 2B, K, R)
4. Marcus Mastrobuoni, C: 1-4 (6-4 FC, L-6 DP, 1B, F-9, R, 2 RBI, SB)
5. Jake Slaughter, 3B-1B: 2-4 (2B, 6-3, F-9, 1B, RBI)
6. Yonathan Perlaza, 2B: 2-4 (K, 1B, K, 1B, SB, CS)
7a. Orian Nunez, 1B: 0-2 (E-5, L-8)
7b. Luis Diaz, 3B: 1-2 (3B, P-4, R)
8. Fernando Kelli, CF: 0-3 (P-3, K, F-9 SF, K, RBI)
9. Josue Huma, SS: 1-3 (K, K, 1B)
10. Dalton Hurd, RF: 0-3 (F-8, 2-3, K)

CUBS "A" TEAM PITCHERS: 
1. Danny Hultzen: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K, 18 pitches (15 strikes)
2. Chad Hockin: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K, 2/0 GO/AO, 11 pitches (9 strikes)
3. Willy Cabrera: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 2 R (2 ER), 1 BB, 2 K, 1 HBP, 1 WP, 0/1 GO/AO, 24 pitches (11 strikes)
4. Omar Ventura: 2.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R (1 ER), 0 BB, 2 K, 1 WP, 1/2 GO/AO, 29 pitches (20 strikes)
5. Manuel Espinoza: 2.0 IP, 3 H, 3 R (2 ER), 1 BB, 1 K, 1 HBP, 2/3 GO/AO, 42 pitches (26 strikes)
6. Carlos Vega: 2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K, 0/3 GO/AO, 35 pitches (25 strikes) 

CUBS "A" TEAM ERRORS: 3 
1. SS Josue Huma: E-6 (fielding miscue allowed batter to reach base safely) 
2. SS Josue Huma: E-6 (fielding miscue allowed batter to reach base safely) 
3. SS Josue Huma: E-6 (fielding miscue allowed batter to reach base safely) 

CUBS "A" TEAM CATCHERS DEFENSE:  
Marcus Mastrobuoni: 1-1 CS 

ATTENDANCE: 7 

WEATHER: Partly cloudy & breezy with temperatures in the 80's 

Arizona 
Scoring 
Service 

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