Cease, Steele, and Morrison Get Their Work in Intrasquad Games

The Cubs played two three-inning Minor League Camp intrasquad games Saturday morning at the Riverview Baseball Complex in Mesa, AZ, with RHSP Dylan Cease (South Bend), LHSP Justin Steele (Myrtle Beach), and RHSP Preston Morrison (Tennessee) making their scheduled starts on a day when the Cubs had no Cactus League Minor League games scheduled against other MLB organizations. 

In addition, two pitchers who arrived late to Minor League Camp (LHP Yapson Gomez and RHP Alexander Santana) and recently-signed 28-year old "rookie" RHP Zach Rafferty saw their first game action of 2017.

OF Jose Gutierrez left the gane on Field #3 after being hit on the right ankle by a pitch. He was driven to the UAPC on a cart.

No players from the Iowa group played in either game (Iowa players were assigned as extra men in the two Cubs MLB split squad games), and eight position players from the Tennessee group were assigned to the four squads (two Smokies position players assigned to each of the four squads).   

Here are the box scores from the two abbreviated games:

FIELD #5

SQUAD "A" LINEUP:
1. Zach Davis, CF: 0-0 (HBP, BB, R, 2 SB)
2. Miguel Amaya, C: 1-2 (2B, 6-3 DP, RBI, PO)
3. Stephen Bruno, 3B: 0-1 (K)
4. Adonis Paula, 1B: 0-1 (F-9)
5. Daniel Spingola, LF: 0-1 (4-3)
6. Andruw Monasterio, SS  0-1 (L-9)
7. Brandon Cummins, RF: 0-1 (K)   
8. Jhonny Bethencourt, 2B: 0-1 (K)

SQUAD "B" LINEUP:
1. Luis Ayala, CF: 1-2 (3B, 5-3)
2a. Jose Gutierrez, RF: 1-1 (1B, HBP, RBI, PO)
2b. Jose Gonzalez, PR-RF: NO AB  
3. Zach Short, 3B: 0-2 (K, K)
4. Michael Cruz, C: 0-2 (4-3, K)
5. Cael Brockmeyer, DH: 0-0 (HBP, PO)
6. Jose Paniagua, 1B: 0-1 (K)
7. Edgar Rondon, 2B: 1-1 (1B, 2 SB, R)
8. Andrew Ely, SS 0-0 (BB)
9. Tolly Filotei, LF: 0-1 (K)

SQUAD "A" PITCHERS:
1. Yapson Gomez: 1.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R (1 ER), 0 BB, 1 K, 1 PO, 1/0 GO/AO, 15 pitches (12 strikes)
2. Alexander Santana: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R (0 ER), 1 BB, 2 K, 19 pitches (11 strikes)
3. Zach Rafferty: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K, 1 HBP, 1/0 GO/AO, 12 pitches (8 strikes)

SQUAD "B" PITCHER:
Dylan Cease: 3.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R (1 ER), 1 BB, 3 K, 1 HBP, 1 PO, 1 GIDP, 2/2 GO/AO, 43 pitches (26 strikes)

SQUAD "A" ERRORS: 1
P Alexander Santana: E-1 (errant pick-off attempt at 1st base allowed runner to advance to 2nd and runner at 3rd to score)

SQUAD "B" ERRORS: 1
C Michael Cruz: E-2 (overthrow at 3rd base on stolen base attempt allowed runner to score)

SQUAD "A" CATCHERS DEFENSE:
Miguel Amaya: 0-2 CS, 1 PB, 1 PO

SQUAD "B" CATCHERS DEFENSE:
Michael Cruz: 0-2 CS, 1 E (see above)

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

FIELD #6

SQUAD "C" LINEUP:
1. D. J. Wilson, CF: 0-2 (K, 6-3)
2. Yeiler Peguero, 2B: 0-1 (BB, F-8)
3. Jonathan Sierra, RF: 0-1 (BB, 3-U)
4. Alberto Mineo, DH: 0-1 (F-8)
5. Vimael Machin, 3B: 0-1 (5-3)
6. Kevonte Mitchell, LF: 0-1 (5-3)
7. Carlos Diaz, C: 0-1 (K)
8. Kevin Zamudio, 1B: 1-1 (1B)
9. Rafael Narea, SS: 0-1 (4-6 FC)

SQUAD "D" LINEUP:
1. Connor Myers, LF: 0-2 (F-9, F-8)
2. Isaac Paredes, SS: 0-1 (K)
3. Rafael Mejia, 1B: 1-1 (1B)
4. Tyler Alamo, DH #1: 0-1 (K)
5, Jesse Hodges, 3B: 0-0 (BB, CS)
6. Trey Martin, CF: 0-1 (K)
7. Robert Garcia, RF: 0-1 (3-U)
8. Ruben Reyes, DH #2: 0-1 (3-U)
9. Marcus Mastrobuoni, C: 1-1 (1B, SB)
10. Delvin Zinn, 2B: 1-1 (1B)

SQUAD "C" PITCHER:
Preston Morrison: 3.0 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K, 2/2 GO/AO, 42 pitches (27 strikes)

SQUAD "D" PITCHER:
Justin Steele: 3.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 1 K, 5/2 GO/AO, 43 pitches (26 strikes)

SQUAD "C" ERRORS: NONE

SQUAD "D" ERRORS: NONE

SQUAD "C" CATCHERS DEFENSE:  
Carlos Diaz: 1-2 CS 

ATTENDANCE: 43

WEATHER: Sunny with temperatures in the 80's