Grayson Byrd

Brennon Lund belted a two-run HR, Gabriel Rodriguez doubled twice and scored a run, and SP Jorge Marcheco tossed three innings of one-hit shutout ball with five strikeouts, as the Angels defeated the Cubs 8-6 in Cactus League Extended Spring Training game action Monday morning at Sloan Park in Mesa, AZ. 

Cristian Hernandez crushed a 440-foot solo HR high up onto the left-centerfield berm, walked, and drove-in a run with a sacrifice fly, Rafael Morel singled twice and knocked-in a run, Flemin Bautista laced a two-run triple and scored a run, and Grayson Byrd doubled, walked, and scored two runs for the Cubs in losing cause.  

LHP Jack Patterson (on AA Tennessee 7-day IL - March 2021 TJS) got the start for the Cubs and went two innings (36 pitches - 17 strikes, 3/0 GO/AO), allowing two runs (one earned), one hit (one of Gabriel Rodriguez's doubles), and four walks. He fanned two (both swinging, the last two men he faced), and induced an inning-ending GIDP in his first inning of work. He also committed a balk. Patterson threw mostly an 88-91 MPH FB with sinking action, mixed with with a few 79-82 MPH CV and one 84 MPH CH. He had a lot of trouble commanding his FB, and so he mainly threw his CV when he needed a strike.  

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

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): 

Grayson Byrd went 3-3 with two singles and a solo HR and scored two runs, Cole Roederer belted a solo HR, amf SP Jack Petterson and six relievers combined to toss a two-hitter, as the Cubs defeated the Diamondbacks Red squad 4-1 in Cactus League Extended Spring Training game action Thursday afternoon at Sloan Park in Mesa, AZ. 

Roederer's HR was hammered high & deep down the RF line and landed in the D'backs bullpen, and Byrd's moonshot hit the Hornitos Party Tent above & beyond the RF berm. 

This was Patterson's first game action since undergoing TJS a year ago, working 2.1 IP and throwing 27 pitches (only 14 strikes). He didn't allow any hits, struck out three (one swinging, two looking), and issued two walks. He also induced a "room service" inning-ending 6-4-3 GIDP in the top of the 1st. Patterson's stuff was just OK (not great) -- FB: 89-92, CH: 82-84, and CV: 79-81. He wasn't particularly sharp, but under the circumstances that's probably understandale.   

Five of the relievers who threw for the Cubs pitched in the DSL last season and were making their stateside game debut. 

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