Moises Ballesteros blasted a two-run HR over the RF fence, drilled an RBI single and scored, and drew a walk, Cristian Hernandez belted a solo HR over the LF fence and lined a double into the LF corner and scored, Christian Olivo singled twice and score a run, and RP Joel Sierra hurled two innings of no-run / no-hit ball while hitting 100 MPH with his FB to pick-up the win, as the Cubs rallied to edge the Diamondbacks Red squad 7-6 in Cactus League Extended Spring Training game action Thursday morning on Whirlwind Field at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick, east of Scottsdale, AZ. 

Jefferson Pena laced an RBI double, walked, stole a base, scored two runs, and drove-in another with a sacrifice fly for the D'backs.  

The game was pre-planned as a seven-inning affair, and the Cubs played as the home team.  

With his big day at the plate, Moises Ballesteros is now hitting 286/396/429 in 17 Cactus League EXST games (53 PA), with a 19% BB-rate and a 19% K-rate. He also has thrown out six of twelve baserunners attempting steal against him (50% CS), and has picked a runner off 2nd base.  

Cristian Hernandez has now hit five HR in 21 EXST games, including three in Cactus League games (one was an inside-the-park job) and two in intrasquad games. Over the course of the 17 Cactus League EXST games (58 PA) in which he has played, Hernandez is htting 187/311/479, with a 14% BB-rate and a 35% K-rate that includes three three-strikeout games in the first week. Combining his 17 Cactus League EXST games with his four EXST intrasquad games (Blue vs Red) for a total of 21 games, Hernandez is hitting 245/360/566, with a 14% BB-rate and a 31% K-rate. He has made only two errors (both were fielding errors), while turning in several outstanding defensive stops & throws.    

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

The Cubs took two of three from the Pirates to start their homestand. Next, they'll host the D-Backs for four as the season nears the end if it's first quarter. See below for daily matchups.

Pedro Diaz belted an RBI double and a two-run HR, Jorge Ruiz clubbed an RBI triple, reached base on an HBP, and scored two runs, and SP Milleran Cedano hurled four innings of two-hit ball with six strikeouts, helping the Angels defeat the Cubs 7-2 in Cactus League Extended Spring Training game action Wednesday morning on Field #1 at the Riverview Baseball Complex in Mesa, AZ.  

Brayan Altuve stroked a two-run double to account for the two Cub runs.  

The game was pre-planned as a five-inning contest. 

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

P. J. Hilson doubled twice, singled, walked, stole a base, scored two runs, and knocked-in four, Ryan Reckley slugged a two-run triple, reached base on an HBP and scored, and walked, stole a base, and scored, Kwan Adkins laced an RBI single and an RBI double, walked, and scored two runs, Mauricio Pierre drilled an RBI double, walked, stole a base, and scored a run, and Tyler Forner cracked a two-run single, leading the Giants to a 15-2 romp over the Cubs in Cactus League Extended Spring Training game action Tuesday morning at the Papago Park Complex in Phoenix, AZ. 

Cristian Hernandez belted an RBI triple and drew a walk and Cristian More collected three singles, stole a base, and scored a run for the Cubs in a losing cause.

The game was called after seven innings of play. 

Cubs catcher Dilan Granadillo left the game after running the bases in 100+ degree heat in the top of the 6th. He warmed up the pitcher in the bottom of the inning, but then appeared a bit woozy and had to leave the game. 

David Bote completed his EXST rehab a few days early, and so he will now report to AAA Iowa to begin an official Article XIX-C Minor League Rehab assignment. Over the course of the four Cactus League EXST games in which he played, Bote went 2-11 (5-3, 6-3, 1B, K, F-7, 6-3, 3B, P-3, P-6, K, F-7 SF, L-5). He played 2B once and 3B once, in neither case for the full game. He is eligible to be reinstated from the Cubs MLB 60-day IL on June 6th.  

While Bote finished up his EXST rehab, AAA Iowa OF Donnie Dewees began his, playing LF and going 1-3 with a double, a walk, and a run scored. He also struck out twice (both times swinging).  

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

Tim Susnara belted a line-drive grand slam HR over the RF fence, picked a runner off 1st base, and threw-out another runner trying to steal 3rd, Cristian Hernandez singled and scored and smashed a towering two-run HR over the right-centerfield fence just to the right of the CF Batter's Eye and onto Clark Street, Carlos Morfa walked and scored and clobbered a two-run HR over the LF fence that landed on Field #2, and Dilan Granadillo drilled a two-run triple and scored, as the Cubs Blue squad demolished the Cubs Red squad 10-1 in a two-inning Extended Spring Training intrasquad game played Monday morning on Field #1 at the Riverview Baseball Complex in Mesa, AZ.   

In 18 games so far at Extended Spring Training (including 14 Cactus League EXST games and four intrasquad EXST games), Cristian Hernandez is hitting 217/349/478, with four HR & 10 RBI, a 14% BB-rate and a 34% K-rate. In the 14 Cactus League EXST games (only), Hernandez is hitting 146/280/341, with two HR & 5 RBI, a 14% BB-rate, and a 38% K-rate. Obviously, he - LOVES - hitting against Cub pitching! 

Here is the box score from the game: 

The Cubs took two games in Arizona to seal their second Series win in a row. They return to Wrigley for a seven-game homestand, kicking things off with three against the Pirates. See below for daily matchups.

Moises Ballesteros smacked an RBI double into the right-centerfield alley and scored and David Bote hammered an RBI triple into the LF corner and scored to highlight a three-run Cub 1st inning, Reivaj Garcia belted a two-run HR into the RF bullpen to plate two runs for the Cubs in the 2nd, and then after Hansen Lopez (RBI single), Jose Escorche (two-run single), and Darlyn Montero (two-run double) contributed run scoring hits in a five-run A's 5th that tied the game, Cristian More drilled an RBI single in the 6th and Bryan Serra laced an RBI single in the 7th, as the Cubs blew an early 5-0 lead and then came-back to edge the Athletics 7-6 in Cactus League Extended Spring Training game action Saturday morning at Sloan Park in Mesa, AZ. 

In addition, Jose Bonilla singled twice and scored twice and Angel Arevalo walked twice, lined an RBI single, and scored a run for the A's. 

Moises Ballesteros ended up collecting two doubles for the Cubs in the game as well as throwing out a runner trying to steal, while Frank Hernandez singled, doubled and scored, and drove-in a run with a sacrifice fly.

Signed by the Cubs for a $1.5M bonus as a 16-year old out of Venezuela in 2021 the same day the Cubs signed Christian Hernandez, Moises Ballesteros has thrown out 67% (6 of 9) of baserunners atempting steal against him in Cactus League EXST games, as well as picking a runner off 2nd base. In 46 Cactus League EXST plate appearances, he is hitting 216/348/297, with a 17% BB-rate and a 17% K-rate. 

A native of Cuba who migrated with his twin brother Omar to Spain where they played together on the Team Spain 18U squad, Frank Hernandez is a high-contact hitter, with a 14% K-rate but only a 3% walk-rate. He is hitting 303/333/394, and leads the team in RBI and AVG (minimum 30 PA). He was a two-way player (RHP / OF) in Spain prior to signing with the Cubs in December 2019, and you can see he has a pitcher's arm when he uncorks throws from the outfield. Twin brother Omar is a catcher, and he was signed by the Kansas City Royals in 2018. Omar is presently playing in Lo-A.  

Cubs RHRP Angel Gonzalez continues to impress, mixing his high-octane 96-98 MPH FB with an 87-89 MPH SL. His command isn't necessarily quite where it needs to be yet, but it's a lot better than it was.      

Although the game was played in Sloan Park, the A's played as the home team because the Cubs did not have enough pitchers available to cover more than seven innings. As a resuilt, the game was called after 7-1/2 innings of play.

In EXST Cubs roster news, 1B Felix Stevens has completed his rehab and he has rejoined Myrtle Beach. 

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