
Cease Fires 99, but Not Enough Gas to Stop Giants from Pummeling Cubs
Nicol Parra reached base four times (a two-run HR, two singles, and a walk), Chase Compton belted a triple and two doubles, drove-in a run, and scored another, Byron Murray slugged a three-run home run and a triple, Richard Amion Jr drilled an RBI triple, singled, walked, and scored a run, Fernando Pujadas smashed a two-run triple, and LHSP Nik Turley hurled six innings of shutout ball, as the Giants swept a Cactus League Extended Spring Training split squad doubleheader from the Cubs this morning at Mesa CubTown at Riverview Park.
The Giants shutout the Cubs 6-0 in the game played on Field #6, and drubbed the Cubs 10-4 in the game played on Field #5.
Roberto Caro singled twice, tripled, and drove-in two runs for the Cubs.
RHP Dylan Cease (2014 TJS) got the start for the Cubs on Field #6, and worked a third of an inning, walking the bases loaded around a strikeout. Cease's fastball was riding high (topping out at 99 MPH), but he had difficulty commanding it (22 pitches - only ten strikes). Otherwise, he was unhittable.
Cease was the Cubs 6th round draft pick out of Milton HS - Milton, Ga in 2014, and the Cubs selected him despite knowing that he would need a UCL elbow ligament transplant ("Tommy John surgery"). Considered one of the top high school arms in the 2014 draft class and a likely 1st round pick prior to his elbow issues, he received a $1.5M signing bonus (equivalent to "first round money") and then had the TJS last July 22nd. He has made a rapid recovery, and barring a setback, he will likely be a rotation starter for the AZL Cubs when the Arizona League season begins play next month.
In his first EXST Cactus League start start last Tuesday (16 pitches, two outs recorded, one HBP), Cease's fastball was topping out at 97 MPH, so his velocity has increased a bit over the past week.
Prior to the Cactus League games, RHPs Jacob Turner (on Cubs MLB 60-day DL with a right flexor strain), Erling Moreno (2014 TJS), and Trey Masek (2014 shoulder surgery) threw in a three-ining "sim" game on Field #3. Turner threw one inning (15 pitches), and Moreno and Masek threw two innings a piece (30 pitches each).
OF Chris Denorfia (on Cubs MLB 15-day DL with a hamstring strain) was one of the hitters in the "sim" game.
In EXST Cubs roster news, LHRP Daniel Schlereth and RHSP Felipe Paulino have been moved-up to AAA Iowa.
The 6'3 260+ 31-year old Paulino was orginally signed by the Houston Astros as an International free-agent out of the Dominican Republic in 2001, and he has pitched in the big leagues with Houston, Colorado, Kansas City, and the White Sox. He underwent an elbow UCL transplant (TJS) post-2012 when he was with the Royals, and then missed most of last season with a right shoulder injury while a member of the White Sox.
Paulino was signed to a minor league contract by the Cubs on May 3rd, after being released by the Boston Red Sox at the end of Spring Training. His fastball velocity has ranged from 94-96 MPH in his two Cactus League Extended Spring Training outings and one EXST intrasquad game.
Schlereth was the 1st round pick (26th overall) of the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2008 out of the University of Arizona, and was part of the Max Scherzer/Curtis Granderson/Edwin Jackson/Ian Kennedy/Austin Jackson/Phil Coke three-team mega-deal in December 2009, going to the Tigers with Scherzer, Coke and A. Jackson (Granderson went to the Yankees, and E. Jackson and Kennedy ended up in Arizona).
Schlereth was signed to a minor league contract by the Cubs on April 26th, after he was released by the Detroit Tigers,
FELIPE PAULINO - CACTUS LEAGUE EXTENDED SPRING TRAINING GAMES
1. 5/6: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 2 K, 0/1 GO/FO, 22 pitches (12 strikes)
2. 5/9: 2.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 K, 1 WP, 1/1 GO/FO, 29 pitches (20 strikes)
TOTAL: 3.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 6 K, 1 WP, 1/2 GO/FO, 64% strikes, 0.00 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, .182 OppBA
Paulino also pitched in one EXST intrasquad game:
5/14: 3.1 IP, 4 H, 3 R (3 ER), 2 BB, 6 K, 1 HR, 2/0 GO/FO, 64 pitches (43 strikes)
DANIEL SCHLERETH - CACTUS LEAGUE EXTENDED SPRING TRAINING GAMES
1. 5/6: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K, 1/2 GO/FO, 15 pitches (7 strikes)
2. 5/9 1.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R (1 ER), 3 BB, 2 K, 2 WP, 0/1 GO/FO, 26 pitches (11 strikes)
3. 5/12: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K, 2/0 GO/FO, 11 pitches (8 strikes)_
4. 5/15: 1.0 IP, 3 H, 2 R (2 ER), 0 BB, 1 K, 1/0 GO/FO, 22 pitvhes (15 strikes)
TOTAL: 4.0 IP, 5 H, 3 R (3 ER), 3 BB, 4 K, 2 WP, 4/3 GO/FO, 55% strikes, 6.25 ERA, 2.00 WHIP, .313 OppBA
Here are the box scores from the two Cactus League EXST games (Cubs players only):
FIELD #6
CUBS SQUAD "A" LINEUP:
1. Kevonte Mitchell, CF: 0-3 (F-7, 5-3, K)
2. Frandy de la Rosa, 2B: 2-3 (P-5, 1B, 1B)
3. Eloy Jimenez, LF: 1-3 (K, 5-3, 1B)
4. Jose Paniagua, 1B: 0-3 (F-9, F-8, 5-3)
5. Kevin Encarnacion, RF: 1-3 (1B, 4-3, K)
6. Adonis Paula, 3B: 1-3: (K, K, 1B+E4)
7. Jhonny Pereda, C: 0-1 (F-9, BB, HBP)
8a. Andruw Monasterio, DH: 0-1 (K)
8b. Jenner Emeterio, PH-DH: 0-1 (K)
8c. Tyler Alamo, PH: 0-1 (5-4-3 DP)
9. Carlos Jimenez, SS: 0-2 (6-3, 1-3)
CUBS SQUAD "A" PITCHERS:
1. Dylan Cease: 0.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 1 K, 22 pitches (10 strikes)
2. Mark Malave: 2.2 IP, 4 H, 3 R (2 ER), 1 BB, 4 K, 1 WP, 3/1 GO/FO, 58 pitches (39 strikes)
3. Dillon Maples: 0.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K, 1/0 GO/FO, 21 pitches (13 strikes)
4. Yomar Morel: 1.1 IP, 4 H, 3 R (3 ER), 0 BB, 1 K, 1 HBP, 2 WP, 2/1 GO/FO, 30 pitches (19 strikes)
CUBS SQUAD "A" ERRORS: 1
1B Jose Paniagua: E-3 (dropped pop fly allowing batter to reach base safely)
FIELD #5
CUBS SQUAD "B" LINEUP:
1. Roberto Caro, RF: 3-4 (1B, 1B, 3B, 4-3, 2 RBI, CS)
2. Robert Garcia, CF: 1-4 (F-7, 1B, 3-U, K)
3. Carlos Sepulveda, 2B: 1-4 (K, K, 2B, 1-3, CS)
4. Yohan Matos, C: 1-4 (L-5, 6-3, 3B, K, R)
5. Ricardo Marcano, LF: 1-3 (F-7, F-7, 1B+E7, RBI)
6. Varonex Cuevas, 3B: 1-3 (P-6, 1B, K, R)
7. Ho-Young Son, SS: 2-3 (1B, 2B, F-9, 2 R, SB)
8. Roney Alcala, 1B: 0-2 (3-U, F-8 SF, K, RBI)
9a. Alberto Mineo, DH: 0-0 (BB)
9b. Danny Gutierrez, PH: 0-1 (K)
NOTE: SLOT WAS SKIPPED SECOND TIME THRU BATTING ORDER
CUBS SQUAD "B" PITCHERS:
1. Anthony Carter: 0.2 IP, 1 H, 1 R (1 ER), 0 BB, 0 K, 1/1 GO/FO, 15 pitches (11 strikes)
2. Santiago Rodriguez: 1.2 IP, 6 H, 6 R (6 ER), 3 BB, 1 K, 1 HR, 1/3 GO/FO, 39 pitches (24 strikes)
3. Scott Frazier: 0.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 0 K, 1/1 GO/FO, 10 pitches (4 strikes)
4. John Michael Knighton: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 0 K, 1/2 GO/FO, 21 pitches (11 strikes)
5. Greyfer Eregua: 2.0 IP, 5 H, 3 R (3 ER), 1 BB, 1 K, 1 HR, 2/3 GO/FO, 45 pitches (28 strikes)
CUBS SQUAD "B" ERRORS: 1
3B Varonex Cuevas: E-5 (throwing error on infield single allowed batter to advance to 2nd base)
WEATHER: Sunny and a bit breezy with temperatures in the 80's
ATTENDANCE: 9
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