Cubs Bats Alive & Well at the Wind, Not So Much on the Jack

Yasiel Balaguert mashed a two-run home run to key a three-run 3rd, Jeffrey Baez belted a solo HR, Trevor Gretzky collected an RBI double and two singles and scored three runs, Carlos Penalver singled, doubled, walked, stole a base, and scored two runs, Reggie Golden singled twice, walked, drove-in a run, and scored two more, and Lance Rymel doubled and walked and drove-in three runs, as one squad of Cubs throttled one squad of Diamondbacks 10-2 on Whirlwind Field, and Ben Eckels and three relievers combined to throw a three-hitter with ten strikeouts and Damion Smith laced a bases-loaded three-run double, as the other squad of D'backs defeated the other squad of Cubs 4-1 on Jackrabbit Field, in a Cactus League Extended Spring Training doubleheader played this morning at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick Resort east of Scottsdale, AZ.  

The game on Whirlwind Field was called by mutual agreement in the middle of the 9th inning, and the game on Jackrabbit Field was called by mutual agreement in the middle of the 8th.

The Cubs got outstanding work from their two starting pitchers today. RHP James Pugliese fired three innings of one-hit shutout ball (80% strikes) with five strikeouts on Whirlwind Field, and 19-year old Dominican RHP Alexander Santana tossed three innings of no-run/no-hit ball on Jackrabbit Field, retiring nine of the ten men he faced (the only blemish being an HBP).  

In EXST Cubs roster news, INF David Bote and C-DH Carlos Escobar have been moved up to Kane County.

Bote was hitting 219/324/344 in 12 Cactus League EXST games (37 PA), with two triples, one SB (three CS), and 5/8 BB/K. He has played 2B, SS, and 3B for the EXST Cubs, and this is the second time he has been moved up to a full-season club since the end of Minor League Camp (he was with the Daytona Cubs for about a week last month when Tim Saunders was on the DL). The 20-year old Bote was the Cubs 18th round pick in the 2012 June Draft out of Neosho County CC.     

The Cubs 2012 15th round draft pick out of the U. of Nevada, Escobar was sidelined with an ankle injury during Minor League Camp and for the first three weeks of Extended Spring Training. But he hit 462/462/846 in five Cactus League EXST games (13 PA) since returning to action, and he hammered two home runs over a period of three days last week (one in an intrasquad game at Fitch Park, and then a tape measure shot last Saturday at Maryvale). Escobar had a 25% CS in Cactus League EXST games, and he also picked one runner off base.    

Here are the abridged box scores from the two games (Cubs players only):



WHIRLWIND FIELD

CUBS SQUAD "A" LINEUP:
1. Jeffrey Baez, CF: 1-5 (P-5, 6-3, HR, K, L-5, R, RBI)
2a. Carlos Penalver, SS: 2-3 (1-3, 2B, 1B, BB, 2 R, SB)
2b. Frandy de la Rosa, SS: 0-1 (K)
3a. Yasiel Balaguert, RF: 1-3 (3-1, HR, 6-4 FC, R, 2 RBI)
3b. Garrett Schlecht, RF: 0-1 (BB, K, R)
4. Reggie Golden, LF: 2-4 (1B, F-9, F-9, 1B, BB, 2 R, RBI)
5. Trevor Gretzky, 1B: 3-5 (E-4, 1B, 4-3, 2B, 1B, 3 R, RBI)
6. Lance Rymel, DH #1: 1-4 (5-3, F-7, BB, 2B, 6-4-3 DP, 3 RBI)
7. Brad Zapenas, 2B: 2-4 (1B, 2B, L-8, 6-3, 2 RBI, PO)
8. Alberto Mineo, C: 0-3 (BB, L-7, 4-3, L-4)
9. Mark Malave, 3B: 1-3 (1B, K, BB, L-7, CS)
10a. SLOT WAS SKIPPED FIRST TWO TIMES THRU BATTING ORDER
10b. Erick Castillo, DH #2: 0-2 (K, K) 

CUBS SQUAD "A" PITCHERS:
1. James Pugliese: 3.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 5 K, 40 pitches (32 strikes), 1/3 GO/FO
2. Jasvir Rakkar: 2.0 IP, 5 H, 2 R (2 ER), 0 BB, 1 K, 28 pitches (20 strikes), 1/5 GO/FO 
3. Carlos Martinez: 2.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 1 K, 29 pitches (17 strikes), 2/3 GO/FO  
4. Chad Martin: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K, 15 pitches (8 strikes), 1/1 GO/FO

CUBS SQUAD "A" ERRORS: 2 
1. 2B Brad Zapenas - E-4 (fielding error allowed batter to reach base safely)
2. 2B Brad Zapenas - E-4 (throwing error allowed batter to reach base safely)

JACKRABBIT FIELD

CUBS SQUAD "B" LINEUP:
1. Kevin Encarnacion, CF: 1-3 (K, 1B, 3-1)
2. Danny Lockhart, 2B: 1-3 (4-3, 4-6 FC, 3B, R)
3a. Jesse Hodges, 3B-DH: 0-2 (F-9, F-8)
3b. Dong-Yub Kim, PH: 0-0 (F-8 SF, RBI)
4. Jacob Rogers, 1B: 0-1 (4-3, BB, BB)
5. Rony Rodriguez, DH #1: 0-3 (5-3, K, F-8)
6. Justin Marra, C: 0-3 (K, K, K)
7. Jose Dore, RF: 0-3 (F-7, F-8, 6-3)
8. Xavier Batista, LF: 1-3 (F-9, 2B, K)
9. Francisco Sanchez, SS: 0-3 (K, K, K)
10. Bryant Flete, DH-3B: 0-2 (K, P-5)

CUBS SQUAD "B" PITCHERS:
1. Alexander Santana: 3.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K, 1 HBP, 43 pitches (25 strikes), 1/5 GO/FO
2. Corbin Hoffner; 1.1 IP, 3 H, 4 R (4 ER), 4 BB, 1 K, 1 WP, 43 pitches (22 strikes), 2/1 GO/FO 
NOTE: Top of the 5th inning was stopped with one out when Hoffner reached his pre-planned max pitch limit for the game
3. Mike Hamann: 2.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K, 2 WP, 40 pitches (27 strikes), 4/0 GO/FO  

CUBS SQUAD "B" ERRORS: NONE

CUBS SQUAD "B" CATCHERS DEFENSE:
Justin Marra: 0-1 CS

ATTENDANCE: 15

WEATHER: Sunny with temperatures in the 90's

NOTE: It wasn't a Cactus League Extended Spring Training game, but the Cubs did play an intrasquad game yesterday (Thursday) morning at Fitch Park Field #4.

Albert Almora played five innings (four innings in CF) for Squad "A" and batted three times, leading-off the top of the 1st, 3rd, and 5th innings, He reached base on an E-6 (a throwing error on what should have been a routine 6-3 GO) in his first AB, flied out to RF his 2nd time up, and reached base on an infield single (ball grounded through the box, nice play to even get to the ball by SS Frandy de la Rosa) in his 3rd and final PA. He then stole 2nd base, and scored on a HR.

Jose Rosario got the start for Squad "A" and worked five innings (80 pitches), allowing three runs on five hits (three singles, a double, and a two-run HR). Rosario did not walk anyone (although he did hit a batter), and he struck out seven. Rosario is stretched-out enough to be moved-up to Kane County or Daytona if the Cubs wish to do that. although he has not pitched particularly well so far.

Reggie Golden and Jesse Hodges each smacked a two-run HR, and Xavier Batista, Jacob Rogers, and Lance Rymel belted RBI doubles.

Neftali Rosario left the game after suffering what appeared to be an ankle or foot injury while running the bases in his one and only AB (F-8). He walked (limped) to the clubhouse under his own power, not needing any assistance from man or golf cart to get there.

Here is the box score from the intrasquad game:

CUBS SQUAD "A" LINEUP:
X. Albert Almora, CF: 1-3 (E-6, F-9, 1B, R, SB)
NOTE: Almora batted three times, hitting lead-off in the 1st, 3rd, and 5th innings
1. Kevin Encarnacion, DH-CF: 1-3 (4-3, F-8, 2B, F-9 SF, R, RBI)
2. Bryant Flete, 2B: 0-2 (HBP, 5-3, F-8, F-8 SF, RBI)
3. Francisco Sanchez, SS: 0-4 (5-4-3 DP, 4-3, 6-3, K)
4a. Rony Rodriguez, C: 2-3 (1B, 2B, 6-3, 2 R)
4b. Justin Marra, C: 0-1 (F-7)
5a. Neftali Rosario, DH #2: 0-1 (F-8)
5b. Xavier Batista, PH-DH: 2-3 (2B, 1B, P-2, RBI)
6. Jose Dore, RF: 1-2 (2B, BB, 3-U)
7. Dong-Yub Kim, LF: 1-3 (5-3, 6-3, 1B, R, RBI, SB)
8. Jesse Hodges, 3B: 1-2: (6-3, HR, BB, 2 R, 2 RBI)
9. Jacob Rogers, 1B: 1-3 (K, F-8, 2B, R, RBI)

CUBS SQUAD "B" LINEUP:
1. Rashad Crawford, CF: 0-4 (3-1, K, K, E-4, SB, CS)
2, Frandy de la Rosa, SS: 0-3 (K, F-9, 4-3, BB)
3. Alberto Mineo, DH #1: 0-2 (K, F-8, BB)
4. Erick Castillo, C: 1-3 (3-1, 1B, 3-6 FC, R)
5. Brad Zapenas, 2B: 1-2 (HBP, 1B, P-3, R, RBI)
6. Trevor Gretzky, 1B: 1-3 (F-8, 1B, F-8)
7a. Reggie Golden, LF: 1-2 (HR, F-8 DP, R, 2 RBI)
7b. Garrett Schlecht, LF: 0-0 (BB, R)
8a. SLOT WAS SKIPPED FIRST TWO TIMES THRU BATTING ORDER
8b. Lance Rymel, DH #2: 1-1 (2B, R, RBI)
9. Mark Malave, 3B: 0-3 (K, K, 6-3, RBI)
10. Yasiel Balaguert, RF: 1-3 (K, 2B, 4-3)

CUBS SQUAD "A" PITCHERS:
1. Jose Rosario: 5.0 IP, 5 H, 3 R (3 ER), 0 BB, 7 K, 1 HBP, 1 HR, 1 WP, 80 pitches (58 strikes), 3/4 GO/FO
2. Juan Francisco: 2.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R (1 ER), 3 BB, 0 K, 1 WP, 43 pitches (20 strikes) 4/1 GO/FO,

CUBS SQUAD "B" PITCHERS:
1. Daury Torrez: 2.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R (1 ER), 0 BB, 0 K, 1 HBP, 1 GIDP, 26 pitches (21 strikes), 5/1 GO/FO
2. Carlos Rodriguez: 2.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R (1 ER), 1 BB, 1 K, 31 pitches (20 strikes), 3/2 GO/FO
3. Orbandy Rodriguez: 1.2 IP, 4 H, 2 R (2 ER), 0 BB, 0 K, 1 HR, 46 pitches (27 strikes), 3/2 GO/FO
NOTE: Top of 6th inning was stopped with two outs when O. Rodriguez reached his pre-planned max pitch limit for the game
4. Jorge Diaz: 1.2 IP, 2 H, 3 R (3 ER), 1 BB, 1 K, 31 pitches (20 strikes), 0/4 GO/FO
NOTE: Game was called with two outs in top of 8th inning when J. Diaz reached his pre-planned max pitch limit for the game

CUBS SQUAD "A" ERRORS: 1
2B Bryant Flete - E-4 (fielding error allowed batter to reach base safely)

CUBS SQUAD "B" ERRORS: 1
SS Frandy de la Rosa - E-6 (throwing error allowed batter to reach base safely)

CUBS SQUAD "A" CATCHERS DEFENSE:
1. Rony Rodriguez: 0-1 CS
2. Justin Marra: 1-2 CS

CUBS SQUAD "B" CATCHERS DEFENSE:
Erick Castillo: 0-2 CS

CUBS SQUAD "A" OUTFIELD ASSISTS:
CF Kevin Encarnacion - runner (Brad Zapenas) thrown out 8-5 trying to advance from 2nd to 3rd on F-8