Morelli Hit Streak at 17 as Cubs Drop Giants

Jesus Morelli extended his hitting streak to 17 games with two doubles, Arismendy Alcantara tripled, singled, and scored a run, Xavier Batista doubled, tripled, and scored a run, and Vismeldy Bieneme reached base three times, scored one run, and drove-in another, as the EXST Cubs defeated the EXST Giants 4-2 in Cactus League Extended Spring Training action at Indian School Park Field #4 in Scottsdale this morning.

Morelli has hit 437/485/621 over the course of his 17-game hit streak that goes back to May 5th, and with two more hits today, Morelli is hitting 384/452/603 with a team-leading 12 doubles in 23 EXST games since being sent down from Peoria on April 23rd. He has hit safely in 22 out of the 23 games he has played at Extended Spring Training, and he has reached base safely in all 23 games (he walked in the one game he went hitless). 

AA Tennessee LHP Casey Lambert (September 2009 TJS) continued his rehab, throwing one shutout inning (16 pitches) in today’s game.

Here is today’s abridged box score (Cubs players only):

LINEUP:
1a. Pin-Chieh Chen, DH #1: 1-2 (K, 1B, RBI)
1b. Rafael Disla, PH-DH: 0-2 (K, K)
2. Arismendy Alcantara, SS: 2-4 (3B, 1B, 1-3, 4-3, R, PO)
3. Runey Davis, LF: 0-4 (6-3, 6-3, 1-3, K, RBI)
4. Brandon May, 3B: 0-3 (K, 4-3, L-8, BB)
5. Xavier Batista, DH #2: 2-4 (K, 2B, 3B, 5-4 FC, R)
6. Jesus Morelli, RF: 2-4 (2B, 2B, 4-3, P-6, RBI)
7. Bobby Wagner, 1B: 0-4 (F-8 DP, P-5, 3-1, F-8)
8. Alvaro Ramirez, CF: 2-4 (K, 1B, P-6, 1B, R)
9a. Carlos Romero, C: 0-1 (K, 1-3 SH)
9b. Sergio Burruel, C: 2-2 (1B, 1B)
10. Vismeldy Bieneme, 2B: 2-3 (1B, 1B, BB, K, RBI, R)

PITCHERS:
1. Casey Lambert – 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K, 0/2 GO/FO, 16 pitches (13 strikes)
2. John Mincone – 4.0 IP, 5 H, 1 R (1 ER), 0 BB, 4 K, 1 GIDP, 4/4 GO/FO, 56 pitches (38 strikes)
3. Luis Liria – 2.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K, 1/3 GO/FO, 28 pitches (16 strikes)
4. Hector Mayora - 2.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R (1 ER), 1 BB, 3 K, 1/2 GO/FO, 35 pitches (24 strikes)

ERRORS: NONE

CATCHERS DEFENSE:
Sergio Burruel: 1 PO

ATTENDANCE: 5

WEATHER: Sunny, breezy, and hot, with temperatures in the 90’s