Brewers Leave Cubs Offense in a Stupor at Fitch Park

Dustin Houle and Jalen Harris smacked back-to-back RBI doubles in a two run 4th, Francisco Castillo collected three singles (including a run-scoring hit in the 9th), and RHP Zach Quintana tossed five innings of one-run ball with five strikeouts, as the Brewers defeated the Cubs 3-1 in Cactus League Extended Spring Training action this morning at Fitch Park Field #3 in Mesa, AZ.

The Cubs scored their one run in the bottom of the 1st inning, when Albert Almora ripped a two-out triple into the left-centerfield gap, and then scored on a Xavier Batista line-drive double into the LF corner. 

Almora was 2-4 for the day, including the 1st inning triple, an L-7 line-out in the 3rd. a strikeout (swinging) in the 6th, and a two-out single in the 8th. In five Cactus League Extended Spring Training games (22 PA), Almora is hitting 273/273/500 with three singles, a double and two triples, no walks, and four strikeouts.     

While the Cubs and Brewers were playing their game on Field #3, RHPs Chang-Yong Lim and Daury Torrez and LHPs Angel Mejias and David Villegas faced-off in a "sim" game on Field #2. Among the position players participating was Steve Clevenger, who was seeing his first game action of any kind since being placed on the Cubs MLB 60-day DL with a strained oblique on April 14th.    

Clevenger hit a couple of squared-up rocket line-drives, including one that almost took Daury Torrez's head off. He certainly didn't show any ill effects from the injury, and I would think he will likely get some ABs as a DH in Cactus League Extended Spring Training games beginning sometime next week, before going out on a rehab assignment at either Tennessee or Iowa. (He isn't eligible to be reinstated from the DL until June 13th).  

Here is the abridged box score from today's Cactus League Extended Spring Training game (Cubs players only):   



CUBS LINEUP:
1a. Jeffrey Baez: 1-3 (K, 1-3, 1B, SB)
1b. Jose Dore, RF: 1-1 (1B)
2. Brad Zapenas, 2B: 0-4 (6-3, 5-3, 6-3, 6-4 FC)
3. Albert Almora, CF: 2-4 (3B, L-7, K, 1B, R)
4a. Xavier Batista, LF: 1-3 (2B, K, F-7, RBI)
4b. Rashad Crawford, LF: 0-1 (K)
5a. Shawon Dunston Jr, DH: 0-3 (K, F-8, 1-3)
5b. Garrett Schlecht, PH: 0-1 (K)
6. Trevor Gretzky, 1B: 0-4 (F-7, P-5, K, K)
7. Mark Malave, 3B: 1-4 (L-8, K, F-9, 1B)
8a. Lance Rymel, C: 1-2 (1B, 4-3)
8b. Alberto Mineo, C: 0-2 (L-5, F-9)
9. Francisco Sanchez, SS: 1-3 (1B, 5-3, K) 

CUBS PITCHERS:    
1. Duane Underwood: 3.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 4 K, 46 pitches (25 strikes), 4/1 GO/FO
2. Corbin Hoffner: 1.0 IP, 3 H, 2 R (2 ER), 0 BB, 1 K, 17 pitches (11 strikes), 0/2 GO/FO
3. Tyler Bremer: 2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K, 27 pitches (16 strikes), 2/0 GO/FO
4. Mike Hamann: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K, 20 pitches (16 strikes), 2/0 GO/FO  
5. Larry Suarez: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K, 1 WP, 12 pitches (8 strikes),  0/2 GO/FO
6. Chad Martin: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R (0 ER), 1 BB, 1 K, 1 GIDP, 13 pitches (8 strikes), 2/0 GO/FO

CUBS ERRORS: 1
SS Francisco Sanchez - E-6 (fielding error allowed batter to reach base safely - eventually scored unearned run)

CUBS CATCHERS DEFENSE:
1. Lance Rymel: 1-1 CS
2. Alberto Mineo: 0-2 CS

ATTENDANCE: 13

WEATHER: Sunny & breezy with temperatures in the 80's