Cease Fires Blanks at Greenjackets

Cubs top pitching prospect Dylan Cease tossed 3-1/3 innings of two-hit shutout ball (while issuing one walk and striking out six), Marcus Mastrobuoni (RBI double), Roberto Caro (RBI triple), and Luis Ayala (RBI single) contributed run-scoring hits in a three-run 5th as the Cubs took a 3-0 lead, and then after the Greenjackets replied with one run in the 5th, one in the 7th, and three more in the 8th to take a 5-3 lead, Jhonny Pereda slugged a two-run home run over the LF fence in the top of the 9th to tie the game, as the South Bend Cubs (Lo-A affiliate of the Chicago Cubs) and the Augusta Greenjackets (Lo-A affiliate of the San Francisco Giants) played to a 5-5 tie on Field #2, and LHP Conner Menez hurled four innings of no-run no-hit ball and combined with four relievers to spin a four-hitter and Jalen Miller drilled an RBI triple and a double and scored two runs, leading the San Jose Giants (Hi-A affiliate of the San Francisco Giants) to a 7-2 victory over the Myrtle Beach Pelicans (Cubs Hi-A affiliate) on Field #1, in Cactus League Minor League doubleheader action Thursday morning at Indian School Park in Scottsdale, AZ.  

Michael Cruz broke-up the San Jose no-hitter with a one-out line-drive single to right in the top of the 5th, and Connor Myers belted an opposite-field solo HR to put Myrtle Beach on the board in the top of the 6th, but otherwise the Pelicans didn't produce much offense. 

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


FIELD #1

MYRTLE BEACH LINEUP:
1. D. J. Wilson, CF: 1-2 (BB, L-8, 1B, F-8 SF, RBI, 2 SB, CS, PO)
2. P. J. Higgins, C-DH: 0-3 (K, L-6, BB, 4-6 FC, SB)
3a. Chris Pieters, RF: 0-3 (K, P-6, F-7)
3b. Robert Garcia, RF: 0-1 (K)
4a. Trent Giambrone, 2B: 0-3 (L-8, F-9, K)
4b. Carlos Sepulveda, 2B: 0-1 (F-8)
5a. Michael Cruz, DH: 1-3 (P-4, 1B, 6-3)
5b. Franklin Tineo, C: 0-1 (3-U) 
6. Wladimir Galindo, 3B: 0-3 (F-8, P-2, K)
7. Tyler Alamo, 1B: 1-3 (K, K, 2B, R)
8a. Connor Myers, LF:  1-2 (P-3, HR, R, RBI)
8b. Jonathan Sierra, LF: 0-1 (F-9)
9a. Bryant Flete, SS: 0-2 (4-3, 4-3)
9b. Aramis Ademan, SS: 0-0 (BB)

MYRTLE BEACH PITCHERS:
1. Justin Steele: 3.0 IP, 4 H, 2 R (2 ER), 0 BB, 3 K, 2/4 GO/AO, 60 pitches (40 strikes)
2. Casey Bloomquist: 3.0 IP, 4 H, 2 R (1 ER), 1 BB, 1 K, 7/1 GO/AO, 57 pitches (36 strikes) 
3. John Williamson: 0.2 IP, 2 H, 2 R (2 ER), 1 BB, 2 K, 2 WP, 28 pitches (14 strikes) 
4. Greyfer Eregua: 1.1 IP, 2 H, 1 R (1 ER), 0 BB, 1 K, 1 GIDP, 2/0 GO/AO, 18 pitches (11 strikes)

MYRTLE BEACH ERRORS: 3
1. 3B Wladimir Galindo: E-5 (fielding error allowed batter to reach base safely)
2. 1B Tyler Alamo: E-3 (missed catch on attempted pick-off at 1st base allowed runner to advance to 2nd)
3. P John Williamson: E-1 (fielding error allowed batter to reach base safely)

MYRTLE BEACH CATCHERS DEFENSE:
P. J. Higgins: 0-1 CS
 
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

FIELD #2

SOUTH BEND LINEUP:
1. Luis Ayala, CF: 1-4 (F-7, BB, 1B, 6-3, K, RBI, SB, CS)
2. Yeiler Peguero, 2B: 0-3 (1-U, 5-3, K, BB)
3. Isaac Paredes, 3B: 0-4 (P-3, 1-U, K, 6-3)
4. Kevin Zamudio, 1B: 0-4 (5-3, F-7, E-5, 5-3)
5. Jose Gutierrez, LF: 1-4 (6-3, L-7, L-8, 1B, R)
6. Jhonny Pereda, C: 2-4 (E-5, 1B, F-9, HR, 2 R, 2 RBI)
7. Marcus Mastrobuoni, DH: 2-4 (5-4 FC, 2B, 1B, F-7, R, RBI)
8. Andruw Monasterio, SS: 0-4 (F-9, F-7, K, F-8)
9. Roberto Caro, RF: 2-4 (3-U, 3B, 4-3, 2B, R, RBI)

SOUTH BEND PITCHERS:
1. Dylan Cease: 3.1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 6 K, 1/2 GO/AO, 58 pitches (33 strikes)
2. Mark Malave: 1.2 IP, 2 H, 1 R (1 ER), 0 BB, 0 K, 2/2 GO/AO, 21 pitches (13 strikes)
3. Matt Swarmer: 2.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R (0 ER), 0 BB, 2 K, 2/2 GO/AO, 28 pitches (20 strikes)
4. Luis Aquino: 2.0 IP, 3 H, 3 R (3 ER), 2 BB, 1 K, 1 WP, 3/1 GO/AO, 39 pitches (22 strikes)

SOUTH BEND ERRORS: 3
1. CF Luis Ayala: E-8 (dropped fly ball allowing batter to reach 2nd base safely)
2. SS Andruw Monasterio: E-6 (errant throw to 1st base on infield single allowed runner on 1st to advance to 3rd)
3. C Jhonny Pereda: E-2 (overthrow at 2nd base on SB attempt allowed runner to advance to 3rd)

SOUTH BEND CATCHERS DEFENSE:
Jhonny Pereda: 1-4 CS, 1 E (see above)

SOUTH BEND OUTFIELD ASSIST:
CF Luis Ayala - batter thrown out 8-2-6 attempting to advance from 1st to 2nd after RBI single to CF

SOUTH BEND BASERUNNING ADVENTURES:
Luis Ayala - thrown out 7-4 attempting to take an extra base on two-out RBI single

ATTENDANCE: 35

WEATHER: Mostly cloudy & breezy with temperatures in the 70's