Richard Gallardo

Shael Mendoza and Nic Motley drilled run-scoring singles and SP Anderson Amirista tossed three innings of one-run ball, leading the Rockies to a 3-1 victory over the Cubs "A" team in Cactus League Extended Spring Training game action Tuesday morning on Dust Storm Field at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick Resort east of Scottsdale, AZ. 

Richard Gallardo, Willy Cabrera, and Joel Machado combined to hurl six innings of two-hit shutout ball for the Cubs before the Rockies finally scored in the 7th. 

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

Edmond Americaan, Carlos Pacheco, and Luis Diaz stroked RBI doubles for the Cubs, and Patrick Hilson belted a three-run HR, tripled and scored, and singled and scored for the Giants, as the Cubs "A" team and the Giants Black squad battled to a 6-6 ten-inning tie, in Cactus League Extended Spring Training game action Tuesday morning on Field #1 at the Riverview Baseball Complex in Mesa, AZ. 

The game was called after ten innings of play.  

17-year old RHP Richard Gallardo (2018-19 IFA - Venezuela - $1M signing bonus) made his professional game debut for the Cubs, getting the start and working 1.1 IP. He allowed two runs on two hits (both singles), issued no walks, and struck out two (one swinging and one looking). He also uncorked a WP. As was the case in his "live" BP session last week, Gallardo mixed a 91-93 MPH FB with a slow CV and had excellent command of both pitches (he threw 75% strikes).    

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

Ricardo Verenzuela tripled, singled, scored two runs, and threw out a runner on the bases, and Carlos Morfa and Ervis Marchan drilled consecutive RBI singles to highlight a four-run 4th inning, leading the Cubs "B" team to a 5-1 victory over the Cubs "A"  team in Extended Spring Training intrasquad game action Thursday morning on Field #6 at the Riverview Baseball Complex on John Arguello Way in Mesa, AZ. 

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

RHRP Tony Barnette (on Cubs MLB 10-day IL with right shoulder inflammation) hurled a 1-2-3 ten-pitch 2nd inning (K, P-3, F-8), and RHRP Junichi Tazawa tossed a scoreless 3rd (allowed a single, runner erased by a CS) for the "A" team. 

RHP Manuel Espinoza made his pro debut for the Cubs "A" team, allowing a run on one hit (a triple) with one strikeout in one inning of work. The 18-year old Mexican was signed by the Cubs in July 2017, but he did not pitch in 2018 while his signing was under investigation by MLB. (He signed the same day as fellow Mexican RHP Florencio Serrano Jr, whose contract was voided by MLB last June).   

Prior to the game on Field #6, three of the four youngest Cubs pitchers at EXST (Manuel Espinoza is the other one) threw "live" BP on Field #5 (two "innings" - 30 pitches each). 17-year old Venezuelan RHP Richard Gallardo (the Cubs #1 IFA signing in the current ISP) got swings & misses with a 91-93 MPH FB and a plus-CV, and he also threw a couple of decent CH; 17-year old Venezuelan LHP Joel Machado was sitting 85-86 with his FB, but he had a solid CV and so-so CH that he was able to mix & match with his FB; and 18-year old 6'3 210 Dominican RHP Willy Cabrera's FB was impressive at 92-94 MPH (T-95) in addition to an 88-90 MPH CH and a sharp-breaking CV, but he had difficulty commanding his stuff (not too surprising considering he walked 50 in just 25.2 IP in the DSL in 2018!).

Here is the box score from the game: