Giants Out-Slug Cubs at Papago Park

Anthony Rodriguez reached base five times (four walks and a single) and scored two runs, Kwan Adkins singled and scored in the 1st inning and clubbed a two-run HR in the 2nd, Tyler Forner ripped an RBI single and scored in the 2nd and belted a solo HR in the 7th, and Elian Rayo laced an RBI double, walked three times, and scored a run, leading the Giants to an 11-6 victory over the Cubs in Cactus League Extended Spring Training game action Saturday morning at the Papago Park Complex in Phoenix, AZ. 

Pedro Ramirez slugged a two-run HR, singled and scored, and drew a walk, and Edgar Gamargo and Grayson Byrd each ripped a two-run double to account for the six Cub runs. An inning after his two-run double, Gamargo suffered a left knee injury trying to corral one of Wyatt Short's wild pitches and had to be carried off the field.    

Andrelton Simmons got back into game action as a DH, going 1-3 with a single and a stolen base. He has been taking grounders most every morning on Field #1 at the Cubs facility, but I haven't seen him throw since before he was shut down last week. What he does do is he fields the grounder (sometimes in spectacular fashion) and then tosses the ball into a nearby bucket, sort of like the Grand Prize Game at Bozo's Circus back in the day. 

Cristian Hernandez struck out three more times today (all three swinging), so he has struck out twelve times in 23 PA over the course of the six Cactus League Extended Spring Training games in which he has played so far.

One more Cubs pitcher who pitched in the DSL last season (Oliver Roque) made his stateside debut in the game. (SP Joel Sierra also pitched in the DSL in 2021, but he has been pitching in games since Minor League Camp in March). Still waiting to see Anthony Martinez and Anthony Mendez.  

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

CUBS LINEUP:
1a. Andrelton Simmons, DH #1: 1-3 (1B, 5-3, 3-U, SB) 
1b. Anderson Suriel, LF: 1-1 (1B, R)
2. Pedro Ramirez, 2B-3B: 2-3 (BB, 3-U, 1B, HR, 2 R, 2 RBI)
3. Cristian Hernandez, SS: 0-4 (5-3 DP, K, K, K) 
4a. Moises Ballesteros, C-DH: 0-2 (6-3, 3-U)
4b. Bryan Serra, C: 0-1 (F-8, BB)  
5a. Reivaj Garcia, 3B: 0-1 (BB, 4-3) 
5b. Carlos Sepulveda, 2B: 0-1 (BB, K, R)
6. Grayson Byrd, 1B-DH: 1-3 (K, F-7, 2B, BB, 2 RBI)
7. Miguel Pabon, DH-1B: 0-3 (K, HBP, K, K, R)
8. Frank Hernandez, RF: 1-2 (1B, BB, K, R)
9. Edgar Gamargo, DH-C: 1-2 (6-3, 2B, 2 RBI)
NOTE: SLOT WAS SKIPPED THIRD TIME THRU BATTING ORDER
10. Brayan Altuve, LF-CF: 0-3 (4-3, F-8, K) 
11. Christian Olivo, CF-DH: 0-3 (5-3, K, 3-U) 

CUBS PITCHERS:
1. Joel Sierra: 1.1 IP, 5 H, 5 R (5 ER), 3 BB, 2 K, 1 HR, 3 WP, 1/1 GO/AO, 45 pitches (23 strikes)
2. Bryan King: 2.2 IP, 0 H, 1 R (0 ER), 3 BB, 3 K, 2/3 GO/AO, 39 pitches (22 strikes) 
3. Brendon Little: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K, 1 WP, 2/0 GO/AO, 17 pitches (10 strikes) 
4. Wyatt Short: 1.1 IP, 3 H, 3 R (3 ER), 0 BB, 2 K, 2 WP, 2/0 GO/AO, 31 pitches (18 strikes) 
5. Oliver Roque: 0.2 IP, 1 H, 2 R (2 ER), 3 BB, 0 K, 1 HR, 2 WP, 1/1 GO/AO, 25 pitches (11 strikes) 
6. Gregori Montano: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K, 1 GIDP, 1/0 GO/AO, 11 pitches (6 strikes) 

CUBS ERRORS: 2 
1. 2B Pedro Ramirez: E-4 (errant throw to 1st base attempting to complete DP allowed runner to score from 3rd) 
2. 3B Reivaj Garcia: E-5 (fielding error allowed batter to reach base safely)  

CUBS CATCHERS DEFENSE: 
Bryan Serra: 1 PB 

WEATHER: Sunny with temperatures in the 90's 

ATTENDANCE: 11 

Arizona 
Scoring 
Service 

"Just because it isn't official doesn't mean it didn't happen"