The Arizona Diamondbacks secured a 16-8 victory over the Chicago Cubs at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick on Wednesday in spring training action. Jorge Barrosa paced the offense, going 2-for-3 with a home run and two RBI, giving the coaching staff plenty to be encouraged about as the exhibition schedule continues. Merrill Kelly worked 2.2 innings on the mound, allowing 2 earned runs on 5 hits. The Diamondbacks finished with 17 hits on the day while holding the Cubs to 9. The Diamondbacks will take confidence from a well-rounded effort on both sides of the ball. Spring training is about building toward the regular season, and this was a step in the right direction.
Key Performers
Jorge Barrosa was the standout at the plate, going 2-for-3 with a home run and two RBI. His power was on full display throughout the game. The Diamondbacks will be hoping for more of the same as the spring continues.
Alek Thomas added to the attack, going 1-for-4 with a home run and two RBI, Aramis Garcia provided support, going 1-for-2 with a double and three RBI, and Corbin Carroll also contributed, going 1-for-3 with a home run and an RBI. Multiple contributors at the plate made life difficult for the opposing pitching staff.
On the other side of the diamond, Jefferson Rojas led the Cubs offense with a 1-for-3 with a home run and four RBI day. Kevin Alcántara also contributed, going 3-for-4 with a home run and two RBI. Jonathon Long added a 1-for-3 with a home run and an RBI effort as well. Despite those contributions, the Diamondbacks pitching staff did enough to limit the damage and secure the victory.
On the Mound
Merrill Kelly got the start, running into trouble, working 2.2 innings while allowing 2 earned runs on 5 hits. He threw 36 pitches in the outing. The coaching staff will review his performance as they continue mapping out the pitching plan for the regular season.
The bullpen combined for 4.7 innings of work, allowing 6 earned runs while striking out six. The Diamondbacks continue to sort through their relief options as they build their Opening Day bullpen. Every inning pitched in the spring is an opportunity for pitchers to make their case for a spot on the roster when the games start counting.
Among the relievers, Juan Morillo stood out with 1.1 innings of scoreless work, striking out three. It was an impressive showing that could factor into roster decisions.
How It Happened
The Diamondbacks struck first, plating a run in the first inning. Cubs responded with five runs in the third. The Diamondbacks countered with six runs in the third. The Diamondbacks plated seven runs in the fourth. The Diamondbacks added two runs in the seventh. Cubs responded with three runs in the eighth. The Diamondbacks spread their scoring across four different innings, applying consistent pressure throughout the game. The Diamondbacks out-hit Cubs 17-9 on the day, with 4 errors committed between the two clubs. A crowd of 11,242 was on hand to take in the action.
Looking Ahead
The Diamondbacks will look to build on this positive performance as spring training winds down. With the regular season rapidly approaching, outings like this one provide confidence and continuity for a roster that is rounding into form. Every remaining exhibition game is another chance to sharpen the details before the games start counting for real.