Sierra and Paniagua Long-Balls Help Cubs Gain Split with Giants
Jonathan Sierra (two-run home run), Alberto Mineo (RBI triple), Kwang-Min Kwon (RBI single), and Roberto Caro (RBI triple) contributed run-scoring hits to highlight a five-run 2nd, Jose Paniagua clubbed his team-leading 4th HR in the 6th, Edgar Rondon drilled two doubles, walked, and scored a run, and Marcus Mastrobuoni doubled, singled , and scored a run, leading the Cubs to a 7-3 win over the Giants on Field #2, and Chase Compton belted a solo HR and an RBI single, Richard Amion Jr rifled an RBI single and walked twice, and RHP Hengerber Medina and four relievers combined to toss a four-hit shutout, as the Giants blanked the Cubs 3-0 on Field #1, in Cactus League Extended Spring Training split-squad doubleheader action this morning at Indian School Park in Scottsdale, AZ.
Both games were called by mutual-consent after 7-1/2 innings of play.
Now 17, Jonathan Sierra (2015 IFA - Dominican Republic- $2.5M bonus) was invited to AZ Instructs as a 16-year old last September, and he made a favorable impression, even drawing comparisons to a (very) young Darryl Strawberry (lanky teenaged LH hitting & throwing corner OF with potential to mash). But Sierra has struggled at Extended Spring Training so far, hitting just 152/243/303 (16% K-rate - 11% walk-rate) in 13 Cactus League EXST games (37 PA), and his second-inning home run today (which was his 1st Cactus League EXST HR) broke an 0-13 skid that goes back ten days. So while his future is bright, he will likely be assigned to one of the Cubs DSL squads (DSL Cubs #1 or DSL Cubs #2) in the coming days.
Here are the abridged box scores from the games (Cubs players only):
FIELD #2
CUBS SQUAD "A" LINEUP:
1. Edgar Rondon, 2B: 2-3 (2B, F-7, 2B, BB, R)
2. Roberto Caro, CF: 1-4 (L-9, 3B, F-9, P-6, RBI, PO)
3. Yeiler Peguero, SS: 0-4 (6-3, 3-1, 5-3, F-8, RBI)
4. Kevonte Mitchell, DH #1: 0-4 (F-9, E-6, F-9, 6-3, SB, PO)
5a. Rafael Mejia, 3B: 0-3 (K, 5-3, K)
5b. Ruben Reyes, PH: 1-1 (1B)
6. Jose Paniagua, 1B: 1-4 (E-5, 5-3, HR, 6-4-3 DP, 2 R, RBI)
7. Jonathan Sierra, LF: 1-3 (HR, F-7, 4-3, R, 2 RBI)
8. Marcus Mastrobuoni, DH #2: 2-3 (2B, 1B, 5-3, R)
9. Alberto Mineo, C: 1-2 (3B, BB, 3-U, R, RBI)
10. Kwang-Min Kwon, RF: 1-2 (1B, F-8, HBP, R, RBI)
CUBS SQUAD "A" PITCHERS:
1. Pedro Araujo: 2.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R (1 ER), 1 BB, 3 K, 2 WP, 1/2 GO/AO, 31 pitches (19 strikes)
2. Scott Frazier: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 0 K, 1 GIDP, 1/1 GO/AO, 14 pitches (6 strikes)
3. Luis Aquino: 2.0 IP, 5 H, 2 R (2 ER), 0 BB, 1 K, 1 GIDP, 3/1 GO/AO, 34 pitches (25 strikes)
4. Andry Rondon: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K, 1 WP, 0/1 GO/AO, 15 pitches (9 strikes)
5. Jose Leidenz: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K, 1/1 GO/AO, 13 pitches (8 strikes)
CUBS SQUAD "A" ERRORS: 2
1. CF Roberto Caro: E-8 (fielding error on double to left-centerfield allowed batter to advance to 3rd base)
2. 2B Edgar Rondon: E-4 (fielding error allowed batter to reach base safely)
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
FIELD #1
CUBS SQUAD "B" LINEUP:
1. D. J. Wilson, CF: 0-3 (F-8, P-2, F-8)
2. Andruw Monasterio, SS: 1-3 (K, 1B, 6-3, CS)
3. Chris Pieters, 1B: 0-2 (BB, 4-3, P-6)
4. Wladimir Galindo, 3B: 1-3 (F-8, L-6, 1B)
5. Alex Bautista, DH #1: 0-3 (6-3, K, K)
6. Jhonny Bethencourt, 2B: 0-3 (F-8, F-8, 5-3)
7. Tyler Pearson, C: 0-0 (BB, BB, HBP)
8. Abraham Rodriguez, LF:1-3 (1B, 9-6 FC, F-7)
9. Luis Ayala, DH #2: 1-3 (F-7, 1B, L-4, CS)
10. Jose Gonzalez, RF: 0-2 (BB, K, P-4, CS)
CUBS SQUAD "B" PITCHERS:
1. Manny Rondon: 3.0 IP, 4 H, 2 R (2 ER), 2 BB, 1 K, 1 HR, 5/2 GO/AO, 50 pitches (28 strikes)
2. Alexander Santana: 2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K, 1/1 GO/AO, 27 pitches (16 strikes)
3. Daniel Lewis: 2.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R (1 ER), 1 BB, 1 K, 1 HBP, 2 WP, 1 GIDP, 2/2 GO/AO, 27 pitches (16 strikes)
CUBS SQUAD "B" ERRORS: 1
2B Jhonny Bethencourt: E-4 (fielding error allowed batter to reach base safely)
CUBS SQUAD "B" OUTFIELD ASSISTS:
1. LF Abraham Rodriguez - runner thrown out 7-6-2 attempting to score from 1st base on double to LF
2. RF Jose Gonzalez - runner thrown out 9-5 attempting to advance from 1st to 3rd on single to RF
ATTENDANCE: 21
WEATHER: Sunny with temperatures in the 90's
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