Rafael Morel blasted a three-run HR, singled, and reached base on an HBP, and Jared Young collected three singles, reached base on an HBP, stole a base, and scored a run for the Cubs, and Pedro Pineda belted a two-run double, Jose Bonilla drilled a two-run single, drew a walk, and scored a run, and Jalen Greer laced an RBI single, walked twice, and scored a run for the Athletics, as the two teams played to a 5-5 tie in Cactus League Extended Spring Training game action Friday night on Field #1 at the Riverview Baseball Complex in Mesa, AZ.  

The game was called after eight innings of play. 

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

Alexander Campos (RBI double), Jorge Romero (RBI double), and Marcos Betancourt (RBI single) contributed back-to-back-to-back run-scoring hits in a five-run 4th, propelling the Athletics to a 9-2 victory over the Cubs in Cactus League Extended Spring Training game action Thursday morning on Field #4 at the Lew Wolff Training Complex at Fitch Park in Mesa, AZ.

Owen Caissie blasted a solo HR (his third in his last two games) and Ismael Mena tripled and scored to account for the two Cub runs. Caissie also singled, so he has now reached base in 15 of his 21 EXST PA (three HR, four doubles, five singles, and three walks, in just seven games).  

Cubs SP Tyler Schlaffer easily retired the first ten A's in order (F-9, K, L-7 / K, 5-3, K / L-9, F-7, K / 5-3...) before the roof fell-in -- starting with a walk -- with one out in the 4th.  

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

The Cubs (41-33) have won four out of their last ten and fallen a half game behind the Brewers for the division lead. The'll spend their next ten games on the road, and they'll begin with a tough four-game assignment against the second in the NL West Dodgers (44-29). See below for the pitching matchups.

Owen Caissie blasted a two-run HR over the right-centerfield fence just to the right of the CF Batter's Eye in the 4th and a three-run HR just to the left of the CF Batter's Eye (off a LHP) in the 5th, Yovanny Cuevas belted a solo HR, Ezequiel Pagan drilled an RBI double, Miguel Fabrizio laced a two-run single, and SP Porter Hodge fired four innings of shutout ball on just 38 pitches, as the Cubs trounced the Rockies 11-5 in Cactus League Extended Spring Training game action Tuesday afternoon on Field #1 at the Riverview Baseball Complex in Mesa,AZ.  

The game was called after eight innings of play. 

Over their first six Cactus League Extended Spring Training games, the Cubs are 3-2-1. 

With his two HR today, Owen Caissie has now reached base safely in 13 of his 18 PA over the course of the Cubs first six Cactus League EXST games, including two homers, four doubles, four sngles, and three walks (he's hitting a robust 667/722/1.333 - 2.055 OPS).  

Cubs top 2019 J-2 IFA signing Ronnier Quintero made his pro game debut, beginning the game at DH and then finishing the game at catcher. He went 0-3 -- K-swinging in his first AB in the 2nd inning, then a 3-U GO in the 4th, and a 6-3 GO in the 6th, before reaching base on a HBP in the 8th and scoring on Fabrizio's RBI single. He was clearly gassed after running the bases in the 110-degree heat in the bottom of the 8th, and after a delay in the top of the 9th while he downed the contents of a water bottle at home plate after warming up the pitcher, he was able to finish the game. 

While this was his pro game debut. Quintero did attend post-season AZ Instructs last October in Mesa, but he did not play in any AZIL games (not even as a DH). Rather, he spent 100% of his time learning the catching trade, and was the bullpen catcher at all of the games, in addition to catching as much "live" BP and as many side-bullpen sessions as he could handle.   

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

The Cubs took the final game of the series against the Marlins to avoid the sweep. Next they have two games against Cleveland. The Cubs enter the series tied for first in the NL Central with the Brewers. Cleveland enters 2.5 games behind the White Sox in the AL Central. See below for the pitching matchups.

Rafael Morel belted a two-run HR, Ismael Mena ripped a two-run double and a single, Reggie Preciado tripled, walked, and scored a run, Jose Lopez smacked a PH RBI triple, Wally Soto laced an RBI double, and Alfonso Rivas drilled an RBI single, walked, reached base on an HBP, stole a base, and scored two runs for the Cubs, and Pedro Pineda smacked a solo HR and a triple and Jalen Greer belted an RBI triple and an RBI double for the Athletics, as the two teams played to an 8-8 tie in Cactus League Extended Spring Training game action Friday morning on Field # 4 at the Lew Wolff Training Complex at Fitch Park in Mesa, AZ.    

The two teams combined to hammer out twelve extra-base hits in the game. 

The game was called after seven innings of play. 

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

The Cubs escaped a rough series in New York with their first-place standing intact. For a change of pace, they'll take on the last place Marlins next. Don't let Miami's record fool you, though. The fish are not far behind the Cubs according to many offensive metrics, grade out slightly ahead in pitching, and are probably better defensively. Wins and losses are the final measure, of course, and the Cubs will have three chances to take home a "W" in this series. See below for the pitching matchups.