Archive - 2019

Eddy Julio Martinez blasted a two-run HR and a triple (near-HR), and while the Cubs "A" team collected only four hits in the game (the EJM HR and triple and a couple of singles that didn't factor in the scoring), they drew 13 walks plus two HBP and stole six bases, edging the Athletics Green squad 4-3 in Cactus League Extended Spring Training Memorial Day game action Monday morning on Field #1 at the Riverview Baseball Complex in Mesa, AZ.  

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

CHC (30-21): LHP Cole Hamels (4-0, 3.38 ERA)
HOU (35-19): RHP Gerrit Cole (4-5, 4.11 ERA)
First pitch 1:10pmCDT

The Cubs leave behind the frustrating Reds' series and take their first trip to Houston since 2016. There they will face a tough Astros team that they haven't dueled since their rebuild took full effect.

Cole Hamels will lead the way for the Cubs. He was held to four innings in his last start against the Phillies as he allowed nine hits and two walks, along with six strikeouts. He still escaped his first loss of 2019 thanks to Albert Almora's grand slam and four strong relief innings from Tyler Chatwood. The match-up stats are a bit of a mixed bag. He's held Carlos Correa to 2-21 with 7 strikeouts. George Springer is 4-23 with 7 strikeouts, but he also has 3 homeruns and 7 walks.

Iraj Serrano drilled a walk-off line-drive RBI single to RF with one out in the bottom of the 9th to drive-in Yhoelnys Gonzalez with the winning run as the Athletics Green squad rallied for a run in the 8th and one in the 9th to edge the Cubs "B" team 2-1 in Cactus League Extended Spring Training game action Saturday morning on Field #4 at the Lew Wolff Training Complex at Fitch Park in Mesa, AZ. 

Fabian Pertuz singled twice, stole a base, and scored the lone Cub run, Caleb Knight rifled the sharply hit ground RBI single to CF that scored Pertuz, threw-out two A's baserunners attempting to steal, and back-picked another one off 1st base, and Jorge Remon, Blake Whitney, and Chris Allen combined to hurl six innings of one-hit shutout ball with eight strikeouts for the Cubs. 

Prior to the game, Cubs "B" team OF Brennen Davis (Cubs 2018 2nd round draft pick - Basha HS - Chandler, AZ) was moved up to Lo-A South Bend from EXST.

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

Ghordy Santos singled twice, stole two bases, and scored two runs and Luis Toribio drilled an RBI single, walked, and scored a run, helping the Giants Black squad edge the Cubs "A" team 3-2 in Cactus League Extended Spring Training game action Friday morning on Field #2 (AKA "Jim Davenport Field") at Indian School Park in Scottsdale, AZ. 

Cubs infielder Herson Perez left the game after being hit on the helmet with a pitch, but he did leave the field under his own power. 

The game was pre-planned as a ten-inning contest. 

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

The Cubs came up a bit short on their comeback attempt yesterday and had to accept a 2-2 split with the Phillies. They move on to greet the Reds to Wrigley for a 3-game set.

The Cubs matched up with the Reds in mid-May for a tough 1-2 series loss. Every game in that series was decided by 2 runs or fewer. The Cubs will run out an exact repeat of their starters in that series, but Tanner Roark will be the only familiar face on the other side. The Reds are well rested, having played only 5 games and having 3 days off since then. See below for the game-by-game matchups.

Oswaldo Pina stroked three hits (singled, stole a base, and scored in the top of the 2nd inning, singled in the 4th, and smacked a solo HR leading off the 7th), Rochest Cruz, Henderson Perez, Brandon Vicens, and Raymond Pena collected two hits a piece, and SP Niels Stone hurled three innings of shutout ball, as the Cubs edged the Diamondbacks 4-3 in Cactus League Extended Spring Training game action Thursday morning on Whirlwind Field at Salt Rivers Fields at Talking Stick east of Scottsdale, AZ.  

In addition to pelting D'backs pitchers with 13 hits, the Cubs also drew six walks in the game. 

The Cubs played only one Cactus League EXST game today, so the squad that traveled to Salt River Fields consisted of elements of both the Cubs "A" team and the Cubs "B" team. 

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

CHC: LHP Jon Lester (3-2, 2.09 ERA)
PHL: RHP Aaron Nola (4-0, 4.47 ERA)
First pitch 1:20pmCDT

The Cubs hitched their wagon to a pair of big homeruns for last night's 8-4 win. Today they send Jon Lester to the hill to lock down a series victory. Lester was thoroughly out-pitched by Strasburg on Saturday when I had the privilege of attending a fairly uneventful Cubs' loss in DC. He got knocked around for 10 hits and 5 runs in 4.1 innings, easily his worst start of the season. As worst starts go, it's the least bad worst start of any Cubs' starter! Hence, he has maintained an ERA just over 2. Current Phillies have seen him for 162 ABs and earned an OPS of .738 during that time. Sean Rodriguez has 55 of those ABs, with 12 hits, 3 of which were homeruns. McCutchen is 7-32 with 2 HRs. Harper is 3-10 with 6 strikeouts.