Inoa Makes Pro Debut at Fitch Park as A's Drop Hammer on Cubs

Cody Shields launched a grand slam home run to cap a five-run Cub 1st inning, but the EXST A’s followed with twelve unanswered runs while holding the EXST Cubs scoreless en route to a 12-5 victory in Cactus League Extended Spring Training action at Fitch Park Field #3 in Mesa this morning.

Oakland A’s 18-year old 6’7 Dominican RHP Michael Inoa made his long-awaited pro debut at Fitch Park today, throwing one inning (10 pitches) for the EXST A's. He walked Sergio Burruel on a 3-2 pitch to lead-off the bottom of the 7th inning, before inducing Blair Springfield to bounce into a first-pitch 5-4-3 DP, and striking out Jose Guevara on three fastballs. Inoa received a record $4.25M bonus when he signed with the A’s as a 16-year old in July 2008, but his debut was delayed for more than a year due to a sore elbow.

Here is today’s abridged box score (Cubs players only):

LINEUP:
1. Pin-Chieh Chen, SS: 2-4 (1B, K, 1B, P-6, CS)
2. Arismendy Alcantara, 2B: 2-4 (1B, 1B, F-9, F-7, R)
3. Brandon May, DH #1: 1-3 (1B, 6-3, F-9, BB, R)
4. Xavier Batista, RF: 0-4 (1-2 FC, K, F-7, K, R)
5. Alvaro Ramirez, DH #2: 3-4 (1B, 1B, 1B, 2-3, R, RBI)
6. Cody Shields, LF: 1-4 (HR, 6-3, 6-4-3 GIDP, P-3, R, 4 RBI)
7. Sergio Burruel, 1B: 0-2 (4-3, F-9, BB)
8. Blair Springfield, 3B: 0-3 (5-3, K, 5-4-3 GIDP)
9. Jose Guevara, C: 1-3 (1B, F-8, K, SB)
10. Kyung-Min Na, CF: 0-3 (K, 3-U, L-5)

PITCHERS:
1. Luis Liria – 2.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R (1 ER), 2 BB, 2 K, 2/1 GO/FO, 47 pitches (25 strikes)
2. Hector Mayora – 0.2 IP, 3 H, 5 R (3 ER), 2 BB, 1 K, 1/0 GO/FO, 28 pitches (14 strikes)
3. Andres Quezada - 2.1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K, 3/2 GO/FO, 29 pitches (19 strikes)
4. Carlos Rojas - 1.2 IP, 1 H, 3 R (0- ER), 2 BB, 2 K, 2/1 GO/FO, 36 pitches (21 strikes)
5. Danny Keefe - 1.2 IP, 6 H, 3 R (3 ER), 0 BB, 1 K, 1 WP, 1/3 GO/FO, 47 pitches (32 strikes)
NOTE: Keefe’s final inning was terminated (“rolled”) with one out after Keefe had thrown his 26th pitch of the inning 

ERRORS: 3
1. 3B Blair Springfield E-5 (two-base throwing error allowed batter to reach 2nd base – eventually scored unearned run)
2. SS Pin-Chieh Chen E-6 (fielding error allowed batter to reach base safely – did not score)
3. SS Pin-Chieh Chen E-6 (throwing error allowed batter to reach base safely – eventually scored unearned run)

CATCHERS DEFENSE:
Jose Guevara: 2-2 CS, 2 PB

ATTENDANCE: 13

WEATHER: Sunny, cloudless, hot, and VERY breezy, with temperatures in the 90’s