Arizona Phil's Archives

Eddy Julio Martinez reached base on a HBP, tripled, singled, stole a base, and scored, and collected an RBI with a sacrifice fly, Yonathan Perlaza tripled, singled, stole a base, and scored a run, Oswaldo Pina ripped a two-run double and a single, and SP Brendon Little tossed two perfect innings and combined with five relievers on a two-hitter, as the Cubs "A" team defeated the Giants Orange squad 5-1 in Cactus League Extended Spring Training game action Saturday morning on Field #1 at the Riverview Baseball Complex in Mesa, AZ. 

The game was pre-planned as a ten-inning contest. 

The Cubs 2017 1st round draft pick out of SCF - Sarasota-Manatee, Little saw his first game action of the season after suffering a lat strain in his first "live" BP session the first week of Minor League Camp in March. And Little didn't miss a beat, either, easily retiring all six Giants he faced (P-2, F-8, K * F-9, 4-3, 5-3) on just 14 pitches. He displayed a 92-94 MPH FB, a plus-CV, and a CH, and he had command of all three of his pitches and threw all three pitches for strikes. In fact he was so efficient that after he finished his two innings, he was sent down to the bullpen to throw an additional 15 pitches (five FB, five CV, and five CH). So things are looking up for Little. 

Prior to the Cactus League EXST game on Field #1, RHSP Keegan Thompson (on AA Tennessee 7-day IL since April 11th) threw a two-inning "sim" game on Field #5. 

Here is the abridged box score from the Cactus League EXST game on Field #1 (Cubs players only): 

The Dominican Summer League (DSL) begins play tomorrow (Saturday 6/1).

Here are the provisional 2019 DSL Opening Day rosters for the two Cubs DSL teams (rosters subject to change). 

Rafael Mejia walloped a line-drive three-run HR over the LF fence to give the Cubs "B" team a 3-1 lead in the 5th, but Cam Williams (RBI double) and Michael Hermosillo (RBI single) stroked consecutive two-out run-scoring hits in the 7th for the Angels, as the two teams played to a 3-3 tie in Cactus League Extended Spring Training game action Friday morning on Field #1 at the Riverview Baseball Complex in Mesa, AZ. 

The game was called after nine innings of play. 

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

Jake Slaughter drilled two singles (including a two-run single that put the "A" team on the board), walked, and scored a run, Herson Perez smacked an inside-the-park HR (ball bounced off fence and rolled into LF corner and Perez slid head-first into home just ahead of the tag), and SP Carlos Ocampo hurled four innings of shutout ball and combined with two relievers on a four-hitter, as the Cubs "A" team defeated the Cubs "B" team 8-1 in Extended Spring Training intrasquad game action Thursday morning on Field #1 at the Riverview Baseball Complex in Mesa, AZ.   

Luis Verdugo belted a solo HR to account for the lone "B" team run. 

"B" team SP Didier Vargas retired the first nine batters he faced (6-3, K, L-9 * K, F-9, F-7 * K, K, 1-3) before running into trouble and surrendering two runs in the 4th on Slaughter's two-out two-run single.

The game was pre-planned as an eight-inning contest. 

Here is the box score from the game: 

Jose Daniel Reyes collected four hits (three singles and a triple), scored a run, and drove-in three, Jose Curpa belted two triples, scored two runs, and picked-up an RBI with a bases-loaded HBP, Jesus Marriaga tripled, singled, walked, and scored a run, Ryan January drilled a solo HR and a single, and walked and scored, and SP Luis Frias hurled four innings of one run / two-hit ball with seven strikeouts, as the Diamondbacks hammered the Cubs "A" team 8-2 in Cactus League Extended Spring Training game action Wednesday morning on Whirlwind Field at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick, east of Scottsdale, AZ.        

Josue Huma walloped a solo HR and Oswaldo Pina smacked an RBI triple for the Cubs. 

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

SP Erick Leal tossed five innings of one-run ball and four relievers combined to hurl five shutout innings, leading the Cubs "B" team to a 3-1 victory over the Diamondbacks in Cactus League Extended Spring Training game action Tuesday morning on Field #1 at the Riverview Baseball Complex in Mesa, AZ. 

The game was pre-planned as a ten-inning contest. 

At one point Cub pitchers retired 14 D'backs in a row. 

Four Cubs pitchers on Active Rehab at EXST saw action in the game: 

1. Erick Leal: FB 89-90 - CV 76-78 (62 pitches - 15 swings & misses)   
2. Tony Barnette: FB 90-91 - SL 81-84 
3. Danny Hultzen: FB 94-97 - SL 85-86 (12 pitches - seven swings & misses) 
4. Chad Hockin: FB 90 - SL 84-86 

In his three EXST game outings Hultzen has been unhittable. He has thrown three shutout innings (75% strikes) with eight strikeouts while allowing no walks and just an infield single and a weak P-6. His max FB velo has increased from 92 to 96 to 97 and his SL velo increased from 84 to 86 in a span of eight days. The difference seems to be that he has changed to a lower arm-slot (a lot like Andrew Miller circa 2015-16) which apparently puts less-stress on his shoulder and has led to a stunning uptick in his velo.

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

5/28 UPDATE: 

OF Edmond Americaan has been moved-up to Lo-A South Bend and INF Clayton Daniel has been moved back up to AA Tennessee from EXST.

Eddy Julio Martinez blasted a two-run HR and a triple (near-HR), and while the Cubs "A" team collected only four hits in the game (the EJM HR and triple and a couple of singles that didn't factor in the scoring), they drew 13 walks plus two HBP and stole six bases, edging the Athletics Green squad 4-3 in Cactus League Extended Spring Training Memorial Day game action Monday morning on Field #1 at the Riverview Baseball Complex in Mesa, AZ.  

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

Iraj Serrano drilled a walk-off line-drive RBI single to RF with one out in the bottom of the 9th to drive-in Yhoelnys Gonzalez with the winning run as the Athletics Green squad rallied for a run in the 8th and one in the 9th to edge the Cubs "B" team 2-1 in Cactus League Extended Spring Training game action Saturday morning on Field #4 at the Lew Wolff Training Complex at Fitch Park in Mesa, AZ. 

Fabian Pertuz singled twice, stole a base, and scored the lone Cub run, Caleb Knight rifled the sharply hit ground RBI single to CF that scored Pertuz, threw-out two A's baserunners attempting to steal, and back-picked another one off 1st base, and Jorge Remon, Blake Whitney, and Chris Allen combined to hurl six innings of one-hit shutout ball with eight strikeouts for the Cubs. 

Prior to the game, Cubs "B" team OF Brennen Davis (Cubs 2018 2nd round draft pick - Basha HS - Chandler, AZ) was moved up to Lo-A South Bend from EXST.

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

Ghordy Santos singled twice, stole two bases, and scored two runs and Luis Toribio drilled an RBI single, walked, and scored a run, helping the Giants Black squad edge the Cubs "A" team 3-2 in Cactus League Extended Spring Training game action Friday morning on Field #2 (AKA "Jim Davenport Field") at Indian School Park in Scottsdale, AZ. 

Cubs infielder Herson Perez left the game after being hit on the helmet with a pitch, but he did leave the field under his own power. 

The game was pre-planned as a ten-inning contest. 

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

Oswaldo Pina stroked three hits (singled, stole a base, and scored in the top of the 2nd inning, singled in the 4th, and smacked a solo HR leading off the 7th), Rochest Cruz, Henderson Perez, Brandon Vicens, and Raymond Pena collected two hits a piece, and SP Niels Stone hurled three innings of shutout ball, as the Cubs edged the Diamondbacks 4-3 in Cactus League Extended Spring Training game action Thursday morning on Whirlwind Field at Salt Rivers Fields at Talking Stick east of Scottsdale, AZ.  

In addition to pelting D'backs pitchers with 13 hits, the Cubs also drew six walks in the game. 

The Cubs played only one Cactus League EXST game today, so the squad that traveled to Salt River Fields consisted of elements of both the Cubs "A" team and the Cubs "B" team. 

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

Fernando Kelli belted an RBI triple, a two-run double, and a single, and scored two runs, Luis Diaz drilled two singles, stole two bases, scored two runs, and drove-in another, Alexander Guerra singled, doubled, and scored a run, Oswaldo Pina walloped a two-run HR, and Richard Gallardo and Didier Vargas combined to toss five innings of shutout ball, as the Cubs "A" team breezed past the Giants Black squad 9-3 in Cactus League Extended Spring Training game action Wednesday morning on Field #5 at the Riverview Baseball Complex on John Arguello Way in Mesa, AZ. 

Cubs batters collected 16 hits (including three doubles, a triple, and a HR) and Cubs pitchers combined to fan 14 in the game. 

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

Jorge Barrosa belted a two-run triple and singled twice, Jose Corpa drilled a two-run triple and scored a run, and Luvin Valbuena doubled, walked, and scored two runs, leading the Diamondbacks past the Cubs "A" team 6-4 in Cactus League Extended Spring Training game action Tuesday morning on Field #5 at the Riverview Baseball Complex on John Arguello Way in Mesa, AZ. 

Jake Slaughter laced an RBI double and a single, Edmond Americaan singled, doubled, walked, and scored a run, and Marcus Mastrobuoni drove-in two runs with an RBI single and an RBI FC, stole a base, and threw out a runner attempting to steal a base, to aid the Cubs in a losing cause. 

LHP Danny Hultzen (on AAA Iowa 60-day IL - 2016 shoulder surgery rehab) saw his first game action of 2019, getting the start and striking out the side (all three swinging, and he threw 83% strikes) in the top of the 1st inning, and RHRP Chad Hockin (on Myrtle Beach 7-day IL - May 2018 TJS) threw a 1-2-3 2nd inning (4-3, 6-3, K-swinging) as he continues to look sharp while rehabbing from May 2018 TJS.

Once one of the top pitching prospects in baseball (he was the Seattle Mariners 1st round pick and the 2nd overall pick in the 2011 draft out of UVA), the 29-year old Hultzen still has a plus-CH and a very solid breaking ball and he runs his cutter at a respectable 88-90 MPH, and he has outstanding command of all of his pitches, too, but the problem he had last year (and it remains to be seen if the issue has been resolved) was that he was unable to throw more than one inning per appearance and he was also unable to throw two days in a row. If he is going to be an MLB lefty reliever he will need to be able to either throw multiple innings or pitch at least two days in a row.    

Prior to the game on Field #5, LHP Brendon Little (Cubs 2017 1st round draft pick) and RHP John Pomeroy (ex-PIT) threw "live" BP on Field #6. This was the first time Little has faced hitters since straining his lat in his first "live" BP session of Minor League Camp the first week of March.   
 
Here is the abridged box score from the game (Cubs players only): 

Rafael Mejia laced an RBI double and a two-run single, SP Kohl Franklin hurled three innings of shutout ball, and the Cubs "B" team took advantage of seven walks, four errors, four WP, and two PB to cruise past the Angels 9-1 in Cactus League Extended Spring Training game action Monday morning on Field #5 at the Riverview Baseball Complex on John Arguello Way in Mesa, AZ.  

The game was pre-planned as a ten-inning contest.  

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

Noah Vaughan belted an RBI triple and an RBI single, walked, and scored a run, as the Athletics Gold squad rallied from an early 2-0 deficit to edge the Cubs "A" team 3-2 in Cactus League Extended Spring Training game action Saturday morning on Field #5 at the Riverview Baseball Complex on John Arguello Way in Mesa, AZ.  

Marcus Mastrobuoni singled twice, doubled, and scored a run, and Josue Huma doubled, singled, stole a base, and scored a run for the Cubs.  

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