Rockie Road for Cubs at Fitch Park

The EXST Cubs managed just four hits, as the EXST Rockies blanked the Cubs 7-0 in Opening Day Cactus League Extended Spring Training action at Fitch Park Field #3 this afternoon in Mesa.

On a rehab assignment at Fitch Park believed to be related to arm fatigue first detected in Spring Training, Iowa Cubs RHP Jay Jackson got the start for the Cubs and threw 2.1 IP (44 pitches), allowing one unearned run on four singles, while striking out four (one looking and three swinging). He had good velocity on his fastball, and he threw strikes.

I-Cubs RF Brad Snyder (strained oblique) is also on a rehab assignment at Fitch, and he played RF and hit third in each of the first three innings, lining out to left in the bottom of the 1st, doubling off the LF fence with two outs in the bottom of the 2nd, and grounding into a 4-6-3 DP to end the 3rd.

RHP Ty’Relle Harris (acquired from ATL in the Derrek Lee trade last summer) had stamina and velocity issues at Minor League Camp, and so he was assigned to Fitch Park to work on strengthening his arm. Like J. Jackson and Snyder, Harris saw game action today, and while he was a bit wild (throwing only only 50% strikes), he did retire all five men he faced (a swinging strikeout, followed by a 4-3, a 6-3, a P-3, and an L-7).

Cubs 2010 7th round draft pick HHP Ben Wells threw two innings today, allowing a single and a two-run HR before retiring the side in his first inning of work, and a triple and an RBI single before completing his second inning.

Several players have arrived at Fitch Park from the Cubs Dominican Academy in Boca Chica since the end of Minor League Camp, but only one (19-year old OF Eduardo Gonzalez) got into today’s game. The new arrivals join catchers Johan DeJesus, Brian Inoa, and Hector Suarez, who made their U. S. debut at Minor League Camp. (Cuban defectors OF Rubi Silva and C Yaniel Cabezas are also making their U. S. debut in 2011, with Silva assigned to Peoria and Cabezas presently at Extended Spring Training). 

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

NOTE: Brad Snyder played RF and was the third batter in the bottom of the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd innings

LINEUP:
X. Brad Snyder, RF: 1-3 (L-7, 2B, 4-6-3 DP)
1a. Oliver Zapata, CF: 0-2 (F-7, 4-3)
1b. Kyung-Min Na, CF: 0-0 (BB, BB)
2a. Pin-Chieh Chen, 2B: 0-2 (F-9, 6-3)
2b. Vismeldy Bieneme, 2B: 1-2 (1B, 4-6 FC)
3a. Reggie Golden, DH-RF: 0-1 (K)
3b. Dong-Yub Kim, PH-DH: 1-2 (1B, 5-4 FC)
4a. Yaniel Cabezas, C: 0-2 (3-U, F-9)
4b. Jesus Morelli, RF: 0-1 (5-4-3 DP)
5. Xavier Batista, DH-RF-1B: 0-3 (6-3, K, 5-3)
6a. Wilson Contreras, 3B: 0-1 (5-3, BB)
6b. Max Kwan, C: 0-1 (K)
7a. Wes Darvill, SS: 1-1 (1B, BB)
7b. Dustin Harrington, 3B: 0-1 (4-3)
8a. Blair Springfield, LF: 0-2 (4-3, 1-5 FC)
8b. Marco Hernandez, SS: 0-1 (4-3)
9a. Dustin Geiger, 1B: 0-2 (F-8, 4-6-3 DP)
9b. Eduardo Gonzalez, LF: 0-1 (F-7)

PITCHERS:
1. Jay Jackson: 2.1 IP, 4 H, 1 R (0 ER), 0 BB, 4 K, 44 pitches (31 strikes), 3/0 GO/FO
2. Ty’Relle Harris: 1.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K, 24 pitches (12 strikes), 2/2 GO/FO
3. Ben Wells: 2.0 IP, 4 H, 3 R (3 ER), 0 BB, 1 K, 1 HR, 32 pitches (21 strikes), 2/3 GO/FO
4. Yao-Lin Wang: 1.2 IP, 2 H, 3 R (3 ER), 2 BB, 3 K, 37 pitches (24 strikes), 0/1 GO/FO
5. Charles Thomas: 1.1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K, 23 pitches (15 strikes), 1/1 GO/FO

ERRORS: 1
SS Wes Darvill E-6 – throwing error allowed batter to reach base safely – eventually scored unearned run

CATCHERS DEFENSE:
1. Yaniel Cabezas: 0-2 CS
2. Max Kwan: 1-1 CS

OUTFIELD ASSISTS: 1
CF Oliver Zapata: Batter-runner thrown out 8-2-4 trying advance to 2nd base on play at the plate.

ATTENDANCE: 15

WEATHER: Partly cloudy with temperatures in the 70’s