Ballesteros Goes Deep for Second Day in A Row, Whilst Coran Moonshot Bringeth Raino

Moises Ballesteros blasted an opposite-field solo HR over the LF fence leading off the bottom of the second inning (his second HR in two days), Raino Coran crushed a mammoth solo HR just to the left of the CF Batter's Eye leading off the bottom of the third and walked and scored in the fifth, Christian Olivo singled twice, stole three bases, scored a run, and drove-in another, Anderson Suriel blooped an RBI double in the second and singled, stole a base, and scored a run in the fifth, SP Marino Santy hurled three innings of one-hit / one-run ball, and Alfredo Zarraga struck out the side 1-2-3 to pick-up the save, as the Cubs cruised past the Athletics 6-3 in Cactus League Extended Spring Training game action Friday morning on Field #1 at the Riverview Baseball Complex in Mesa, AZ.   

Cristian Hernandez belted a double into the right-centerfield alley his first time up, but was thrown out trying to stretch it into a triple. He struck out (swinging) in his other two PA. 

The game was pre-planned as an eight-inning contest. 

The Cubs are now 10-8-2 through their first twenty Cactus League EXST games, and contrary to what you may read elsewhere on the internet, EXST games - ARE - real (they're just not official and there are some goofy rules variances), the games - ARE - televised (albeit closed circuit to the Cubs Player Development Department), the Cubs - DO - keep game stats internally just like they do at Myrtle Beach, South Bend, Tennessee, and Iowa (they just don't release them to the media), and the players really - ARE - trying to win (just listen to the players on the bench howling back & forth throughout the game... so much so that the Giants players who were not in the game last Tuesday at Papago Park were kicked out of the ballpark by the home plate umpire for arguing every single ball / strike call!).   

In EXST roster news, LHRP C. D. Pelham has completed his EXST rehab and has rejoined AA Tennessee. 

Here is the abridged box score from the game (Cubs players only): 
CUBS LINEUP:
1. Christian Olivo,2B-DH: 2-3 (5-3, 1B, 1B, R, RBI, 3 SB, CS) 
2. Cristian Hernandez, SS: 1-3 (2B, K, K) 
3a. Donnie Dewees, CF: 0-1 (1-3)
3b. Cristian More, PH-CF: 0-2 (K, F-9)
4. Moises Ballesteros, C-DH: 1-3 (HR, K, F-7, R, RBI)
5a. Frank Hernandez, RF: 0-2 (P-4, 4-3)
5b. Joanfran Rojas, PH-2B: 0-1 (6-3)
6a. Reivaj Garcia, 3B: 1-2 (1B, K, R) 
6b. Alejandro Rivero, 3B: 0-0 (BB, CS) 
7a. Carlos Morfa, DH #1: 0-2 (F-8, K) 
7b. Wally Soto, C: 0-1 (K) 
7c. Ronnier Quintero, C: NO AB  
8. Anderson Suriel, 1B: 2-2 (2B, 1B, R, RBI, SB) 
9. Brayan Altuve, LF: 0-2 (K, F-9)
10. Raino Coran, DH-RF: 1-1 (HR, BB, 2 R, RBI)

CUBS PITCHERS: 
1. Marino Santy: 3.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R (1 ER), 2 BB, 3 K, 1 WP, 1 GIDP, 4/1 GO/AO, 40 pitches (19 strikes) 
2. Gleiber Morales: 2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 0 K, 1 HBP, 1 GIDP, 3/2 GO/AO, 30 pitches (18 strikes) 
3. Jose Alcila: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R (1 ER), 1 BB, 1 K, 2 WP, 0/2 GO/AO, 21 pitches (11 strikes) 
4. Angel Hernandez: 1.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R (1 ER), 0 BB, 1 K, 2/0 GO/AO, 15 pitches (12 strikes) 
5. Alfredo Zarraga: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K, 19 pitches (13 strikes) 

CUBS ERRORS: 1 
1B Anderson Surriel: E-3 (errant throw to 1st base after infield single allowed runner to score from 3rd) 

CUBS CATCHERS DEFENSE: 
Moises Ballesteros: 0-1 CS  

WEATHER: Sunny with temperatures in the 90's 

ATTENDANCE: 15 

Arizona 
Scoring 
Service 

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