Brayan Altuve

Cristian Hernandez blasted an opposite-field two-run HR over the RF fence in the third, singled and scored in the sixth, and drilled an RBI single in the eighth, Alejandro Rivero blooped an RBI double and scored in the second and belted an opposite-field two-run triple and scored in the fifth, Raino Coran hammered an RBI double into the LF corner and scored in the fourth and crushed a lead-off double off the LF fence and scored in the eighth, Brayan Altuve roped an RBI double and scored in the second and singled and scored in the fourth, Christian Olivo singled, stole a base, and scored a run in the third and cracked an RBI single in the fourth, and Dilan Granadillo laced two RBI singles, leading an 18-hit attack as the Cubs uploaded a 15-4 pasting of the Athletics in Cactus League Extended Spring Training game action Monday morning on Field #4 at the Lew Wolff Training Complex at Fitch Park in Mesa, AZ.    

Nelson Beltran slugged a two-run HR in the bottom of the third and made a spectacular HR saving catch by leaping high and reaching over the LF fence to take back what would have been a Frank Hernandez four-bagger in the top of the seventh, and Lester Madden and Ramon Martinez ripped RBI doubles for the A's in a losing couse.  

The game was called after eight innings of play. 

With today's HR, Cristian Hernandez has now hit six home runs in 23 EXST games, including four in 19 Cactus League EXST games, and two in four EXST intrasquad games. Javier Baez holds the all-time EXST Cubs HR record. He hit eight in 26 Cactus League EXST games 2012. 

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

Pedro Diaz belted an RBI double and a two-run HR, Jorge Ruiz clubbed an RBI triple, reached base on an HBP, and scored two runs, and SP Milleran Cedano hurled four innings of two-hit ball with six strikeouts, helping the Angels defeat the Cubs 7-2 in Cactus League Extended Spring Training game action Wednesday morning on Field #1 at the Riverview Baseball Complex in Mesa, AZ.  

Brayan Altuve stroked a two-run double to account for the two Cub runs.  

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

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

Miguel Pabon and Brayan Altuve laced run-scoring singles, Felix Stevens and Reivaj Garcia singled, walked, and scored one run a piece, Raino Coran reached base three times on two singles and a walk and gunned down a runner trying to score from 2nd base on a line-drive single to RF, fireballin' RP Alfredo Zarraga struck out three of the last four men he faced (all three swinging) to protect the lead and record the win, and catcher Moises Ballesteros threw out a runner attempting to steal second base to end the game after earlier picking a runner off 2nd base to blunt a potential 4th inning rally, as the Cubs scored a late tie-breaking run and edged the Diamondbacks Black squad 3-2 in Cactus League Extended Spring Training game action Thursday morning on Whilrlwind Field at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick, east of Scottsdale, AZ.  

Danyer Sanabria drilled an RBI single and tripled and scored for the D'backs. 

The game was pre-planned as a seven-inning affair. 

David Bote saw his first game action of 2022 after undergoing surgery to repair a torn labrum in his left (non-throwing) shoulder last October. He served as a DH in the game and went 1-3, grounding out in his first two ABs and then reaching base on an infield hit his final time up. Barring a medical setback, Bote will be playing in EXST games through next week, and then he will report to AAA Iowa on 5/23 and begin an official Article XIX-C Minor League Rehab Assignment. Because he was placed on the Cubs MLB 60-day IL during Spring Training, he must spend at least the first 60 days of the MLB regular season on the IL, which means June 6th is the earliest he can be reinstated.  

In EXST Cubs roster news, RHP Dakota Mekkes has completed his EXST rehab and he has moved-up to AAA Iowa (he pitched in just one Cactus League EXST game, and that was two days ago). Also, INF Carlos Sepulveda has been assigned to Iowa (he played in the EXST intrasquad game yesterday, so the move was sudden), and 1B Grayson Byrd has been moved up to South Bend. Like Jake Slaughter and Wyatt Short, Sepulveda and Byrd were left behind at EXST when the four Cubs full-season minor league affiliates left town last month. 

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

Andrelton Simmons singled twice, walked, and scored a run, Rafael Morel drilled a two-run double and an RBI single, walked, and stole a base, Brayan Altuve laced a double and an RBI single and scored a run, and Moises Ballesteros roped an RBI double, walked, and scored a run, helping the Cubs come from behind to edge the Athletics 8-7 in Cactus League Extended Spring Training game action Tuesday morining on Field #4 at the Lew Wolff Training Complex at Fitch Park in Mesa, AZ. 

Darlyn Montero ripped an RBI single and an RBI double and drew a walk for the A's in a losing cause. 

Cubs and A's pitchers combined to issue 19 walks and throw nine wild pitches.  

The game was called after eight innings of play. 

In Cubs EXST news, OF Cole Roederer (July 2021 TJS) has completed his Mesa rehab assignment and has been temporarily assigned to Lo-A Myrtle Beach. He will be moved up to Hi-A South Bend once the weather warms up. Also, 1B-OF Felix Stevens (on the Myrtle Beach 7-day IL since April 15th) has reported to Mesa for a rehab assignment. 

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

Brayan Altuve laced three singles, scored two runs, and drove-in another, Christian Olivo drilled an RBI double and a single, Jake Slaughter belted a solo HR, and Luke Farrell and four relievers combined to toss a two-hit shutout with 16 strikeouts, as the Cubs blanked the Diamondbacks Black squad 6-0 in Cactus League Extended Spring Training game action Tuesday morning on Whirlwind Field at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick east of Scottsdale, AZ. 

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

Brayan Altuve (Cubs 2019 IFA signing - $1M bonus) drilled a game-tying RBI single in his first U. S. AB in the top of third inning and belted a two-run triple off the left-centerfield wall and scored a run in a four run fifth, Luis Verdugo drilled RBI singles in consecutive innings (one in the fourth and one in the fifth), Kevin Alcantara (acquired from the Yankees in the Anthony Rizzo trade) singled twice, scored a run, and drove-in another, Cubs 2021 4th round draft pick Christian Franklin singled twice, walked, and scored a run, Matt Mervis singled twice and scored a run, Cubs 2021 2nd round pick James Triantos singled, walked, and scored a run, Moises Ballesteros (Cubs 2021 IFA signing - $1.5M bonus) clubbed a PH double into the RF corner in his first U. S. AB, and Cubs 2021 9th round pick LHP Chase Watkins fired three innings of one-hit no-run ball out of the pen, helping the Cubs defeat the Rockies 7-3 in AZ Instructional League game action Monday afternoon on Dust Storm Field at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick east of Scottsdale. AZ. 

Ezequiel Tovar tripled and scored in the bottom of the first inning and belted a two-run HR in the bottom of the third to account for all of the Rockies runs. 

The game was called after 8-1/2 innings of play. 

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