Rondon Makes Cub Debut & Cease Fires No Hit Stuff for AZL Cubs
RHP Luis Jimenez hurled five innings of shutout ball with nine strikeouts and combined with two relievers to toss a two-hit shutout, as the AZL Indians whitewashed the AZL Cubs 5-0 in Arizona League game action Saturday (5:30 PM local start time) at Sloan Park in Mesa, AZ.
RHP Dylan Cease got the start for the Cubs and had the best outing I have seen from him yet (and I have seen all of his pro game outings, including "sim" games, intrasquad games, Extended Spring Training games, and AZL games), throwing three dominating innings of no-hit ball with three strikeouts (all three swinging) and a 5/1 GO/FO. When he didn't notch a strikeout, he induced weak contact and broken bats from the Tribe hitters. He walked the first man he faced and then retired the next nine batters in a row (K, 3-U, K, 4-3, 6-3, P-6, 4-3, K, 1-3), with the walk coming around to score thanks to two stolen bases and an E-2 overthrow at 3rd base by Cubs catcher Yohan Matos.
20-year old Venezuelan LHP Manny Rondon (acquired along with an ISBP SBV slot from the Los Angeles Angels for catcher Rafael Lopez just yesterday) made his Cub debut in the game, and looked pretty much like he did the last time I saw him, which was in his last outing for the Angels (against the Cubs) a week ago last Thursday in Tempe, when he surrendered six runs on nine hits (including two triples and a double) in 3.1 IP. This time Rondon worked four innings in relief and allowed four runs (three earned) on five hits (including three singles, a double, and a triple). On the positive side, he issued no walks and struck out three (two swinging), with both swinging punch-outs coming on a two-strike change-up (which is his best pitch). And while he did get cuffed around a bit, 71% of his pitches were strikes.
Rondon works his two-seam fastball at 88-89 MPH and occasionally touches the low 90's with it, but the change-up is his "money" pitch. To make it all work, he has to throw his fastball down at the bottom of the strike zone and can't allow it to get ripped all over the yard while setting up the change-up, and he has had trouble avoiding that outcome in his last two AZL outings. However, he did pitch very well in his first AZL appearance (getting the start and throwing five innings of two-run ball with six strikeouts for the Angels versus the A's on AZL Opening Day), and he was the DSL Angels best pitching prospect last season. So perhaps (hopefully) there is a mechanical flaw that can be corrected, and his last two outings will be remembered as just a temporary detour from the Road to Success.
Cubs 2015 27th round draft pick INF Angelo Amendolare (Jacksonville U.) has been moved-up to AAA Iowa from the AZL Cubs before he had a chance to make his pro debut in an AZL game. Because of promotions, trades, and injuries, the I-Cubs needed bench guys ASAP, and with the 22-year old Amendolare being a mature and polished college senior from a D-1 program (with additional experience playing summer ball in the Cape Cod League last year), he got the unexpected call-up (as did IF-OF Varonex Cuevas, who moved-up to Iowa from Eugene). It's probably just a temporary assignment, but still, that's a nice way to make your pro debut (presuming he gets into a PCL game while he's there).
Here is the abridged box score from Saturday's game (Cubs players only):
AZL CUBS LINEUP:
1. Robert Garcia, CF: 0-3 (K, K, K, HBP)
2. Carlos Sepulveda, 2B: 0-4 (4-3, 4-3, 6-3, 3-6 FC)
3. Wladimir Galindo, 3B: 1-4 (1B, K, L-7, 4-U FC)
4. Joey Martarano, DH: 0-4 (4-U FC, E-5, 6-3, F-7)
5. Jose Paniagua, 1B: 0-4 (K, K, 6-3, 6-3)
6. Alex Bautista, RF: 0-4 (K, 4-3, P-6, F-8)
7. Yohan Matos, C: 0-2 (6-3, K, HBP)
8. Andruw Monasterio, SS: 0-1 (BB, BB, F-9, SB, CS)
9. Donnie Cimino, LF: 1-3 (1B, K, 5-3)
AZL CUBS PITCHERS:
1. Dylan Cease: 3.0 IP, 0 H, 1 R (1 ER), 1 BB, 3 K, 5/1 GO/FO, 45 pitches (27 strikes)
2. Tanner Griggs: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K, 1 WP, 1 GIDP, 12 pitches (11 strikes)
3. Manny Rondon: 4.0 IP, 5 H, 4 R (3 ER), 0 BB, 3 K, 5/4 GO/FO, 56 pitches (40 strikes)
4. Ariel Ovando: 1.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K, 0/3 GO/FO, 12 pitches (10 strikes)
AZL CUBS ERRORS: 2;
1. C Yohan Matos: E-2 (errant throw on stolen base attempt at 3rd base allowed runner to score)
2. 3B Wladimir Galindo: E-5 (two-base throwing error allowed batter to reach 2nd base safely and runner to score from 2nd)
AZL CUBS CATCHERS DEFENSE:
Yohan Matos: 0-2 CS, 1 E (see above)
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