Archive - Sep 2021

Nick Brueser clubbed a solo HR and five pitchers combined to toss a four-hitter, as the Athletics defeated the Cubs 3-1 in AZ Instructional League game action Thursday afternoon on Field #1 at the Riverview Baseball Complex in Mesa,AZ. 

Christian Franklin laced an opposite-field RBI triple into the RF corner to account for the lone Cub run. 

The game was pre-planned as a seven-inning affair. 

Cubs pitchers only allowed two hits, but three walks, three HBP, three WP, and four errors gave the A's too many chances. 

Coming off an outstanding AZIL game debut last week at Fitch Park, Cubs 2021 3rd round draft pick LHP Drew Gray struggled with his command throughout his outing. He didn't allow any hits, but he walked three, hit a batter, uncorked two WP. and was constantly pitching from behind in the count, throwing only 48% strikes.  

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

UPDATED / CORRECTED 9/30

Miguel Fabrizio clubbed an opposite-field line-drive two-run HR over the left-centerfield fence, singled, walked, and stole a base, Kevin Alcantara belted an RBI double and an RBI triple and scored a run, Parker Chavers singled, walked, stole two bases, and scored a run, and SP Dakota Chalmers tossed three innings of one-hit shutout ball with five strikeouts, as AZIL Cubs Blue blanked AZIL Cubs Red 4-0 in AZ Instructional League intrasquad game action Wednesday morning on Field #1 at the Riverview Baseball Complex in Mesa, AZ. 

The DH was not used in the game.   

The game was called after five innings of play.  

Here is the box score from the game: 

Colorado Rockies 2021 4th round draft pick Hunter Goodman blasted a three-run HR, Rockies 2021 10th round pick Zach Kokoska belted a solo HR and singled, Juan Brito drilled a two-run double and a single, stole a base, and scored a run, Adael Amador (Rockies 2019 $1.5M IFA signing) singled, walked, stole a base, and scored a run, Rockies 2020 1st round pick Zac Veen lashed an RBI single, walked, scored a run, and threw out a runner on the bases from RF, and SP Brayan Castillo hurled four innings of one-hit shutout ball with seven strikeouts and combined with four relievers to throw a four-hitter with 13 strikeouts, as the Rockies whitewashed the Cubs 8-0 in AZ Instructional League game action Tuesday afternoon on Field #1 at the Riverview Baseball Complex in Mesa, AZ.    

Parker Chavers laced a single and a double for the Cubs in a losing cause. 

The AZIL Cubs have not scored a run since last Thursday, having been shut-out three games in a row. 

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

Angels 2021 9th round draft pick RHP Braden Olthoff hurled three innings of shutout ball with five strikeouts and combined with four relievers on a four-hitter with 15 strikeouts, and Jordyn Adams (Angels 2018 1st round pick) and Arol Vera (Angels 2019 $2M IFA signing) belted back-to-back RBI triples to drive-in the first two runs, Jeremiah Jackson (Angels 2018 2nd round pick) lofted a sacrifice fly to plate another run, and Werner Blakely (Angels 2020 4th round pick) slugged a two-run HR to finish the scoring, as the Angels exploded for five runs in the bottom of the 8th and blanked the Cubs 5-0 in AZ Instructional League game action Monday afternoon on Field #3 at the Diablo Stadium complex in Tempe, AZ. 

In addition to his RBI triple, Jordyn Adams also walked three times. 

Cubs pitchers tossed seven innings of one-hit shutout ball (albeit while issuing six walks) before the Angels' five-run eruption in the bottom of the 8th.   

Catcher Casey Opitz (Cubs 2021 8th round draft pick) threw-out all three runners who tried to steal against him. 

Even though the Angels were ahead 5-0 at home after 8-1/2 innings of play, the bottom of the 9th was played so that all of the Cubs pitchers who were scheduled to throw in the game could get their work. 

The AZIL Cubs have now been held scoreless two games in a row. 

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

The penultimate series of 2021 has the 4th place Cubs facing the 5th place Pirates in Pittsburgh. The Cubs can continue to audition and indulge fringey minor league vets as they sort out potential 2022 contributors. Mills, Hendricks, and Steele will start for the Cubs, facing Keller and a pair of question marks. The games will begin at 5:35 central Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday.

SP Mitch Myers (A's 12th round pick in 2021 dtaft) and five relievers combined to toss a four-hit shutout and A's 2021 9th round pick Shane McGuire drilled a PH RBI single to highlight a two-run 5th, as the Athletics blanked the Cubs 2-0 in AZ Instructional League game action Saturday morning on Field #4 at the Lew Wolff Training Complex at Fitch Park in Mesa, AZ. 

Cubs SP Luis Devers hurled three innings of no-run / no-hit ball for the Cubs. Not counting 2021 draft picks who spent time in Mesa during the course of the ACL season, Devers was (by far) the ACL Cubs top pitching prospect, and probably should be considered one of the Cubs Top 15 pitching prospects going into the 2022 season.  

As was the case with many ACL games and is the case with most AZIL games, the contest was pre-planned as a seven-inning affair.  

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

The Cubs take on the Cardinals in a four-game set. This gives the 2022 auditionees a chance to take a chunk out of the redbird's wild card lead. They'll kick things off with a day-night double-header and follow up with a pair of matinees.