Amaral Shows Off His Game at Talking Stick

Daniel Amaral (son of long-time MLB INF-OF Rich Amaral) reached base five times (a single in the 1st, an RBI double in the 3rd, a two-run double in the 5th, a two-run single in the 6th, and a walk in the 7th), collected five RBI, stole two bases, and scored a run, Cuba Bess tripled, walked three times, and scored a run, Francisco Ortiz belted a double, reached base on an HBP, and scored two runs, Juan Castillo ripped an RBI double and scored a run and collected another RBI with a sacrifice fly, SP Manuel Olivares hurled three innings of shutout ball, and the Rockies took advantage of twelve walks, three HBP, two WP, two PB, and a throwing error on a pick-off attempt en route to 13-2 thrashing of the Cubs in a Cactus League Extended Spring Training game played Thursday evening on Dust Storm Field at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick, in the Salt River Maricopa-Pima Indian Community east of Scottsdale, AZ.    

Jefferson Rojas roped a double off the left-centerfield fence leading off the top of the 4th and scored on an Adan Sanchez oppo-field triple sliced into the RF corner, and then Anderson Suriel lofted a sac fly to plate A. Sanchez, accounting for the two Cub runs.   

Cubs SP Carlos Garcia allowed three runs (two earned) on four hits (a single, two doubles, and a triple), walked one, hit a batter, and committed a costly two-base throwing error on a pick-off attempt, but he also struck out eight (seven swinging) over the course of his four innings of work (70 pitches).     

Frank Hernandez made his pro game debut as a catcher in relief of Dom Nunez and had a rough time of it, allowing two passed balls and (accidentally) hitting pitcher Joel Machado in the midsection with his throw on a SB attempt. (Frank Hernandez and Lizardo Ruiz are in the Catcher Conversion Program at EXST).   

In EXST Cubs roster news, OF Ismael Mena has been moved up to Myrtle Beach (not unexpected, but it is perplexing that it took this long), and OF Jefferson Encarnacion (selected by the Cubs from the Phillies in the AAA Phase of the December 2022 Rule 5 Draft) has been sent back to Mesa. And in fact Encarnacion got the start in RF in Thursday night's game, and while he went hitless in two PA, he did record an outfield assist. 

Here is the abridged box score from the game (Cubs players only): 

EXST CUBS LINEUP:
1a. Ed Howard, DH #1: 0-3 (F-8, 6-3, K) 
1b. Frank Hernandez, C: 0-1 (K)
2. Cristian More, CF: 0-3 (1-3, P-5, F-7) 
3. Dom Nunez, C-DH: 0-3 (P-4, P-5, K) 
4. Jefferson Rojas, SS:  1-3 (5-3, 2B, 3-1, R)
5. Adan Sanchez, DH #2: 1-3 (6-3, 3B, P-4, R, RBI)
6a. Anderson Suriel, 1B: 1-1 (2B, F-7 SF, RBI)
6b. Wally Soto, 1B: 0-1 (K) 
7a. Christopher Paciolla, 3B: 0-2 (6-3, 5-3)
7b. Christian Olivo, 3B: 0-1 (5-3)
8a. Jefferson Encarnacion, RF: 0-2 (K, F-9)
8b. Ke'Shun Collier, RF: 0-1 (K) 
9a. Geuri Lubo, 2B: 1-1 (1B, CS) 
9b. Alexis Hernandez, PH-2B: 0-2 (K, 3-1)
10a. Brayan Altuve, LF: 0-1 (K, HBP)
10b. Dilan Granadillo, PH: 0-1 (K) 

EXST CUBS PITCHERS: 
1. Carlos Garcia: 4.0 IP, 4 H, 3 R (2 ER), 1 BB, 8 K, 1 HBP, 2/1 GO/AO, 70 pitches (42 strikes)
2. Dominic Hambley: 0.2 IP, 1 H, 3 R (3 ER), 4 BB, 0 K, 0/1 GO/AO, 29 pitches (9 strikes)  
3. Tomy Sanchez: 0.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K, 1 HBP, 5 pitches (3 strikes) 
4. Joel Machado: 0.1 IP, 3 H, 3 R (3 ER), 1 BB, 1 K, 21 pitches (13 strikes) 
5. Wilme Mora: 1.1 IP, 1 H, 4 R (3 ER), 4 BB, 0 K, 1 HBP, 2 WP, 0/3 GO/AO, 34 pitches (11 strikes) 
6. Luis A. Reyes: 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 2 K, 1/1 GO/AO, 24 pitches (10 strikes) 

EXST CUBS ERRORS: 1 
P Carlos Garcia: E-1 (errant pick-off attempt at 1st base allowed runner to advance to 3rd and another runner to score from 3rd)

EXST CUBS CATCHERS DEFENSE: 
1. Dom Nunez: 1-3 CS 
2. Frank Hernandez: 0-1 CS, 2 PB 

EXST CUBS OUTFIELD ASSISTS: 
RF Jefferson Encarnacion - runner thrown out 9-5 attempting to advance from 2nd to 3rd after F-9 

WEATHER: Clear with temperatures in the 90's 

ATTENDANCE: 15 

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