International Recruits Watch AZL Cubs Whitewash A's at Fitch Park

D. J. Wilson drilled an RBI triple, walked, stole a base, and scored two runs, Roberto Caro ripped a triple and an RBI single and scored a run, Robert Garcia collected three hits, stole a base, scored a run, and drove-in another, Carlos Sepulveda singled twice, walked, and collected two RBI, and Eric Jokisch and Austyn Willis combined to toss a shutout, as the AZL Cubs blanked the AZL Athletics 6-0 in Arizona League action Saturday night on Field #4 at the Lew Wolff Training Complex at Fitch Park in Mesa, AZ. 

The Cubs got the scoring started in the top of 3rd inning, as D. J. Wilson drew a two-out walk, stole second, and scored on a Carlos Sepulveda RBI opposite-field single sliced down the LF line.

The Cubs added five more runs over the final three innings to seal the victory. 

Roberto Caro drilled a triple into the right-centerfield alley to open the 7th, and scored on a Yohan Matos line-drive RBI single over the shortstop's head (infield was playing "in"), and then after advancing to 2nd on a sacrifice bunt, Matos scored on a Robert Garcia RBI single that ricocheted off the pitchers leg. P. J. Higgins (line-drive to left), Michael Foster (line-drive to center), and Roberto Caro (line-drive to right) stroked consecutive one-out singles to plate another run in the 8th, and then D. J. Wilson creamed an opposite-field RBI triple into the left-centerfield alley to drive-in Robert Garcia (who had singled leading-off the 9th inning), before scoring on a Carlos Sepulveda infield hit to complete the Cub scoring. 

LHP Eric Jokisch (on AAA Iowa 7-day DL - rib cage inflammation) made his third rehab start for the AZL Cubs and worked five innings (69 pitches - 41 strikes), allowing four hits (all singles) and two walks while striking out six (all six swinging), with a 5/1 GO/FO (including two GIDP). Unless there just isn't room for Jokisch in the Iowa starting rotation (and given the motley group that's there, I find that hard to believe), this positively should be Jokisch's last rehab outing before returning to the I-Cubs. (Actually, I'm surprised his previous AZL rehab outing wasn't his last one).  

LHP Bryan Hudson (Cubs 2015 3rd round pick - Alton HS - Alton, IL) threw "live" BP at Mesa CubTown Field #1 prior to the team leaving for Fitch Park, the first outing for Hudson where he actually faced hitters. There had been speculation that other than throwing a few bullpen sessions, Hudson would not make his mound debut (facing hitters) until post-season "Instructs" (AZ Instructional League), but now it appears possible that he might actually see some game action at some point prior to the conclusion of the AZL season.   

Nine members of the Cubs 2015 IFA class attended the game, under the supervision of Gian Guzman. The nine are in town to get more extensive physicals than the ones they received at the Cubs Dominican Academy, and to be introduced to "The Cubs Way." 

Some of you will perhaps remember Gian Guzman as a one-time Cub minor league infielder. He was at Extended Spring Training in 2007 and 2008 at Fitch Park, with Marwin Gonzalez in 2007, and with Junior Lake, Starlin Castro, and Josh Vitters in 2008. As it turned out, four of the five (Castro, Lake, Gonzalez, and Vitters) eventually graduated to the big leagues, but Guzman (who had every bit as much promise as the others) had his playing career cut short by injuries.

First he suffered a broken leg in a 1st inning collision with RHP Julio Castillo while playing shortstop for Peoria in July 2008. That was the game that later erupted into a wild "beanball" brawl, where Castillo (known by his teammates as "Animal," because he captured and then kept a desert rat as a pet in his motel room in Mesa the previous summer) was arrested by Dayton Police (and actually eventually served time in the county jail after being convicted for "felonious assault causing serious physical injury") when he intentionally threw a baseball at a fan in the stands (and hit the fan) during the fight (Castillo threw a 95 MPH fastball at the time).

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As for Guzman, he was unable to continue his career as an infielder, so he was tried as a pitcher for about a year, but he blew-out his shoulder and was forced to retire. But the Cubs didn't just kick him to the side of the road. He was retained as an apprentice scout and player development assistant, and was so good at it that now he is the Cubs Scouting Coordinator in the Dominican Republic (at the ripe old age of 26!).

Here is the abridged box score from Saturday night's game (Cubs players only):

AZL CUBS LINEUP:
1. Robert Garcia, RF: 3-5 (L-4, 1B, 4-3, 1B, 1B, R, RBI, SB, CS)
2. D. J. Wilson, CF: 1-4 (K, BB, E-4, 5-2 FC, 3B, 2 R, RBI, SB)
3. Carlos Sepulveda, 2B: 2-4 (BB, 1B, 1-4-3, 1-3, 1B, 2 RBI)
4. Jose Paniagua, 1B: 0-5 (K, 5-3, F-8, K, 5-4-3 DP)
5. P. J. Higgins, 3B:  1-5 (F-9, K, F-8, 1B, P-6, R)
6. Michael Foster, DH: 1-4 (6-3, 4-3, F-7, 1B)
7. Roberto Caro, LF: 2-3 (BB, K, 3B, 1B, R, RBI)
8. Yohan Matos, C: 1-4 (P-6, K, 1B, F-9, R, RBI)
9. Andruw Monasterio, SS: 1-3 (P-4, 1B, 1-3 SH, P-3)

AZL CUBS PITCHERS: 
1. Eric Jokisch: 5.0 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 6 K, 2 GIDP, 5/1 GO/FO, 69 pitches (41 strikes) 
2. Austyn Willis: 4.0 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K, 1 HBP, 1 PO, 2 GIDP, 4/3 GO/FO, 44 pitches (27 strikes) 

AZL CUBS ERRORS: 1 
1B Jose Paniagua: E-3 (missed catch on pick-off attempt at 1st base allowed baserunner to advance to 3rd)

AZL CUBS CATCHERS DEFENSE: 
Yohan Matos: 2-2 CS