Giants Walk to Victory and Raino Moves to the Mound

Javier Francisco drilled an RBI double in the 3rd inning and picked-up another RBI on a GO in the 5th, Lazaro Morales singled twice, stole a base, and drove-in a run, and Giants batters took advantage of eight walks, three HBP, and a WP to plate six runs despite managing only four hits, en route to a 6-4 victory over the Cubs in Cactus League Extended Spring Training game action Saturday morning at the San Francisco Giants Papago Park Complex in Phoenix, AZ.  

Ed Howard belted an RBI double (1st inning off Sean Newcomb, bounced off the CF warning track and over the fence for an automatic double) and a single (Howard is now hitting 405/511/676 in 45 PA over the course of 16 EXST games with zero errors in the field), Geuri Lubo and Christopher Paciolla each doubled and scored a run (Paciolla leads team in doubles with nine), Ismael Mena smacked an RBI double (he has seven RBI in his last three games), Adan Sanchez laced an RBI single (he is hitting 348/385/565 with 11 RBI in 17 games in month of May), and Christian Olivo walked twice, stole a base, and scored two runs for the Cubs (he has walked six times and scored five runs in his last four games).  

The game was called with two outs in the bottom of the 7th with the bases loaded and the Giants leading 6-4.   

In EXST Cubs roster news, 6'4 210 21-year old OF Raino Coran (2021 IFA - Curacao) is being converted to a RHP, and he threw his first bullpen this morning. 

No question Coran has a plus-arm from the outfield, but the move to the mound probably stemmed as much from Coran hitting just 190/291/326 with 27 strikeouts in 55 PA (49% K-rate) in 23 Cactus League Extended Spring Training games (including 11 K in 22 PA over his last ten games) as his potential as a pitcher. So this is not some kind of a "two-way player" thing.    

Also, RHRP Zac Leigh (on AA Tennessee 7-day IL since Opening Day) has been moved-up to Hi-A South Bend to continue his rehab. 

Zac Leigh at 2023 EXST:

2.61 ERA - 1.35 WHIP - .167 OppBA 
9 GAMES (2 GS) 
10.1, 5 H, 3 R (3 ER), 9 BB, 14 K, 1 HBP, 5 WP, 2 GIDP, 9/4 GO/AO, 12.2 K/9, 7.8 BB/9, and he has thrown 59% strikes, and 16.3 pitches per inning  

Here is the abridged box score from Saturday's EXST game (Cubs players only):  

EXST CUBS LINEUP:
1a. Ismael Mena, CF: 1-3 (K, 3-1, 2B, RBI)
1b. Ke'Shun Collier, CF: 0-1 (F-8)
2a. Christian Olivo, LF: 0-1 (BB, BB, F-9, R, R, SB)
2b. Brayan Altuve, LF: 0-0 (BB)
3. Ed Howard, 2B: 2-4 (2B, 1B, K, 5-3, RBI)
4a. Adan Sanchez, C: 1-3 (5-3, 1B, E-6, RBI, SB)
4b. Wally Soto, C: 0-1 (K) 
5. Anderson Suriel, 1B: 0-3 (3-U, L-8, P-5) 
6a. Geuri Lubo, 3B: 1-2 (2B, 5-4 FC, R)
6b. Alexis Hernandez, PH-3B: 0-1 (F-8)
7a. Christopher Paciolla, SS: 1-2 (6-3, 2B, R)
7b. Jefferson Rojas, SS: 1-1 (1B, SB)
8. Jairo Diaz, DH: 0-3 (E-6, P-5, F-7, RBI)
9. Frank Hernandez, RF: 0-3 (5-4-3 DP, 6-3, P-5 DP) 

EXST CUBS PITCHERS: 
1. Yenrri Rojas: 3.0 IP, 1 H, 4 R (4 ER), 4 BB, 2 K, 3 HBP, 1 GIDP, 2/3 GO/AO, 48 pitches (28 strikes)
2. Kenyi Perez: 2.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R (1 ER), 1 BB, 1 K, 4/1 GO/AO, 26 pitches (13 strikes) 
3. Wilme Mora: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R (1 ER), 1 BB, 1 K, 1 WP, 1/1 GO/AO, 26 pitches (14 strikes) 
4. Wilber Rodriguez: 0.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 1 K, 0/1 GO/AO, 26 pitches (11 strikes) 

EXST CUBS ERRORS: 1
C Adan Sanchez: E-2 (errant pick-off attempt at 1st base allowed runner on 2nd base to advance to 3rd) 

EXST CUBS CATCHERS DEFENSE: 
1. Adan Sanchez: 1-1 CS, 1 E (see above) 
2. Wally Soto: 0-1 CS 

WEATHER: Sunny with temperatures in the 90's

ATTENDANCE: 12 

Arizona 
Scoring 
Service 

"Just because it isn't official doesn't mean it didn't happen"