Torres Collects Four Safeties, Cubs & D'backs Split a Pair at T-Stick
Gleyber Torres drilled four singles, stole a base, and scored three runs as the Cubs edged the Diamondbacks 5-4 on Whirlwind Field, and Fernery Ozuna (RBI single), Jordan Parr (two-run single), Jacob Mayers (two-run double), and Jose Herrera (RBI double) rapped run-scoring hits to highlight an eight-run 3rd and Eric Brooks and five relievers combined to toss a three-hitter, helping the D'backs throttle the Cubs 11-3 on Quail Field, in a Cactus League Extended Spring Training split-squad doubleheader played this morning at Salt Rivers Fields at Talking Stick Resort east of Scottsdale, AZ.
This was the 8th multi-hit game for Torres and his second four-hit game, and he is now hitting 311/388/398 with four doubles and two triples, 14/18 BB/K, one HBP, and four SB (two CS and two PO) in 30 Cactus League EXST games (118 PA). He has committed 13 errors (11 fielding and two throwing) in his 30 games, however his errors tend to come in bunches and seem to result from carelessness, and then he'll play immaculate defense for several games in a row. He has also made a number of highlight-reel plays at SS, and his throws are always plus-strong & almost always accurate.
Eloy Jimenez returned to game action after a week's absence during which he was supposedly en route to the Cubs Dominican Academy. (He was a spectator at yesterday's game). Jimenez served as DH for Squad "B" (he has only played eight games in RF) and went 1-5 in the game on Whirlwind Field, collecting two RBI (one with a 1st inning single, and the other on a 4-3 GO in the 9th that ultimately proved to be the game-winner). While Jimenez is hitting a mediocre 236/266/348 (with 4/22 BB/K) in 25 Cactus Legue EXST games (94 PA), he is hitting a robust 333/355/567 with one HR, two doubles, and a triple, and ten RBI over his last eight games (31 PA) going back to 5/14, and he leads the EXST Cubs team in RBI with 18. (I know it's not a skill, but Jimenez does seem to have a knack for collecting RBI). Though I suspect they won't, I truly hope the Cubs will give Eloy a chance to remain in Mesa (with Gleyber Torres) and play for the AZL Cubs this summer. He does have defensive issues in RF and he did struggle offensively for a while (though certainly not lately), but so do a lot of players in the AZL.
RHP Ben Wells (sent back to Extended Spring Training from Daytona a couple of weeks ago to try and "right the ship") made his 2014 Cactus League EXST game debut today and got rocked, allowing seven runs (all earned) on six hits (two doubles and four singles) and three walks in just 2.0 IP. Extended Spring Training is almost over, so it's difficult to predict what the Rx will be for Wells.
RHP Scott Frazier (who has been unable to throw strikes going back to Minor League Camp) made his Cactus League EXST game debut as well, and threw a shutout inning with one strikeout, although he did walk two batters and threw two WP. There are some in the Cub organization who believe Frazier has the best (and nastiest) stuff in the system, but he just has all kinds of trouble finding the strike zone with it. He got by today, but just barely. Frazier would be the closer at Boise (heck, he'd probably be the closer at Daytona) if he could just throw strikes.
Here are the abridged box scores from the two games (Cubs players only):
QUAIL FIELD
CUBS SQUAD "A" LINEUP:
1. Kevin Brown, LF: 0-4 (3-1, P-3, P-1, L-9)
2. Erick Castillo, C: 0-4 (3-U, 1-3, K, F-9)
3. Jeffrey Baez, RF: 0-4 (5-3, 6-3, K, 3-1)
4. Danny Canela, 1B: 1-4 (1B, 3-U, K, K, R)
5. Rony Rodriguez, DH #1: 0-3 (BB, P-4, K, K, R)
6. Alberto Mineo, DH #2: 0-2 (K, BB, BB, E-4)
7. Jesse Hodges, 3B: 1-3 (K, BB, 1B, 4-6-3 DP)
8. Giuseppe Papaccio, SS: 0-3 (E-6, P-6, F-7, R)
9. Zak Blair, 2B: 0-2 (BB, 6-U FC, P-5, RBI)
10. Oliver Zapata, CF: 1-2 (1B, K, BB, 2 RBI)
CUBS SQUAD "A" PITCHERS:
1. Ben Wells: 2.0 IP, 6 H, 7 R (7 ER), 3 BB, 2 K, 1 WP, 4/1 GO/FO, 51 pitches (27 strikes)
2. Hector Perez: 1.1 IP, 5 H, 3 R (3 ER), 1 BB, 0 K, 2 WP, 2/2 GO/FO, 40 pitches (27 strikes)
NOTE: Perez's second inning was stopped with one out and runners at 1st & 3rd
3. Trey Lang: 2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K, 1 GIDP, 3/0 GO/FO, 28 pitches (18 strikes)
4. Alberto Diaz: 1.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K, 1/1 GO/FO, 23 pitches (15 strikes)
5. Francisco Carrillo: 1.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R (1 ER), 0 BB, 1 K, 1/1 GO/FO, 18 pitches (15 strikes)
CUBS SQUAD "A" ERRORS: NONE
CUBS SQUAD "A" CATCHERS DEFENSE:
Erick Castillo: 0-1 CS
WHIRLWIND FIELD:
CUBS SQUAD "B" LINEUP:
1. Gleyber Torres, SS: 4-5 (1B, F-8, 1B, 1B, 1B, 3 R, SB)
2. Bryant Flete, 2B: 1-4 (SH-E1, F-8, 1B, 5-3, E-6)
3. Shamil Ubiera, RF: 1-5 (F-8, 2B, K, 5-3, 6-4 FC)
4. Eloy Jimenez, DH: 1-5 (1B, 1-3, 4-3, 6-3, 6-3, 2 RBI)
5a. Tyler Alamo, 1B: 0-2 (4-6 FC, F-9)
5b. Roney Alcala, 1B: 1-3 (1B, 5-3, F-8, RBI)
6a. Antonio Valerio, C: 1-3 (P-6, 1B, K, R)
6b. Eufran Vargas, C: 1-1 (2B)
7. Adonis Paula, 3B: 1-4 (6-3, 3B, 5-3, K, R, RBI)
8. Ricardo Marcano, LF: 0-2 (K, F-8 SF, K, BB, RBI)
9. Charcer Burks, CF: 0-4 (6-3, K, L-9, 6-4 FC)
CUBS SQUAD "B" PITCHERS:
1. Tyler Ihrig: 4.0 IP, 4 H, 4 R (3 ER), 3 BB, 0 K, 1 WP, 8/4 GO/FO, 53 pitches (35 strikes)
2. David Garner: 2.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K, 2/1 GO/FO, 21 pitches (13 strikes)
3. Yomar Morel: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K, 1/0 GO/FO, 11 pitches (7 strikes)
4. Scott Frazier: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 1 K, 2 WP, 1/1 GO/FO, 24 pitches (10 strikes)
5. Carlos Llano: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 0 K, 1 PO, 1 GIDP, 2/0 GO/FO, 12 pitches (5 strikes)
CUBS SQUAD "B" ERRORS: 3
2B Bryant Flete - E-4 (fielding error allowed batter to reach base safely and unearned run to score)
SS Gleyber Torres - E-6 (fielding error allowed batter to reach base safely)
2B Bryant Flete - E-4 (fielding error allowed batter to reach base safely)
CUBS OUTFIELD ASSISTS:
RF Shamil Ubiera - threw out baserunner 9-2 trying to score from 2nd base on a single to RF
ATTENDANCE: 18
WEATHER: Mostly sunny & hot with temperatures 100+
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