The Cubs did a solid impression of a winning team, taking two of three from the Rays and coming up a few innings of relief shy of a sweep. They enjoy a day off today and begin again in San Diego. See below for matchups in this four-game series.

Game 53, Friday, June 2, 8:40 pm central
CHC: RHP Jameson Taillon (0-3, 8.04 ERA)
SDP: RHP Michael Wacha (5-1, 3.45 ERA)

Game 54, Saturday, June 3, 9:10 pm central
CHC: LHP Drew Smyly (5-2, 3.45 ERA)
SDP: RHP Yu Darvish (3-4, 4.61 ERA)

Ismael Mena, Ed Howard, and Adan Sanchez stroked run scoring singles to highlight a three-run 3rd, Christopher Paciolla belted a solo HR, and Luis Devers, Drew Gray, Kenyi Perez, Scott Kobos, and Gleiber Morales combined to hurl a three-hit shutout with 16 strikeouts, as the Cubs blanked the Angels 4-0 in a Cactus League Extended Spring Training game played Tuesday evening on Field #1 at the Riverview Baseball Complex in Mesa, AZ.  

Here is the abridged box score from the game (Cubs players only):  

EXST CUBS LINEUP:

Anthony Scull drilled a solo HR and a single, Luis Eduardo Rodriguez belted two triples, scored a run, and drove-in another, and SP Carson Fulmer and five relievers combined to spin a three-hitter, helping the Angels defeat the Cubs 7-3 in a Cactus League Extended Spring Training game played Monday evening at Tempe Diablo Stadium in Tempe, AZ.

Jefferson Rojas ripped a monster two-run HR high over the LF fence and onto Westcourt Way to account for two of the three Cub runs (the other run scored as the result of a bases loaded HBP). The Cubs also stole six bases. 

The Cubs have three games to turn around a 2-4 homestand. They suffered a three game sweep at the hands of the Reds and are now joined at Wrigley by the 39-16 Tampa Bay Rays. The Rays sit atop a strong AL East and hold the best record in baseball. The Cubs currently find themselves at the opposite end of the spectrum, falling to last in the NL Central and holding a record better than only the farcical Oakland Athletics. They remain, however, only 5.5 back in the division. See below for matchups.

2023 Cubs Cactus League Extended Spring Training Stats  

LAST UPDATED: 5-27-2023 

There is no Official Scorer at Cactus League Extended Spring Training games, so all stats are unofficial 

Arizona 
Scoring 
Service 

Javier Francisco drilled an RBI double in the 3rd inning and picked-up another RBI on a GO in the 5th, Lazaro Morales singled twice, stole a base, and drove-in a run, and Giants batters took advantage of eight walks, three HBP, and a WP to plate six runs despite managing only four hits, en route to a 6-4 victory over the Cubs in Cactus League Extended Spring Training game action Saturday morning at the San Francisco Giants Papago Park Complex in Phoenix, AZ.  

I'm a day late on this one, so I'll keep it brief. The Cubs got reinforcements in the forms of Kyle Hendricks returning from the IL and Tauchman joining the outfield mix. They'll plan three against the Reds this weekend as both struggle to stay out of the bottom of the NL Central dog pile.

Brayan Altuve collected four RBI (two RBI doubles and a two-run single), Ke'Shun Collier reached base five times (three singles and two walks), scored a run, and drove-in another, Jefferson Rojas doubled, walked twice, stole two bases, and scored two runs, Alexis Hernandez drilled an RBI single, walked, reached base on an HBP, and scored two runs, Lizardo Ruiz ripped an RBI single, walked, stole a base, and scored two runs, and Christopher Paciolla laced an RBI single, walked, and scored two runs, as the Cubs drubbed the Brewers 12-4 in Cactus League Extended Spring Training game action Fri

Ismael Mena rifled a two-run triple into the RF Corner in the 2nd inning and then scored on an error (relay overthrow at 3rd base), drilled a single, stole a base, and scored a run in the 5th (Jefferson Rojas RBI single), and hammered a line-drive bases-loaded bases-clearing triple off the CF Batter's Eye in the 6th for a grand total of five RBI and two runs scored, Christopher Paciolla doubled, singled, stole a base, and scored two runs, and SP Luis Devers (on the AA Tennessee 7-day IL - right shoulder inflammation) saw his first game action of 2023 and hurled two innings of shutout ball,

Brayan Altuve smacked two triples, scored a run, and drove one in, Frank Hernandez drilled two singles, scored two runs, and knocked-in another, Wally Soto ripped an RBI single, walked twice, and scored a run, and Ed Howard singled, walked, stole a base, and scored a run, as the Cubs rallied late to edge the Rockies 5-4 in a Cactus League Extended Spring Training game played Tuesday morning on Field #6 at the Riverview Baseball Complex in Mesa, AZ.