Alzolay Goes Four as Cubs & Rockies Draw in Extras

Brandon Vicens singled in the 3rd, walked and scored on a Rafael Mejia RBI double in the 7th, and drilled a game-tying two-run double in the 8th, Fabian Pertuz singled twice and scored a run, and Marcus Mastrobuoni belted a solo HR, walked twice, scored two runs, and threw out two baserunners attempting to steal and back-picked another one off 1st base for the Cubs, and Eddy Diaz singled and tripled and SP Anderson Amarista hurled four innings of shutout ball for the Rockies, as the two teams played to a ten-inning 5-5 tie in Cactus League Extended Spring Training game action Tuesday morning on Field #5 at the Riverview Baseball Complex on John Arguello Way in Mesa, AZ. 

Adbert Alzolay (on AAA Iowa 7-day IL - lat strain) got the start for the Cubs and worked four innings (59 pitches). He allowed three runs on five hits (four singles and a Shael Mendoza solo HR), issued one walk, uncorked a WP, and committed two balks. He also struck out eight (six swinging).

Alzolay grew stronger as he worked deeper into the game. After allowing five of the first eight men he faced to reach base, he dialed it up a notch and retired eight of the last nine (seven by strikeout). 

Cubs pitchers struck out 17 Rockies during the course of the game, and Chi-Feng Lee pitched an "immaculate" top of the 10th (he struck out the side on nine pitches).  

The Cubs played only one Cactus League EXST game today, so the squad that took on the Rockies consisted of elements of both the "A" team and the "B" team.  

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

CUBS LINEUP:
1. Rochest Cruz, 2B: 1-5 (K, 1B, 4-3, 1-3, L-3)
2a. Gioskar Amaya, DH #1: 1-4 (1B, P-6, K, 5-3)
2b. Kevin Moreno, PH: 0-0 (BB)
3a. Henderson Perez, DH #2: 0-3 (L-6, 5-3, BB, 4-3)
3b. Richard Nunez, PH: 1-1 (1B, PO) 
4. Marcus Mastrobuoni, C: 1-2 (4-3, HR, BB, BB, 2 R, RBI)
5. Yovanny Cuevas, LF: 0-3 (K, 6-3, K, BB, R)
6. Fabian Pertuz, SS: 2-4 (6-3, 1B, P-6, 1B, R)
7. Brandon Vicens, RF: 2-3 (1B, 5-3, BB, 2B, R, 2 RBI)
8. Rafael Mejia, 1B: 1-4 (F-7, 2B, 5-3, P-6, RBI)
9. Jose Gutierrez, CF: 1-4 (F-7, E-4, 2B, F-9, RBI, SB)
10. Widimer Joaquin, 3B: 1-4 (1B, K, K, K)

CUBS PITCHERS: 
1. Adbert Alzolay: 4.0 IP, 5 H, 3 R (3 ER), 1 BB, 8 K, 1 HR, 1 WP, 2 BALK, 2/1 GO/AO, 59 pitches (39 strikes) 
2. Junichi Tazawa: 1.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R (1 ER), 0 BB, 2 K, 1 HR, 0/1 GO/AO, 17 pitches (12 strikes) 
3. Erick Leal: 2.0 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K, 2/1 GO/AO, 26 pitches (23 strikes) 
4. Joel Machado: 1.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R (1 ER), 0 BB, 0 K, 1/1 GO/AO, 20 pitches (14 strikes) 
5. Alfredo Colorado: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K, 17 pitches (13 strikes) 
6. Chi-Feng Lee: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K, 9 pitches (9 strikes) 

CUBS ERRORS: 2 
1. 1B Rafael Mejia: E-3 (overthrow on attempted back-pick at 3B after 5-3 GO allowed runner to score)
2. 2B Rochest Cruz: E-4 (missed catch on SB attempt at 2nd base allowed runner to advance to 3rd) 

CUBS CATCHERS DEFENSE: 
Marcus Mastrobuoni: 2-5 CS, 1 PO 

CUBS BASERUNNING: 
Kevin Moreno - thrown out 9-6 attempting to score from 2nd base on single to RF

ATTENDANCE: 15 

WEATHER: Partly cloudy & a bit breezy after morning rain with temperatures in the 70's 

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