Cubs Youngsters Drop One to A’s
The Cubs took a 3-1 run lead early, scoring two runs in the first inning and one in the second, but were unable to hold the lead, as the Oakland A's Arizona Instructional League team rallied to defeat the Cubs Arizona Instructional League team 6-4 this afternoon at Fitch Park Field #3 in Mesa.
After Cubs starter Chris Siegfried surrendered an RBI double in the top of the 1st, the Cubs responded with two runs of their own in the bottom of the frame.
Tony Thomas drew a lead-off walk, and advanced to third on a stolen base and a ground out. Steve Clevenger laced a single back up through the middle to score Thomas, and after Kyler Burke walked, Brandon Guyer lined a single to CF to drive-in Clevenger.
The Cubs added another run in the bottom of the second, as Jovan Rosa walked to lead off the inning, advancing to third base on a ground-rule double sliced into the LF corner by Cliff Andersen . Mark Reed then followed with a line-drive sac fly to RF to score Rosa.
Today marked the Cubs debut of Marcos Mateo , the pitcher the Cubs acquired from the Cincinnati Reds as the PTBNL in the Buck Coats deal. Mateo looked OK, pitching two innings of shutout ball and getting ground ball after ground ball with a hard-driving sinker, although he did surrender three ground singles along the way.
18-year old lefty Marco Tovar entered the game in the top of the 5th with the Cubs leading 3-1, but couldn't hold the lead, as the A's nailed the youngster for three runs. Tovar, one of three pitchers recently signed by the Cubs out of Tijuana in the Mexican League (Rafael Cova and Alan Guerrero being the other two), struggled with his command throughout his two innings of work.
Trailing 6-3, the Cubs rallied in the bottom of the 8th. With one out, Reed doubled and Thomas reached on an error by the A's 3rd baseman. Jonathan Wyatt then came through with a line single to right-center to knock-in Reed, with Thomas hot-footing it to third. Welington Castillo worked a walk to load the bases, but the bases were left loaded as Burke was called out on strikes on a 3-2 pitch and Guyer popped out to the A's 1st baseman in foul territory to end the threat.
Lead-off hitter Tony Thomas had an active day, reaching base three times on a walk, a bunt single, and an error. The Cubs 2007 3rd round pick out of Florida State also had a stolen base, as well as being picked-off once. He is real instigator at the top of the lineup.
On defense, Darwin Barney made a couple of nice plays at SS (including a pinpoint relay throw to nab a runner trying to stretch a double into a triple), and Clevenger and Castillo each had one CS.
Here is today's abridged box score (Cubs players only)
LINEUP:
1. Tony Thomas , 2B (1-3, R, BB, SB, PO)
2. Jonathan Wyatt , CF (1-4, RBI)
3-A. Steve Clevenger , C (1-2, R, RBI)
3-B. Welington Castillo , C (1-1, BB)
4. Kyler Burke , RF (0-3. BB, 2 K)
5. Brandon Guyer , LF (1-4, RBI)
6. Josh Vitters , DH #1 (0-2, 2 BB)
7. Darwin Barney , SS (1-4, 2 K, GIDP)
8. Jovan Rosa , 3B (0-3, R, BB, K)
9. Cliff Andersen , DH #2 (1-3, 2B, K)
10. Mark Reed , 1B (1-2, 2B, R, SF-RBI)
NOTE: The AZ Instructional League uses two DHs and a ten-man batting order
PITCHERS:
1. Chris Siegfried - 2.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R (1 ER), 0 BB, 1 K (26 pitches)
2. Marcos Mateo - 2.0 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K (26 pitches)
3. Marco Tovar - 2.0 IP, 3 H, 3 R (3 ER), 2 BB, 1 K, 1 WP (39 pitches)
4. Stephen Vento - 2.0 IP, 5 H, 2 R (2 ER), 1 BB, 0 K (41 pitches)
5. Matt Maradeo - 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K (17 pitches)
NO ERRORS
CATCHERS DEFENSE:
Clevenger 1-2 CS
Castillo 1-2 CS, 1 PB
OUTFIELD ASSIST:
Wyatt (runner thrown out at third-base 8-6-5 trying to stretch a double into a triple).
Attendance: 13 (estimated), including Oneri Fleita
"Welcome to the Cubs. Our job is to get you to Wrigley Field. Be patient, relax, and have fun." - Oneri Fleita, speaking through a Korean translator to new Cubs pitcher Dae-Eun Rhee at Fitch Park today. (Rhee's family is in town and has been attending the games).
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