Chris Denorfia & Pierce Johnson Rehabbin' at Riverview

Marcos Derkes belted a bases-loaded triple and RHSP Taylor Black tossed three innings of no-hit ball, leading the Rockies to a 6-4 victory over the Cubs in Cactus League Extended Spring Training action this morning on Field #6 at Mesa CubTown at Riverview Park.  

The Cubs Cactus League EXST record dropped to 16-15-5 with today's loss. 

Jose Paniagua drilled an RBI triple and a single and Ho-Young Son ripped an RBI double, singled, reached base on an HBP, and stole a base for the Cubs in a losing cause.

Son is now hitting a robust 417/520/561 (and the .417 batting average leads the EXST Cubs for players with at least one PA per Cactus League EXST game), with four doubles and a triple, five walks and four HBP (so he is the Anthony Rizzo of the EXST Cubs), only three strikeouts (none in his last 33 PA), and five SB (albeit with two CS and four PO) in 18 Cactus League EXST games (50 PA). He also leads the EXST Cubs in multi-hit games with six (Frandy de la Rosa and Kevonte Mitchell have five a piece), and he made just his second error of the Cactus League EXST season today. Son will very likely be the starting shortstop for the Eugene Emeralds once the Northwest League season begins play next month. 

OF Chris Denorfia (on Cubs MLB 15-day with a hamstring strain) was a DH in today;s game and batted four times, once in each of the first four innings.

He struck out (swinging) on three pitches his first time up (and looked bad doing it), then grounded out 6-3 on the first pitch he saw the second time up, walked on four pitches in his third AB, and roped a line-single to left on the first pitch of the AB in his fourth and final Plate Appearance.

Denorfia jogged to 1st base when he ran (that's called "fuck 90 when I'm rehabbing my hamstring"), and Kevonte Mitchell was inserted into the game as a Designated Pinch-Runner the two times Denorfia reached base. Mitchell took advantage of the two opportunities by stealing a base and scoring two runs (Herb Washington, eat your heart out!).

RHP Pierce Johnson (on AA Tennessee DL with a lat strain) got the start on the mound for the Cubs today and looked a lot better today than he did in last Thursday's intrasquad game, working two innings of no-run/no hit ball (25 pitches - 19 strikes), and allowing just one baserunner (he hit the first man he faced) before easily retiring the last six in a row (4-3, P-4, K, K, F-8, 3-1).

His fastball velocity was better than last time, too, as he was working mostly at 92 MPH, and he touched 94 (the very first pitch of the game). He threw 12 consecutive strikes at the end of his outing (including all ten pitches he threw in the top of the 2nd), and was able to command all of his pitches (something he was not able to do last time out).

RHP Jesus Castillo (one of two pitchers acquired from the Diamondbacks in the Tony Campana deal a couple of years ago) followed Johnson to the hill and had a very poor outing, allowing three runs on two walks and two hits (one of which was the Derkes bases-loaded triple) in just one-third of an inning.

Usually a starting pitcher, LHP Jose Paulino had his outing pushed-back to the middle innings to accomodate Johnson and Castillo, and although he did allow three runs (two earned) on three hits, four walks, an HBP, and a balk in 3.2 IP, he was throwing his two-seamer harder than usual, working at 91-93 and touching 94-95 while getting a ton of ground balls (8/0 GO).  

LHRP Andin Diaz had his fastball gas consistently up to 94-95 MPH over the last two innings of the game (no runs/no hits allowed) 

Prior to the Cactus League EXST game on Field #6, RHP Marcelo Carreno (post-2013 right shoulder surgery) and RHRP Corbin Hoffner threw a one-inning "sim" game on Field #4. This was the first time Carreno (acquired as the PTBNL from the Tigers in the August 2012 deal that sent IF-OF Jeff Baker to Detroit) has faced hitters this year, while Hoffner is trying to perfect his new exteme sidearm (almost "submarine") delivery by getting extra work throwing against hitters on days he would normally just throw a bullpen side-session.  

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

CUBS LINEUP: 
X-1. Chris Denorfia, DH #1: 1-3 (K, 6-3, BB, 1B) 
NOTE: Denorfia led-off the bottom of the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th innings
X-2. Kevonte Mitchell, PR (2 R, SB)
NOTE: Mitchell pinch-ran for Denorfia in the bottom of the 3rd & 4th innings
1. Ho-Young Son, SS: 2-3 (HBP, F-8 DP, 1B, 2B, RBI, SB)
2. Kevin Encarnacion, CF: 0-3 (4-3, K, F-8 SF, F-9, RBI)
3. Eloy Jimenez, RF: 1-3: (5-3, 2B, F-9)
4. Joey Martarano, 1B: 1-3 (K, 1B, K)
5a. Alberto Mineo, C: 0-2 (K, 6-4 FC) 
5b. Erick Castillo, C: 0-1 (3-1) 
6. Roberto Caro, DH #2: 0-3 (4-3, 1-3, F-8)
7. Carlos Sepulveda, 2B: 0-3 (6-3, K, 3-U, RBI)
8. Varonex Cuevas, 3B: 0-3 (3-U, K, L-4)
9. Calvin Graves, LF: 0-1 (5-3, BB, BB, 2 R)
10. Jose Paniagua, DH #3: 2-3 (3B, 1B, K, RBI)

CUBS PITCHERS: 
1. Pierce Johnson: 2.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K, 1 HBP, 1 WP, 2/2 GO/FO, 25 pitches (19 strikes)
2. Jesus Castillo: 0.1 IP, 2 H, 3 R (3 ER), 2 BB, 1 K, 1 WP, 22 pitches (9 strikes) 
3. Jose Paulino: 3.2 IP, 3 H, 3 R (2 ER), 4 BB, 2 K, 1 HBP, 1 BALK, 1 GIDP, 8/0 GO/FO, 69 pitches (37 strikes) 
4. Andin Diaz: 2.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K, 1 HBP, 2/3 GO/FO, 35 pitches (19 strikes) 

CUBS ERRORS: 3
1. P Jose Paulino: E-1 (errant throw on pick-off attempt at 1st base allowed runner to advance to 3rd)
2. C Erick Castillo: E-2 (errant throw on pick-off attempt at 2nd base allowed runner to advance to 3rd)
3. SS Ho-Young Son: E-6 (fielding error allowed batter to rrach base safely)  

CUBS CATCHERS DEFENSE: 
1. Alberto Mineo: 0-1 CS 
2. Erick Castillo: 1 E (see above)

WEATHER: Sunny with temperatures in the 90's 

ATTENDANCE: 13