Garcia Delivers Message to Friars at Sloan Park

Robert Garcia belted a bases-loaded triple over the centerfielder's head to key a four-run 4th, singled twice, stole a base, and scored two runs, D. J. Wilson singled twice, stole a base, scored a run, and drove-in another with a sacrifice fly, and Dylan Cease and six other pitchers combined to hurl a shutout, as the AZL Cubs blanked the AZL Padres 6-0 in Arizona League action Monday night at Sloan Park in Mesa, AZ.  

The Cubs ran amok on the Padre battery, stealing six bases (three by Roberto Caro) with no CS.  

With his big night at the plate and on the bases, speedy switch-hitting Robert Garcia is now second in the AZL in hitting, 3rd in SB and OBP, and 6th in triples. Garcia likes to bunt (he probably leads the AZL in bunt singles), but he can drive the ball, too, as happened Monday night on on the bases-loaded triple and both singles.  

The 21-year old Garcia is perhaps a bit old for the AZL (he spent two seasons in the DSL prior to coming to Mesa this season), so he might be a good candidate to get moved-up to Eugene after the AZL concludes play at the end of August, and then maybe challenge for an outfield job at South Bend in 2016.   

RHP Tyler Skulina (on Myrtle Beach 7-day DL) made his first game appearance since June 25th, getting the start for the AZL Cubs. He was relieved with two outs and the bases loaded in the top of the 1st inning, when he reached his pre-planned pitch limit. Skulina was not very impressive, allowing two hits (a single grounded sharply through the box and into CF and a ringing line-drive double into the LF corner) and walking two, with a timely "caught stealing" keeping the Padres off the scoreboard.

RHP Dylan Cease threw two shutout innings, allowing a single and two walks while striking out three. His fastball continues to hum, baby, topping out at 100 MPH in his first inning of work, but (as usual) he had difficulty throwing strikes (just 53% strikes) and with pitch-efficiency (22.5 pitches-per-inning).  

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


AZL CUBS LINEUP: 
1a. Robert Garcia, DH: 3-4 (1B, 1B, 3B, F-9, 2 R, 3 RBI, SB)
1b. Carlos Jimenez, PH: 0-1 (P-4)
2. D. J. Wilson, CF: 2-4 (4-3, 1B, F-8 SF, 1B, K, R, RBI, SB)
3. Carlos Sepulveda, 2B: 0-4 (6-3, L-8 SF, L-8, L-5, 6-3, RBI)
4. Jose Paniagua, 1B: 0-3 (4-3, BB, 6-3, L-9, SB)
5. P. J. Higgins, 3B: 0-4 (K, K, E-9, 5-3)
6. Roberto Caro, RF: 0-3 (1-3, BB, 6-4 FC, P-4, 3 SB)
7. Andruw Monasterio, SS: 1-3 (2B, BB, F-8, E-5, R)
8. Tyler Payne, C: 1-3 (6-3, 1B, BB, F-8, R)
9. Donnie Cimino, LF: 2-4 (6-3, 3-2 FC, 1B, 1B, R) 

AZL CUBS PITCHERS: 
1. Tyler Skulina: 0.2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 0 K, 0/1 GO/FO, 24 pitches (13 strikes) 
2. John Williamson: 0.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K, 4 pitches (3 strikes) 
3. Dylan Cease: 2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 3 K, 2/1 GO/FO, 45 pitches (24 strikes) 
4. Carlos Rodriguez: 2.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K, 2 GIDP, 4/0 GO/FO, 23 pitches (16 strikes) 
5. M. T. Minacci: 2.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K, 4/1 GO/FO, 28 pitches (15 strikes) 
6. Ariel Ovando: 0.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K, 1/0 GO/FO, 5 pitches (4 strikes) 
7. Jordan Brink: 1.1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K, 2/1 GO/FO, 19 pitches (13 strikes) 

AZL CUBS ERRORS: 1 
3B P. J. Higgins: E-5 (fielding error allowed batter to reach base safely) 

AZL CUBS CATCHERS DEFENSE: 
Tyler Payne: 1-1 CS