Cubs Pitchers Too Wild To Win at Riverview
Jarrett Costa drilled a two-run double and an RBI single and the Athletics took advantage of nine walks, a HBP, and five wild pitches, defeating the Cubs 8-4 in Cactus League Extended Spring Training game action Saturday morning on Field #1 at the Riverview Baseball Complex in Mesa, AZ.
Miguel Amaya (two-run blast) and Marcus Mastrobuoni (solo shot) contributed home runs for the Cubs in a losing cause.
The game was called after eight innings of play.
Amaya's HR was his team-leading 3rd long-ball, and with three more hits in the game he is now hitting a robust 339/411/581 in 23 Cactus League EXST games (73 PA). In addition to leading the team in HR, Amaya also is second on the team in RBI and tied for 4th in doubles, he has thrown out 47% of opposing base-stealers (12-26), picked-off another runner, and has committed only one passed ball and one error as a catcher (he also committed an E-3 while playing 1B). No question Miguel Amaya has been MVP of the EXST Cubs (so far), and it's getting to the point where it would be a shock if the 18-year old wunderkind doesn't skip AZL and go directly to Eugene.
Veteran MLB RHRP Fernando Rodriguez (on AAA Iowa 7-day DL - September 2016 lat surgery) made his first appearance in a Cactus League EXST game Saturday (he previously had thrown in EXST "sim" games and intrasquad games only), working a 1-2-3 12-pitch inning (P-4, 6-3, 6-3). A few more rehab outings like that and Rodriguez should be ready to join the I-Cubs, with a call-up to Chicago later in the season a distinct possibility.
With the loss to the A's, the Cubs record in 2017 Cactus League Extemded Spring Training games fell to 19-21-7.
Here is the abridged box score from the game (Cubs players only):
CUBS LINEUP:
1. Aramis Ademan, SS: 0-4 (4-3, 4-3, F-7, E-6)
2. Edgar Rondon, 2B: 1-3 (K, BB, 2B, K, R)
3. Miguel Amaya, 1B: 3-4 (1B, HR, 3-U, 1B, R, 2 RBI)
4. Joe Martarano, LF: 0-3 (K, F-9, BB, FC)
5. Kevin Zamudio, DH #1: 0-2 (BB, K, BB, K)
6. Jose A. Gonzalez, CF: 0-4 (4-3, F-7, K, K)
7. Marcus Mastrobuoni, C-DH: 1-4 (F-7, HR, P-2, 5-3, R, RBI)
8. Yovanny Cuevas, RF: 2-4 (K, 1B, 1B, 5-3, R)
9. Richard Nunez, DH-C: 0-3 (5-3, P-6, K)
10. Jhonny Bethencourt, 3B: 1-3 (K, 1B, 5-3, RBI)
CUBS PITCHERS:
1. Fernando Rodriguez: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K, 2/1 GO/AO, 12 pitches (8 strikes)
2. Jose Albertos: 2.1 IP, 0 H, 1 R (1 ER), 4 BB, 1 K, 3 WP, 4/2 GO/AO, 52 pitches (27 strikes)
3. Nathan Sweeney: 1.2 IP, 2 H, 3 R (3 ER), 4 BB, 0 K, 1 HBP, 1 WP, 1 GIDP, 1/2 GO/AO, 44 pitches (17 strikes)
4. Holden Cammack: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K, 1/1 GO/AO, 15 pitches (7 strikes)
5. Andin Diaz: 2.0 IP, 7 H, 4 R (4 ER), 1 BB, 1 K, 1 WP, 1 GIDP, 3/1 GO/AO, 37 pitches (22 strikes)
CUBS ERRORS: NONE
CUBS CATCHERS DEFENSE:
1. Marcus Mastrobuoni: 0-1 CS
2. Richard Nunez: 0-1 CS
ATTENDANCE: 19
WEATHER: Sunny & breezy with temperatures in the 90's
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