Rojas Brings the Thunder and Palencia Brings the Heat to Salt River Fields

Jefferson Rojas slugged a solo HR in the top of the 1st, singled, stole two bases, and scored a run in the 5th, singled in the 7th, and blasted a two-run HR in the 8th, Christopher Paciolla singled, reached base on an HBP, and drilled a two-run double in the 8th, and Jairo Diaz singled twice, walked, and scored two runs, as the Cubs outlasted the Diamondbacks Red Squad 11-8 in Cactus League Extended Spring Training game action Monday morning on Whirlwind Field at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick, east of Scottsdale, AZ.

The game was pre-planned as an eight inning contest and was called with one out in the bottom of the 8th inning.  

RHP Zach Davies (on Diamondbacks MLB 15-day IL - oblique strain) started the game for the D'backs Red and worked four innings of one hit / one run ball (the first Jefferson Rojas HR). Riquelmin Cabral laced a two-run double, Ruben Santana smacked a two-run triple, and Caleb Roberts belted a solo HR, singled and scored, and reached base on an HBP to aid the D'back cause.   

RHRP Daniel Palencia made his first EXST appearance since being placed on the AA Tennessee Development List last week, hurling one shutout inning (issued a walk, then got a pop out to the catcher, then an infield single, and finally two strikeouts - both swinging - to finish the inning), working at a fast pace, and mixing a 99-100 MPH FB and a power-SL.     

Here is the abridged box score from the game (Cubs players only): 
 
EXST CUBS LINEUP:
1. Brayan Altuve, CF-LF: 1-5 (K, 5-3, 4-3, 1B, F-9, R, RBI)
2. Jefferson Rojas, SS: 4-5 (HR, F-8, 1B, 1B, HR, 3 R, 3 RBI, 2 SB) 
3a. Geuri Lubo, 3B: 0-2 (K, L-4) 
3b. Alexis Hernandez, 3B: 0-1 (K, 1-3 SH, BB, R) 
4a. Wally Soto, C-DH: 1-2 (K, BB, 1B, RBI)
4b. Frank Hernandez, PH-DH: 1-2 (K, 1B, R) 
5. Christopher Paciolla, 2B: 2-4 (E-6, K, 1B, HBP, 2B, 2 RBI) 
6. Anderson Suriel, 1B: 0-2 (3-6-3 DP, BB, F-9, BB, R)
7a. Raino Coran, RF: 1-2 (K, 1B, R) 
7b. Christian Olivo, RF: 0-2 (F-9, K) 
8. Jairo Diaz, DH-C: 2-3 (K, 1B, 1B, BB, 2 R) 
9a. Ke'Shun Collier, LF: 1-2 (4-3, 1B, R, 2 RBI)
9b. Ismael Mena, CF: 0-2 (4-6-3 DP, K) 

EXST CUBS PITCHERS: 
1. Starlyn Pichardo: 3.2 IP, 7 H, 4 R (4 ER), 0 BB, 3 K, 1 HR, 1 WP, 3/3 GO/AO, 68 pitches (42 strikes) 
2. Eligio Paredes: 2.1 IP, 1 H, 2 R (2 ER), 4 BB, 2 K, 1 HBP, 3/1 GO/AO, 56 pitches (27 strikes)
3. Daniel Palencia: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K, 0/1 GO/AO, 23 pitches (14 strikes) 
4. Wilme Mora: 0.1 IP, 2 H, 2 R (2 ER), 2 BB, 0 K, 1 WP, 0/1 GO/AO, 27 pitches (12 strikes)   

EXST CUBS ERRORS: 2 
LF Ke'Shun Collier: E-7 (fielding miscue after single to LF allowed runner to score from 1st base) 
CF Ismael Mena: E-8 (bobble after single to CF allowed runner to score from 2nd base)  

EXST CUBS CATCHERS DEFENSE: 
Wally Soto: 0-2 CS, 1 PO 

EXST CUBS OUTFIELD ASSISTS: 2
1. CF Brayan Altuve - runner thrown out 8-4-2 while attempting to score from 1st base after double  
2. LF Ke'Shun Collier - batter thrown out 7-6-5 attempting to advance to 3rd base after 1B+E7 (see ERROR listed above)  

WEATHER: Sunny with temperatures 100+

ATTENDANCE: 12

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