Hope Leads the Way at Instructs

Zyhir Hope doubled, walked twice, and scored two runs, and five pitchers combined to hurl a two-hitter (both hits by Geuri Lubo) with nine strikeouts, as the Cubs "Red Squad" defeated the Cubs "Blue Squad" 5-1 in Arizona Instructional League intrasquad game action Tuesday morning at Sloan Park in Mesa, AZ.   

The game was pre-planned as a seven inning affair, and the DH was not used (each team played with an eight-man batting order). 

The game provided three of the four Cubs pitchers assigned to the Mesa Solar Sox in the Arizona Fall League a chance to get some work before reporting to their AFL squad tomorrow, as Nick Hull, Adam Laskey, and Jose Romero were among the six hurlers who pitched for the Blue Squad. (The fourth Cubs pitcher assigned to the AFL -- RHP Chris Kachmar -- is still active with the Tennessee Smokies in the Southern League playoffs). The AFL begins play next week. 

The game also saw the pro game debut of two more Cubs pitchers. RHP Will Frisch (Cubs 2022 6th round pick - Oregon State) and RHP Ty Johnson (Cubs 2023 15th round pick - Ball State) each worked a shutout inning for the Red Squad. The 6'6 Johnson was especially impressive, mixing a 94-97 MPH FB, an 81-83 MPH SL/SWEEPER, and a 75-78 MPH CV, while striking out two and getting six swing & miss among his twelve pitches. Frisch underwent TJS in March 2022 prior to being drafted by the Cubs, so he missed two full seasons and is clearly still a bit rusty. 

LHP (ex-OF) Daniel Brown (Cubs 2022 16th round draft pick - Campbell U.) got another inning of work after struggling to throw strikes in his pro game debut last Friday when he threw just one strike, and while there was some improvement (20 pitches - seven strikes), he did walk two of the four men he faced and uncorked three wild pitches. It is probably noteworthy that he threw only his FB today (no CH) and dialed his FB velo down to 89-92 (it was 92-95 last week).          

Speaking of converted outfielders, Raino Coran (2021 IFA - Curacao) pitched in the game and walked three of the four men he faced (19 pitches - four strikes), uncorked a WP, and made an awful throw to 1st base attempting to pick-off a baserunner as the ball sailed five feet over the first-baseman's head (although to be fair, the 1B was 5'6 Wally Soto). As a pitcher Coran features a 91-94 MPH FB and a 78-81 slurvy breaking ball, neither of which he can throw for strikes at this time.    

Here is the box score from the game:  

AZIL CUBS BLUE SQUAD LINEUP:
1. Leonel Espinoza, RF: 0-3 (BB, 5-3, K, P-5, SB, PO)
2. Ed Howard, SS: 0-3 (K, 5-3, BB, K, R, SB)
3. Carter Trice, C: 0-2 (5-3, F-8, BB)
4. Wally Soto, 1B: 0-1 (BB, BB, K) 
5. Geuri Lubo, 3B: 2-3 (1B, 4-6-3 DP, 1B, RBI, SB) 
6. Jose Escobar, CF: 0-3 (K, K, K) 
7. Alfonsin Rosario, LF: 0-1 (BB, HBP, K, CS) 
8. Yahil Melendez, 2B: 0-2 (BB, K, 4-3, PO) 

AZIL CUBS RED SQUAD LINEUP:
1. Zyhir Hope, CF: 1-2 (BB, 2B, BB, 4-3 DP, 2 R) 
2. Alexis Hernandez, SS: 1-3 (E-5, BB, K, 1B, R, 3 SB)
3. Josh Rivera, 2B: 0-3 (5-3, K, BB, K, RBI) 
4. Drew Bowser, 1B: 0-2 (BB, BB, 5-3, K, SB)
5. Adan Sanchez, C: 1-3 (K, BB, 1B, L-8, R, SB)
6. Reggie Preciado, 3B: 1-3 (5-3, K, 1B, R, SB)
7. Jefferson Encarnacion, RF: 1-3 (F-8, K, 1B, R, RBI) 
8. Christian Olivo, LF: 0-2 (BB, F-9, F-9) 

AZIL CUBS BLUE SQUAD PITCHERS: 
1. Nick Hull: 1.2 IP, 1 H, 2 R (1 ER), 3 BB, 1 K, 1 WP, 2/1 GO/AO, 39 pitches (19 strikes) 
2. Raino Coran: 0.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 1 K, 1 WP, 19 pitches (4 strikes) 
3. Adam Laskey: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K, 0/1 GO/AO, 12 pitches (9 strikes) 
4. Daniel Brown: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 1 R (1 ER), 2 BB, 1 K, 3 WP, 1/0 GO/AO, 20 pitches (7 strikes) 
5. Luis A. Reyes: 1.0 IP, 3 H, 2 R (2 ER), 0 BB, 0 K, 1 WP, 1 GIDP, 1/1 GO/AO, 19 pitches (11 strikes) 
6. Jose Romero: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K, 0/1 GO/AO, 17 pitches (13 strikes) 

AZIL CUBS RED SQUAD PITCHERS: 
1. Will Frisch: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 1 K, 1/0 GO/AO, 18 pitches (8 strikes) 
2. Yenrri Rojas: 3.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 1 K, 1 PO, 1 GIDP, 3/1 GO/AO, 46 pitches (24 strikes) 
3. Ty Johnson: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K, 1 HBP, 12 pitches (8 strikes) 
4. Scarlyn Lebron: 0.2 IP, 1 H, 1 R (1 ER), 2 BB, 2 K, 23 pitches (10 strikes) 
5. Landon Ginn: 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K, 1/1 GO/AO, 14 pitches (10 strikes) 

AZIL BLUE SQUAD ERRORS: 2 
1. 3B Geuri Lubo: E-5 (errant throw to 1st base allowed batter to reach base safely)
2. P Raino Coran: E-1 (errant pick-off attempt at 1st base allowed runner to advance to 2nd)

AZIL RED SQUAD ERRORS: NONE 

AZIL CUBS BLUE SQUAD CATCHERS DEFENSE: 
Carter Trice: 0-6 CS 

AZIL CUBS RED SQUAD CATCHERS DEFENSE: 
Adan Sanchez: 1-4 CS, 1 PB, 1 PO

AZIL CUBS RED SQUAD OUTFIELD ASSIST: 1
LF Christian Olivo - batter (Geuri Lubo) thrown out 7-4 attempting to stretch single into double

WEATHER: Sunny with temperatures 100+ 

ATTENDANCE: 9 

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