Watkins powers Mesa to a two-win weekend

Mesa’s winning ways continued into the weekend as the Solar Sox downed Salt River 7-5 on Friday and outslugged Peoria 11-8 on Saturday. In both games, Logan Watkins’ bat played a pivotal role.

On Friday, Watkins doubled in the top of the second and scored a batter later on a Brian Ward (Orioles) single. He also reached base on a single in the fifth to go 2-for-5 on the day.

Rubi Silva finished 0-for-4 with a run scored.

No Cubs pitchers threw on Friday.

In Saturday’s matchup, Watkins’ bat really got going. He singled in the third inning and then hit his first homer of the fall on a solo shot to right field in the fifth. In the seventh, he singled again, scoring Jonathan Schoop (Orioles) from third. Three batters later, Watkins scored from third on a George Springer (Astros) single. He finished the day 3-for-5 with two RBI and two runs scored.

Matt Szczur also contributed in Saturday’s victory, going 2-for-5 with a single, a double and a run scored.

Dae-Eun Rhee got the start and went two innings, allowing one earned run on four hits and two walks. He struck out two.

The Cubs host Salt River on Monday, with first pitch scheduled for 12:35 local time.

How the Cubs have fared: