Rockies Cruise Past Cubs As Victorino Bids Aloha to Extended Spring Training

Cole Anderson (RBI single), Wilson Soriano (RBI single), and Antony Brito (two-run single) contributed run-scoring hits to highlight a four-run 8th, Brian Carroll belted a solo HR and a two-run single, Daniel Suero drilled an RBI double and a single, and RHSP Michael Zimmerman tossed five innings of two-run ball, leading the Rockies to an 8-4 victory over the Cubs in Cactus League Extended Spring Training action this morning on Field #5 at the Riverview Baseball Complex in Mesa, AZ. 

RHSP Jesus Castillo tossed three innings of shutout ball with four strikeouts for the Cubs.  

Castillo is (at this point) battling Erling Moreno, Jose Paulino, and Manny Rondon for one of three open slots in the Eugene rotation (Dylan Cease and Bryan Hudson are virtual locks for the other two slots), and today's outing certainly won't hurt his cause. Now 20, Castillo was one of the two pitchers acquired by the Cubs from the Arizona Diamondbacks for OF Tony Campana in February 2013, and while the other pitcher (RHSP Erick Leal) has advanced steadily (if not spectacularly) through the Cubs system (Leal is presently a starting pitcher at Hi-A Myrtle Beach), Castillo has been stalled in Mesa.

Castillo is what's known in scouting circles as "projectable," meaning he has a long & lean body that should (hopefully) produce greater fastball velocity as he matures and fills out. However, Castillo's fastballl (to this day) sits at 86-87, and hasn't picked up as much as one MPH of velocity in the three years since the trade. But Castillo does have one of the best curve balls in the Cubs system, and when he spots his fastball on the corners and changes eye levels and doesn't walk anybody and uses his curve as a strikeout pitch (as was the case today), he can be effective.

In EXST Cubs roster news, OF Shane Victorino (the "Flyin' Hawaiian") has completed his rehab at Extended Spring Training (finally!) and will be joining the AAA Iowa Cubs in Omaha. Victorino suffered a left calf strain the second week of Spring Training and has been working to get back to full strength ever since. In twelve Cactus League Extended Spring Training games, Victorino played LF (but no CF or RF) and occasionally served as a DH, hitting 371/450/486 with a 13% walk-rate and an 8% K-rate in 40 PA.

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

CUBS LINEUP:
1. Robert Garcia, RF: 1-4 (6-3, 5-3, 1B, F-9, CS)
2. D. J. Wilson, CF-DH: 1-4 (K, 2B, K, P-5, R)
3. Kevonte Mitchell, LF: 1-3 (5-3, 5-3, 1B, BB, R, SB)
4. Isaac Paredes, SS: 1-4 (6-3, 4-3, K, 1B, R, RBI)
5. Chris Pieters, 1B: 1-4 (3-U, 3-U, 4-3, 1B, RBI)
6a. Rafael Mejia, 3B: 1-2 (2B, BB, L-9, R, SB)
6b. Andruw Monasterio, 3B: 0-1 (K) 
7. Jhonny Pereda, C-DH: 1-4 (1B, F-9, 4-3, K)
8. Roberto Caro, DH-CF: 1-4 (1-3, 5-3, K+WP, 1B, RBI)
9. Rafael Narea, 2B: 1-3 (F-7, 1B, BB, K, RBI)
10. Alberto Mineo, DH-C: 0-3 (K, 3-1, K)

CUBS PITCHERS: 
1. Jesus Castillo: 3.0 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 K, 2/3 GO/AO, 39 pitches (27 strikes) 
2. Luis Aquino: 1.2 IP, 2 H, 2 R (2 ER), 1 BB, 1 K, 1 HR, 1/2 GO/AO, 34 pitches (23 strikes) 
3. Pedro Araujo: 2.0 IP, 4 H, 2 R ( 2 ER), 0 BB, 3 K, 1 WP, 1/1 GO/AO, 30 pitches (23 strikes) 
4. Hector Garcia: 1.1 IP, 3 H, 4 R (4 ER), 1 BB, 0 K, 2 HBP,  1 GIDP, 1/2 GO/AO, 26 pitches (13 strikes) 
5. Jared Cheek: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K, 1 HBP, 0/1 GO/AO, 20 pitches (11 strikes) 

CUBS ERRORS: 1 
LF Kevonte Mitchell: E-7 (dropped pop fly allowing batter to reach base safely) 

CUBS CATCHERS DEFENSE: 
1. Jhonny Pereda: 0-2 CS 
2. Alberto Mineo: 1-1 CS 

CUBS OUTFIELD ASSISTS: 
LF Kevonte Mitchell - batter thrown out 7-5 attempting to advance to 3rd on E-7 missed catch (see above)

ATTENDANCE: 10 

WEATHER: Partly cl;oudy & breezy with temperatures in the 70's