The Cubs Kiss the Reds - Cubs 1 Reds 1

Game Nineteen – Cubs 1 Reds (ss) 1 – 10 Innings
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Lou Piniella’s B-Team played to the Reds to 1-1 tie in Goodyear on Sunday afternoon. Carlos Silva started the game but lasted only two innings. Silva was lifted for a pinch-hitter in the third. Reports during the game indicated Silva left the game with a tender right quad. The Cubs said Silva’s injury was not serious and he was lifted for precautionary reasons. Silva spent around 10 minutes in the bullpen trying to work through the discomfort.

Carlos Silva allowed one run on one hit, a solo home run by Laynce Nix in the second. Silva kept the ball down, for the most part. He walked a batter and stuck out two … Brandon Phillips and Corky Miller.

The Cubs bullpen performed much better against a majority of Dusty Baker’s everyday lineup. After Silva departed, the Cubs pen allowed only four hits in seven innings … with three walks and eight strikeouts.

Lou Piniella’s offense was non-existent on Sunday. They managed only eight hits and could not string any together against the likes of Justin Lehr, Arthur Rhodes, Francisco Cordero and Kip Wells.

Tyler Colvin (2-for-4 with a double and a RBI) scored the Cubs lone run in the fourth inning. Micah Hoffpauir accounted for three of the Cubs’ eight hits … and drove in Covin with a two-out single to right. Hoffpauir doubled in the ninth but was stranded at third when Bobby Scales grounded out to first to end the inning.

With the tie, the Cubs’ Cactus League record stands at 11-7-1 … While the Cubs’ offense provided only one “highlight” on Sunday, the pitching staff did a good job against the Reds.

John Grabow struck out a pair, Justin Lehr and Orlando Cabrera, and gave up only one hit … a double by Drew Stubbs. Brian Schlitter, a “call-up” from minor league camp, tossed two scoreless innings. Schlitter walked a batter but did not allow a hit.

Justin Berg retired the Reds in order in the sixth with three groundball outs … Zack Cozart, Joey Votto and Brandon Phillips.

James Russell issued a free pass in his inning of work but faced the minimum. Scott Rolen led off the seventh with a walk. Russell retired Nix on a fly out to left and induced a 4-6-3 double play off the bat of Chris Heisey, one of the Reds top prospects. The inning ending double play went Logan Watkins to Hak-Ju Lee to Micah Hoffpauir … for those scoring at home.

Esmailin Caridad pitched around a double in the eighth by Ryan Hanigan … and Marcos Mateo struck out a pair in the ninth.

Mike Fontenot had two chances at short on Sunday … and made both.

The Cubs “called-up” Hak-Ju Lee, Logan Watkins, Tony Campana, Jose Valdez, Brian Schlitter and Alex Maestri from minor league camp for Sunday’s game.

Box Score from MLB.com

Jeff Samardzija will face the Indians at HoHoKam on Monday afternoon. Fausto Carmona is slated to start for the Tribe.