Cubs Throw No Hitter at Fitch Park
Five Cub pitchers combined to throw a no run, no hit game, but the Angels threw a three-hit shutout of their own right back at the Cubs, as the two teams played to a scoreless tie in AZ Instructional League action at Fitch Park Field #3 in Mesa this morning.
The Cubs mounted the only real scoring threat of the day in the bottom of the 3rd inning against Angels starter RHP Fabio Martinez. Willson Conteras smacked a lead-off double off the LF fence, but was still on 2nd base two outs later after Chris Huseby struck out and Xavier Batista flied out to left. Evan Crawford then lined a single into RF that looked like it might score Contreras, but the slow-footed ex-catcher was held up at 3rd, and then Crawford was caught stealing to end the inning and the threat.
The Cubs also had runners at 1st and 2nd with one out in the 7th, but pinch-runner Marco Hernandez was picked-off 2nd base and Reggie Golden grounded out to end the inning.
Meanwhile, the Cubs hurlers were shutting-down the Angels, allowing three walks but facing only one batter over the minimum through nine innings, thanks to a pick-off that short-circuited the Angel 7th and a 4-6-3 DP that concluded the Halo 8th.
Cubs 2010 10th round pick RHP Aaron Kurcz (College of Southern Nevada) got the start and continued his Instructs magic, throwing today’s first three innings of no-hit baseball. The 20-year old allowed just a walk while striking out four. In four AZ Instructional League outings covering 9.2 IP so far, Kurcz has allowed two hits and two walks, and no runs, while striking out 16.
6’4 230 RHP Dustin Fitzgerald (Cubs 2010 19th round draft pick out of Hill JC in Texas) followed Kurcz to the hill and retired the Angels six up/six-down on just 23 pitches (L-5, 4-3, 4-3 in his first inning of work, and 5-3, 6-3, and K-looking in his second inning).
19-year old RHP Robinson Lopez (one of three pitchers acquired by the Cubs from the Atlanta Braves in the Derrek Lee deal) worked the 6th and 7th, striking out the first man he faced and then getting two long fly outs to complete a 1-2-3 6th inning, and then after walking the lead-off hitter in the top of the 7th on four pitches, Lopez picked the runner off 1st, before inducing two routine ground outs (a 6-3 then a 4-3) to end the frame.
RHP Kevin Rhoderick (Cubs 2010 9th round pick out of Oregon State) worked the 8th and allowed a lead-off walk, but then got a 5-4 FC for the first out (nice leaping stab by 3B Gioskar Amaya to start the play), and a slick 4-6-3 GIDP to end the inning.
2010 29th round pick LHP Casey Harman (Clemson) threw an eight-pitch 1-2-3 9th to guarantee the no-hitter, with the Cubs needing just one little old run to complete what could have been a stirring victory, and with the top of the batting order due up. But Evan Crawford, Hak-Ju Lee, and Engel Santana went down 1-2-3 in the bottom of the 9th (5-3, K-swinging, and 4-3), resulting in a scoreless tie that would have made World Cup Soccer proud.
Here is today’s abridged box score (Cubs players only):
LINEUP:
1. Evan Crawford, CF: 1-4 (F-7, 1B, F-8, 5-3, CS)
2. Hak-Ju Lee, SS: 0-4 (P-6, K, 5-3, K)
3a. Max Kwan, C: 0-1 (E6, HBP, BB)
3b. Marco Hernandez, PR-DH: NO AB (PO)
3c. Engel Santana, PH: 0-1 (4-3)
4. Justin Bour, 1B: 0-3 (3-1, 6-3, K)
5. Logan Watkins, 2B: 1-3 (4-3, 3-1, 1B)
6. Reggie Golden, DH #1: 0-3 (K, K, 5-3)
7. Micah Gibbs, DH-C: 0-2 (K, F-7, BB)
8a. Willson Contreras, 3B: 1-1 (2B, HBP)
8b. Gioskar Amaya, 3B: 0-0 (1-3 SH)
9. Chris Huseby, LF: 0-3 (K, K, P-6)
10. Xavier Batista, RF: 0-3 (F-7, F-7, L-6)
PITCHERS:
1. Aaron Kurcz: 3.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 4 K, 37 pitches (26 strikes), 1/4 GO/FO
2. Dustin Fitzgerald: 2.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K, 23 pitches (15 strikes), 4/1 GO/FO
3. Robinson Lopez: 2.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K, 1 PO, 26 pitches (13 strikes), 2/2 GO/FO
4. Kevin Rhoderick: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 0 K, 1 GIDP, 11 pitches (5 strikes), 3/0 GO/FO
5. Casey Harman: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K, 8 pitches (6 strikes), 2/1 GO/FO
ERRORS: NONE
=================================================
ATTENDANCE: 31 (including cubs.com beat writer Carrie Muskat)
WEATHER: Sunny with temperatures in the 80’s
Recent comments
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Hagsag 13 hours 14 min ago (view)
Chase Strumpf and Andy Weber invited to the ML camp.
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Dolorous Jon Lester 18 hours 38 min ago (view)
Ryan Tepera returns. Major League deal
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crunch 1 day 16 hours ago (view)
spring training TV is usually fluid...adding and subtracting broadcast games...
first cubs TV (as of now) is March 3 (wednesday) on ESPN at 3pm EST.
radio broadcasts available for almost every game that's not televised. the cubs get going on monday and some other teams will start the day before.
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crunch 2 days 13 hours ago (view)
dj snelton's left elbow is screwed up...6 weeks rest then re-evaluate.
looks like he's going to try to avoid having surgery.
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Arizona Phil 3 days 5 hours ago (view)
AAA leagues really need to play through the month of September, because with September rosters being limited to 28 instead of 40, players will need to be moved back & forth between MLB and AAA throughout the month of September instead of just through the month of August.
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Mike Wellman 4 days 12 hours ago (view)
I get you, SW. Here in Des Moines, Cardinal fans flocked to I-Cub games when Memphis Redbirds were in town. That won't happen in '21 and even if it does in '22 & beyond it won't be as frequent as when they were in the same division. Not that I'll miss seeing Cardinal gear @ our ballpark...
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Dolorous Jon Lester 4 days 14 hours ago (view)
Ervin claimed by Braves. So we lose a potential future (and also current) asset in exchange for one year of a very mediocre Jake Marisnick.
This team has no direction at the moment.
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Sonicwind75 4 days 14 hours ago (view)
As a midwest kid now living in Texas, new scheduling is a bummer. Only get a chance to drive and see Cubs once every 3 years with interleague. Really looked forward to those games in Round Rock and the one season in San Antonio. I understand it makes more sense in the big picture, just selfishly disappointed.
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Cubster 5 days 15 hours ago (view)
Barry Foote bobble day! Cool!
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Mornington Crescent 5 days 17 hours ago (view)
They also gave away Larry Craig bobblefoot dolls as a promotion.
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crunch 6 days 9 hours ago (view)
alcantara passes through waivers and is assigned to AAA.
marisnick contract final, phllip ervin (OF) DFA'd
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Hagsag 6 days 11 hours ago (view)
Yes they did.
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crunch 6 days 12 hours ago (view)
welcome to the "big time" st paul saints...they built a nice park, the fans showed up, and they go from indies to AAA (with a bit of $ help from the twins for part ownership).
billy murray is a part owner of the group that owns the saints, btw.
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Mike Wellman 6 days 13 hours ago (view)
Hagsag, the River Bandits made the cut tho, right?
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Craig A. 6 days 14 hours ago (view)
Could have an option year remaining. Bleacher Nation walked it back, per the link above.
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Hagsag 6 days 14 hours ago (view)
Living in the Quad Cities area, I look forward to hopefully coming to Des Moines to see the I Cubs a few times this summer.
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