Angels Edge Cubs at Diablo

On a rehab assignment from AA Tennessee, Junior Lake (back strain) doubled, walked, stole a base, and scored a run, Pierre LePage (also on a rehab assignment after suffering a hamstring injury in Spring Training) laced an RBI triple, an RBI single, and walked, and Kevin Encarnacion ripped a two-run triple and scored a run, but the Angels scored three in the 5th and two more in the 8th to edge the Cubs 5-4 in Cactus League Extended Spring Training action this morning at Diablo Park Field #3 in Tempe, AZ.

Lake hadn’t seen game action in more than a month, but he looked to be 100% today, batting six times (once in each of the first six innings) and playing shortstop for the first four innings.

He grounded out to short leading off the game, stuck out (swinging) in the top of the 2nd, walked and stole a base (but was left stranded) in the 3rd, clubbed a double off the LF fence and then scored on the LePage RBI triple in the top of the 4th, popped out to the third-baseman in the 5th, and flied out to deep CF in the 6th. Lake also handled two chances flawlessly in the field, starting a 6-4-3 DP to end the bottom of the 3rd, and throwing out another Angel hitter 6-3 to finish the 4th.

Another game or two like that and he’ll be back in the Smokies lineup by the end of the week.

RHP Jose Arias had another strong outing, throwing three shutout innings.

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

CUBS LINEUP:
X. Junior Lake, SS-DH: 1-5 (6-3, K, BB, 2B, P-5, F-8, R, SB)
NOTE: Lake batted six times, once in each of the first six innings
1. Pierre LePage, 2B: 2-3 (BB, 3B, 1B, F-9, 2 RBI)
2. Jeimer Candelario, 3B: 0-4 (K, K, 3-U, P-5)
3. Ryan Durrence, 1B: 0-3 (P-3, K, K)
4a. Wilson Contreras, C: 0-2 (K, K)
4b. Anthony Giansanti, C: 0-0 (HBP)
5. Trey Martin, CF: 0-3 (K, P-6, F-8)
6. Jair Bogaerts, DH #1: 0-3 (F-9, K, 6-3)
7. Carlos Penalver, DH-SS: 1-3 (K, 2B, K, R)
8a. Brian Inoa, DH #3: 0-2 (P-5, K)
8b. Shawon Dunston Jr, PH: 0-1 (3-1)
9. Garrett Schlecht, LF: 1-2 (F-7, BB, 1B, R)
10. Kevin Encarnacion, RF: 2-2 (1B, 3B, SH-FC, R, 2 RBI, CS)

CUBS PITCHERS:
1. Jose Arias: 3.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K, 1 GIDP, 35 pitches (22 strikes), 5/1 GO/FO
2. Ian Dickson: 2.0 IP, 2 H, 3 R (3 ER), 2 BB, 0 K, 1 HBP, 38 pitches (19 strikes), 2/4 GO/FO
3. Charles Thomas: 1.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K, 1 PO, 23 pitches (16 strikes), 2/0 GO/FO
4. Jin-Young Kim: 1.1 IP, 3 H, 2 R (2 ER), 0 BB, 0 K, 1 HBP, 1 PO, 24 pitches (16 strikes), 2/1 GO/FO
5. Rafael Diplan: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K, 8 pitches (7 strikes), 1/0 GO/FO

CUBS ERRORS: NONE

CUBS CATCHERS DEFENSE:
Wilson Contreras: 0-1 CS
Anthony Giansanti: 1-1 CS

ATTENDANCE: 7

WEATHER: Sunny and breezy with temperatures in the 90’s