Denorfia and Dunston Help Cubs Salvage Tie at Riverview
Chris Denorfia (on Cubs MLB 15-day DL - strained hamstring) belted an RBI double, walked, and scored a run and Shawon Dunston Jr (on Myrtle Beach Pelicans 7-day DL - right shoulder injury) doubled, stole two bases, and scored a run for the Cubs, and Jesus Lopez drilled a two-run single, doubled, and walked and Vicmal de la Cruz singled, doubled, and scored a run for the Athletics, as the Cubs and A's played to a 5-5 tie in Cactus League Extended Spring Training game action this morning on Field #6 at Mesa CubTown at Riverview Park.
The game was called after eight innings of play.
RHP Pierce Johnson (on AA Tennessee7-day DL with a lat strain) continued his EXST rehab, working three innings (37 pitches) for the Cubs and allowing two runs on four hits (two doubles and two singles) and no walks, with three strikeouts (all three swinging) and a 4/2 GO/FO. Johnson had excellent command today and threw a high percentage of strikes (71%). His fastball velocity sat consistenty at 92 MPH (max), with only an occasional drop-off to 91.
18-year old Colombian RHP Erling Moreno (2014 TJS) made his second game appearance in a week. The 6'3 righthander allowed two hits (a single and a double) in 1.2 IP, and successfully escaped a "runner at 3rd and out out" situation. Moreno's fastball velocity sat at 89-90 (down a couple of MPH from last week), but he displayed outstanding command of all of his pitches, most noteworthy an advanced change-up (unusual for an 18-year old)
Cubs 2014 5th round draft pick RHP Dylan Cease (2014 TJS) also made his second game appearance in a week (he faced the A's at Fitch Park last Monday), but he did not fare as well as Moreno. While he only allowed one run, he also allowed six of the ten batters he faced to reach base (three singles and three walks, plus a WP) in just 1.1 IP. Cease's fastball velocity was at 95-97 MPH in both innings, down a couple of ticks from his outing last week when he touched 99.
Prior to the Cactus League EXST game, RHP Marcelo Carreno (post-2013 shoulder surgery) and RHP Trey Masek (2014 shoulder surgery) squared-off in a two-iining "sim" game on Field #3.
Here is the abridged box score from today's Cactus League EXST game (Cubs players only):
CUBS LINEUP:
1. Shawon Dunston Jr, DH #1: 1-4 (F-8, E-6, 2B, P-6, R, 2 SB)
NOTE: SLOT WAS SKIPPED FIFTH TIME THRU BATTING ORDER
2. Chris Denorfia, LF-DH: 1-3 (BB, K, 2B, K, R, RBI)
NOTE: SLOT WAS SKIPPED FIFTH TIME THRU BATTING ORDER
3. Eloy Jimenez, RF: 1-5 (1B, F-9, E-5, K, K, R)
4. Joey Martarano, 1B: 1-4 (K, K, K, 1B, R)
5. Frandy de la Rosa, 2B: 1-4 (E-4, 2B, K, 3-1, R)
6a. Tyler Alamo, C: 0-2 (F-7, E-5)
6b. Alberto Mineo, C: 2-2 (1B, 1B, RBI)
7a. Ho-Young Son, SS: 0-2 (F-9, 6-3)
7b. Carlos Sepulveda, SS: 1-2 (4-3, 1B)
8. Adonis Paula, 3B: 0-4 (K, K, P-3, K)
9. Roberto Caro, DH-LF: 0-1 (BB, L-6, SB)
NOTE: SLOT WAS SKIPPED FIRST TWO TIMES THRU BATTING ORDER
10. Robert Garcia, CF: 0-4 (1-3, K, K+WP, 5-3)
CUBS PITCHERS:
1. Pierce Johnson: 3.0 IP, 4 H, 2 R (2 ER), 0 BB, 3 K, 1 WP, 4/2 GO/FO, 38 pitches (27 strikes)
2. Erling Moreno: 1.2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K, 3/1 GO/FO, 25 pitches (17 strikes)
3. Dylan Cease: 1.1 IP, 3 H, 1 R (1 ER), 3 BB, 2 K, 1 WP, 2/0 GO/FO , 40 pitches (22 strikes)
4. John Michael Knighton: 2.0 IP, 2 H, 2 R (0 ER), 0 BB, 1 K, 1 WP, 3/2 GO/FO, 38 pitches (21 strikes)
CUBS ERRORS: 1
SS Carlos Sepulveda: E-6 (fielding error allowed batter to reach base safely)
CUBS CATCHERS DEFENSE:
Alberto Mineo: 0-1 CS
WEATHER: Sunny with temperaturs 100+
ATTENDANCE: 5
Recent comments
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Charlie 3 hours 34 min ago (view)
Honestly, Urias guessed wrong on that one. But he stilled managed to make contact despite being way out in front, so that breaker must have rolled.
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Charlie 3 hours 36 min ago (view)
KB having a perfectly adequate KB stretch and it's a highlight. Sigh.
Chafin may be reconsidering that jalopie after being the man on the mound when the wheels fell off in this one.
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crunch 4 hours 35 min ago (view)
i know we're only 10 games in and you can't get good numbers on that, but this is a full-team hitting slump aside from marisnick and his 12 PA.
no one on this team is this bad, but all of them doing it at once is crazy. bad ABs, tons of swings and misses, crap contact...
upon reflection (and another hit in the 9th) i need to give props to k.bryant...he's a 1-man show right now for the regulars.
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Eric S 5 hours 22 min ago (view)
I can pause it for pinch hitting - otherwise I'm locked in as there's nothing else to see here
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Dolorous Jon Lester 5 hours 27 min ago (view)
Me too, Eric Sogard
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Eric S 5 hours 33 min ago (view)
Well, Chafin ... not your night I guess ... looks like its time to catch up on the latest installment of Falcon and the Winter Soldier
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Dolorous Jon Lester 5 hours 36 min ago (view)
It's kinda starting to feel like this team sucks? But yes this game definitely sucks.
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crunch 5 hours 39 min ago (view)
justin steele warming...seems like his debut is on tap.
also, this game sucks.
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Eric S 5 hours 41 min ago (view)
Luis Urias is not impressed 😩
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crunch 8 hours 18 min ago (view)
steele, wieck, and strop called up.
btw, strop is a "replacement player" in this move and isn't subject to 40-man roster waiver rules
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crunch 8 hours 45 min ago (view)
cubs covid...chris young tested positive. j.adam, d.winkler, and b.workman are now on the "injured list"
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Charlie 9 hours 10 min ago (view)
Sorry that I couldn't access things for opening day and then got busy for the next couple series. Glad to have a baseball routine to share with you all again!
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Sonicwind75 9 hours 41 min ago (view)
Guessing I'm a little late to the game on this; but just read Chafin's twitter about wanting to buy a cheap car to drive around Chicago. He seems like a good dude.
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Arizona Phil 1 day 2 hours ago (view)
RHSP Duncan Robinson (June 2019 TJS) has retired.
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Arizona Phil 1 day 2 hours ago (view)
Rex Brothers and Tony Wolters reached five years of MLB Service Time this weekend, so Brothers now cannot be sent outright to the minors without his consent (he is out of minor league options) and Wolters (who has a minor league option left) now cannot be optioned or outrighted to the minors without his consent.
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Arizona Phil 1 day 3 hours ago (view)
It's not good to play bad teams early because they have the confidence and energy they won't have later in the season after they realize they suck and all is lost.
Comments
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