Image
Drew Gray
Cold Bats and Fielding Miscues Plague Cubs at Instructs
Nick Brueser clubbed a solo HR and five pitchers combined to toss a four-hitter, as the Athletics defeated the Cubs 3-1 in AZ Instructional League game action Thursday afternoon on Field #1 at the Riverview Baseball Complex in Mesa,AZ.
Christian Franklin laced an opposite-field RBI triple into the RF corner to account for the lone Cub run.
The game was pre-planned as a seven-inning affair.
Cubs pitchers only allowed two hits, but three walks, three HBP, three WP, and four errors gave the A's too many chances.
Coming off an outstanding AZIL game debut last week at Fitch Park, Cubs 2021 3rd round draft pick LHP Drew Gray struggled with his command throughout his outing. He didn't allow any hits, but he walked three, hit a batter, uncorked two WP. and was constantly pitching from behind in the count, throwing only 48% strikes.
Here is the abridged box score from the game (Cubs players only):
Cubs Pitchers Fan 17 and Triantos Goes Yard (Literally) at Fitch
Cubs 2021 2nd round draft pick James Triantos clobbered a line-drive solo HR over the LF fence and into the backyard of a house on the north-side of 8th Street, walked, and stole a base, Cubs 2021 17th round draft pick Christian Olivo belted two doubles, scored a run, and drove-in another, Yeison Santana (acquired from the Padres in the Darvish deal) slammed a double high off the LF fence, singled, stole a base, and scored a run, Ronnier Quintero (Cubs #1 IFA signing in 2019) laced an RBI single, walked twice, and scored a run, Cubs 2021 7th round draft pick Parker Chavers hammered a double high off the right-centerfield fence, drew a walk, and made a spectacular diving catch in CF, Cubs 2021 10th round draft pick Peter Matt drilled a two-run single, SP Tyler Schlaffer hurled four innings of two-hit shutout ball with six strikeouts, and Cubs 2021 3rd round draft pick (and Chris Sale look-a-like) LHP Drew Gray struck out eight in relief (all eight outs he recorded were strikeouts), as the Cubs blanked the Athletics 5-0 in AZ Instructional League game action Wednesday afternoon on Field #4 at the Lew Wolff Training Complex at Fitch Park in Mesa, AZ.
Here is the abridged box score frrom the game (Cubs players only):
Recent comments
Dolorous Jon Lester (view)
Open 40 man spot might see the return of CJ. He’s been okay in Iowa. Teheran has been rocked in his starts this year. SSS of course.
Wouldn’t be shocked seeing another 40 man spot open with Brewer losing his spot.
TarzanJoeWallis (view)
Word is that Counsell thought Mervis and Wisdom got too much work in yesterday so it will be Wesneski.
crunch (view)
no days off til may 9th. moves may happen if the pen gets too worked tomorrow.
Cubster (view)
On top of all that…Wicks scratched for Sunday due to “forearm soreness.” Bullpen day again starting with Mervis or Wisdom (or Wesn).
crunch (view)
"Morel told reporters after the game that he felt alright, just a little banged up — specifically noting his right hip and both elbows. He did say that he was optimistic about his ability to play on Sunday, though manager Craig Counsell may have other plans."
crunch (view)
rsox putting pablo reyes up to pitch...an infielder...cranking 70+mph stuff.
...and of course he gets out of it with no runs scored...that kind of day for the cubs.
crunch (view)
...and wisdom replaces mervis on the mound to try to get the last out.
busch is at 3rd, but i wouldn't read too much into that.
wisdom's thrown a couple in the 80s (one of them 88mph), but both missed the strike zone badly.
crunch (view)
matt mervis is no david ross on the mound.
cubs run differential getting destroyed.
crunch (view)
matt mervis pitching...wisdom replaces morel at 3rd.
he's featuring some high-50s thunder on the fastball.
through 15 pitches, he's straight up throwing BP...all mid-high 50s lobs. no way he's going to jose canseco himself out of a job.
on pitch 21 he railed a 75mph fastball missing high on a 0-1 count. ha.
crunch (view)
he's hugging canario in the dugout cuz morel will shrivel up and die if he doesn't hug at least a dozen people a day.