Pierce Johnson Continues Rehab at Riverview Park

Gerard Hernandez belted an RBI triple and an RBI single and scored two runs, Ramon Hernandez tripled twice, scored a run, and drove-in two more, and Jazz Chisholm drilled an RBI single and an RBI double, leading the Diamondbacks to an 11-6 victory over the Cubs on Field #1, and Wladimir Galindo singled and tripled, reached base on an HBP, and scored both Cub runs, as the Cubs and D'backs played to a 2-2 tie on Field #2, in Cactus League Extended Spring Training split-squad doubleheader action this morning at the Riverview Baseball Complex in Mesa, AZ.   

Jose Paniagua went 4-4 (all four hits were singles) and drove-in two runs and Isaac Paredes doubled, singled, walked, and scored a run for the Cubs in a losing cause on Field #1. 

RHSP Pierce Johnson (on AAA Iowa 7-day DL since May 5th--retro to May 3rd--with a lat strain) got the start on Field #1 and did not fare well, allowing seven runs (five earned) on seven hits (including a triple and a double) and three walks in 3.1 IP (61 pitches). He did strike out five, however. One more EXST rehab start in which he pitches five innings and gets his pitch count up to 75-80, and Johnson should be ready to return to the I-Cubs starting rotation.   

RHSP Jesus Castillo (one of two pitchers acquired from Arizona in the Tony Campana trade in February 2013) had a far better outing on Field #2 than did Johnson on Field #1, working five innings (71 pitches) and allowing two runs (one earned) on three hits. He struck out four and did not issue any walks, although he did hit a batter. So Castillo becomes the first of the Eugene starters to go five innings (Dylan Cease, Bryan Hudson, and Jose Paulino fell short earlier in the week, with Pedro Silverio and Manny Rondon yet to try). Castillo got through the first four innings on only 44 pitches while facing just ten batters, but he needed 27 pitches to get through the 5th (just barely), successfully working out of a runners at 2nd & 3rd and no outs jam (with Enrique de los Rios warmed-up & ready to go in the pen).   

Here are the abridged box scores from the games (Cubs players only): 

FIELD #1

CUBS SQUAD "A" LINEUP:
1. Ruben Reyes, LF: 1-4 (4-3, 4-3, 1B, 6-3, R)
2. Kwang-Min Kwon, RF: 2-4 (4-3, 1B, 1B, K, R, RBI)
3. Kevonte Mitchell, CF: 1-3 (1B, L-6, BB, 5-3, RBI)
4. Jose Paniagua, DH #1: 4-4 (1B, 1B, 1B, 1B, 2 RBI, PO)
5. Isaac Paredes, SS: 2-3 (2B, BB, 5-4 FC, 1B, R)
6. Vimael Machin, 3B: 0-4 (F-8, F-8, L-5, 4-6 FC) 
7. Jhonny Pereda, C: 1-2 (1B, HBP, 6-3, R, RBI)
8. Alberto Mineo, 1B: 0-3 (L-9, 4-3, F-8)
9. Michael Foster, DH #2: 0-3 (F-7, 6-3, F-8)
10. Yeiler Peguero, 2B: 1-2 (BB, 1B, P-2, 2 R, RBI) 

CUBS SQUAD "A" ITCHERS: 
1. Pierce Johnson: 3.1 IP, 7 H, 7 R (5 ER), 3 BB, 5 K, 1 WP, 1/3 GO/AO, 61 pitches (45 strikes) 
2. Luis Aquino: 0.2 IP, 2 H, 1 R (1 ER), 0 BB, 2 K, 16 pitches (11 strikes) 
3. Jose Albertos: 2.0 IP, 4 H, 3 R (3 ER), 2 BB, 4 K, 1 WP, 1/1 GO/AO, 52 pitches (32 strikes) 

CUBS SQUAD "A" ERRORS: 1 
3B Vimael Machin: E-5 (fielding error allowed batter to reach base safely) 

CUBS SQUAD "A" CATCHERS DEFENSE:
Jhonny Pereda: 1-2 CS

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

FIELD #2 

CUBS SQUAD "B" LINEUP:
1. Luis Ayala, CF: 0-2 (K, P-6, BB)
2. Andruw Monasterio, SS: 0-3 (6-3, 5-U FC, F-8)
3. Chris Pieters, DH #1: 0-3 (F-8, F-7, F-9)
4. Wladimir Galindo, 3B: 2-2 (1B, 3B, HBP, 2 R, CS)
5. Gustavo Polanco, 1B-C: 2-3 (K, 1B, 1B, RBI)
6. Kevin Zamudio, C-1B: 0-2 (K, 4-3, F-9 SF DP, RBI)
7. Alex Bautista, RF: 1-3 (1B, 6-3, 6-3)
8. Ricardo Marcano, DH #2: 0-3 (F-9, F-7, 4-3)
9. Yohan Matos, LF: 2-3 (1B, 1B, 4-3)
10. Jhonny Bethencourt, 2B: 1-2 (1B, P-4)

CUBS SQUAD "B" PITCHERS: 
1. Jesus Castillo: 5.0 IP, 3 H, 2 R (1 ER), 0 BB, 4 K, 1 HBP, 4/6 GO/AO, 71 pitches (44 strikes) 
2. Enrique de los Rios: 2.0 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K, 2/1 GO/AO, 30 pitches (22 strikes) 

CUBS SQUAD "B" ERRORS: 1 
1B Gustavo Polanco: E-3 (missed catch allowed batter to reach base safely) 

CUBS SQUAD "B"" CATCHERS DEFENSE: 
1. Kevin Zamudio: 1-2 CS 
2. Gustavo Polanco: 1-1 CS 

ATTENDANCE: 9 

 WEATHER: Sunny with temperatures 100+