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18-year old power-hitting C-1B Kevin Zamudio (2015 IFA - Tijuana, Mexico) slugged a two-run home run over the LF fence to put the Cubs on the scoreboard and speedy Luis Ayala belted a three-run inside-the-park home run into the right-centerfield alley two outs later, as the AZL Cubs rallied to score five runs in the bottom of the 8th and defeat the AZL Brewers 5-3 in Arizona League (AZL) Opening Day action Monday night on Field #1 at the Riverview Baseball Complex in Mesa, AZ.
AZL Cubs LHP Yapson Gomez hurled three innings of perfect baseball in relief and picked-up the win.
Ex-KC RHRP Aaron Crow (April 2015 TJS) pitched the first inning for the AZL Cubs (14 pitches - 10 strikes), allowing no runs and a single, with a strikeout and 1/1 GO/AO.
19-year old RHP Erling Moreno (2013 IFA - Colombia - $650K signing bonus) was the scheduled starter for the AZL Cubs, but he ended-up piggy-backing the rehabber (Crow). Moreno worked five innings (77 pitches) and allowed three runs (two earned) on six hits (five singles and a double), no walks, and an HBP, with three strikeouts and an 8/3 GO/AO.
Brew Crew SP Nash Walters (Brewers 2015 3rd round pick - Lindale HS - Lindale, TX) threw four innings of one-hit shutout ball with six strikeouts and Nicolas Pierre drove-in all three AZL Brewers runs with a third-inning sacrifice fly and a fifth-inning two-run double.
Here is the abridged box score from the game (Cubs players only):
AZL CUBS LINEUP:
1. Luis Ayala, RF: 3-5 (K, K, 1B, 1B, HR, R, 3 RBI)
2. Jose Gonzalez, CF: 0-5 (F-8, 1-3, F-8, K, P-4)
3. Jhony Bethencourt, SS: 0-2 (6-3, BB, BB, 4-3, SB)
4. Gustavo Polanco, DH: 2-4 (K, 1B, L-9, 1B, R)
5. Kevin Zamudio, 1B: 1-4 (F-8, K, K, HR, R, 2 RBI)
6. Rafael Mejia, 3B: 0-4 (K, K, K, K)
7. Jhonny Pereda, C: 0-4 (P-6, F-7, E-6, 6-3, SB)
8. Yohan Matos, LF: 1-3 (E-6, BB, K, 1B, R, SB)
9. Edgar Rondon, 2B: 1-2 (4-3, 1-3 SH, 1B, BB, R)
AZL CUBS PITCHERS:
1. Aaron Crow: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 H, 0 BB, 1 K, 1/1 GO/AO, 14 pitches (10 strikers)
2. Erling Moreno: 5.0 IP, 6 H, 3 R (2 ER), 0 BB, 3 K, 1 HBP, 8/3 GO/AO, 77 pitches (50 strikes)
3. Yapson Gomez: 3.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K, 6/1 GO/AO, 28 pitches (22 strikes)
AZL CUBS ERRORS: 2v
1. 3B Rafael Mejia: E-5 (throwing error allowed batter to reach base safely)
2. 3B Rafael Mejia: E-5 (throwing error on infield single allowed batter to advance to 2nd base)
AZL CUBS CATCHERS DEFENSE:
jhonny Pereda: 1-1 CS
ATTENDANCE: 22
WEATHER: Partly cloudy with temperatures 110+
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