Cubs Home Run Bats Overwhelm Rockies Pitchers at Sloan Park

Felix Stevens crushed an opposite-field grand slam over the right-centerfield fence to put the Cubs on the board in the bottom of the 1st inning, Alfonsin Rosario belted a three-run moonshot HR high onto the LF berm, Geuri Lubo lined a two-run HR into the LF bullpen, Anderson Suriel clobbered a solo oppo-HR to left-center, David Peralta doubled, walked twice, and scored two runs, Adan Sanchez doubled, singled, stole a base, and scored a run, Yahil Melendez singled twice, walked, and scored two runs, Brennen Davis singled, walked, and scored a run, SP Luis Devers fired three innings of one-hit shutout ball with five strikeouts, and Luis Martinez-Gomez hurled three innings of no hit / no run ball in relief, helping the Cubs thrash the Rockies 12-2 in Cactus League Extended Spring Training game Opening Day game action Monday afternoon at Sloan Park in Mesa, AZ.  

Bairon Ledesma tripled and scored and Erick Bautista stroked an RBI double and scored a run for the Rockies.  

David Peralta (on AAA Iowa 7-day IL) played LF for four innings and got three Plate Appearances for the Cubs. This is the first time he has played outfield in a game since undergoing left flexor tendon surgery last October. He was working out in LF at the end of last week, making throws from LF to home plate without any apparent problem. (He has been DH-ing all Spring and has been raking at the plate).  

Brennen Davis (on AAA Iowa 7-day IL) returned to game action (serving as a DH) for the first time since injuring his right arm sliding into a base at Minor League Camp about a month ago. He had also been in concussion protocol for a while after being hit in the helmet with a pitch in an MLB Cactus League Spring Training game the first week of March, so he is just now getting back into game shape. 

https://www.thecubreporter.com/2024-cubs-extended-spring-training-roster

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

CUBS LINEUP:
X. David Peralta, LF: 1-1 (2B, BB, BB, 2 R)  
NOTE: Peralta batted third in the bottom of the 1st, 2nd, and 4th innings
1. Angel Cepeda, SS: 0-4 (5-3, K, F-9, K)  
2a. Brennen Davis, DH #1: 1-2 (1B, K, BB, R) 
2b. Albert Gutierrez, 1B: 0-1 (P-5)
3. Yahil Melendez, 3B: 2-3 (BB, 4-3, 1B, 1B, 2 R)  
4a. Felix Stevens, 1B-DH: 1-2 (HR, HBP, K, 2 R, 4 RBI)  
4b. Jairo Diaz, C:  1-1 (1B, R) 
5a. Anderson Suriel, DH #2: 1-2 (HR, P-6, R, RBI)
5b. Geuri Lubo, PH-LF: 1-2 (K, HR, R, 2 RBI) 
6. Jose Escobar, 2B: 2-4 (1B, F-7, 1B, L-8, CS) 
7. Alfonsin Rosario, CF: 1-3 (K, HR, K, R, 3 RBI)   
8. Adan Sanchez, C-DH: 2-3 (2B, 5-3, 1B, R, SB, PO)  
9a. Scott McKeon, DH #3: 1-2 (1B, K, RBI)
9b. Bradlee Beesley, PH: 0-0 (BB, PO) 
10. Leonel Espinoza, RF 1-3 (1B, K, 2-U, SB) 

CUBS PITCHERS: 
1. Luis Devers: 3.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 5 K, 1 BALK, 1 PO, 2/1 GO/AO, 52 pitches (33 strikes) 
2. Luis Martinez-Gomez: 3.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 3 K, 1 GIDP, 4/1 GO/AO, 45 pitches (26 strikes) 
3. Jeral Vizcaino: 2.0 IP, 3 H, 2 R (2 ER), 0 BB, 2 K, 2/1 GO/AO, 29 pitches (18 strikes) 
4. Luis A. Reyes: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K, 0/2 GO/AO, 11 pitches (8 strikes) 

CUBS ERRORS: 2 
1. C Adan Sanchez: E-2 (errant throw to 2nd base on SB attempt allowed runner to advance to 3rd)
2. P Luis Martinez-Gomez: E-1 (fielding error allowed batter to reach base safely)  

CUBS CATCHERS DEFENSE: 
Adan Sanchez: 0-2 CS, 1 E (see above) 

WEATHER: Sunny with temperatures in the 70's

ATTENDANCE: 17 

Arizona 
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