Carlos Sepulveda

P. J. Hilson belted an RBI double and a solo HR, Juan Perez laced a two-run single, Anthony Rodriguez walked four times and scored two runs, and SP Mikell Manzano tossed three innings of one-run ball and combined with three relievers to strike out 14 (including the last six outs by gas throwin' closer William Suarez), as the Giants edged the Cubs 5-4 in Cactus League Extended Spring Training game action Thursday morning at Sloan Park in Mesa, AZ. 

Andrelton Simmons served as a DH and singled twice, tripled, and scored a run, Carlos Sepulveda drove-in two runs with a sacrifice fly and an RBI single and scored a run, and Dilan Granadillo drilled a two-run single, to account for the four Cub runs.  

The game was called after eight innings of play. 
 
Here is the abridged box score from the game (Cubs players only): 

P. J. Higgins grounded an RBI single through the 3.5 hole to plate the first run of the inning and Ho-Young Son followed with a bases-loaded triple into the left-centerfield gap to score three more, as the South Bend Cubs (Lo-A affiliate of the Chicago Cubs) rallied for four runs in the 7th and defeated the Burlington Bees (Los Angeles Angels Lo-A affiliate) 7-4 on Field #4, and Brendan Sanger and Hutton Moyer belted back-to-back RBI triples to highlight a three-run 3rd and RHSP Tyler Carpenter hurled four innings of shutout ball, as the Inland Empire 66ers (Angels Hi-A affiliate) defeated the Myrtle Beach Pelicans (Cubs Hi-A affiliate) 5-3 on Field #7, in Cactus League Minor League game action Friday afternoon at the Diablo Stadium Complex in Tempe, AZ.   

Besides the four-run rally in the 7th, Carlos Sepulveda doubled twice and scored a run and Kevonte Mitchell belted an RBI triple, walked, and cut-down a baserunner 9-5 attempting to advance from 1st to 3rd on a single to right for the SB-Cubs. 

RHSP Jake Stinnett had a rough outing for Myrtle Beach, allowing five runs (four earned) on eight hits (including the back-to-back RBI triples), a walk, and a WP in 4.0 IP (61 pitches).

Among the more-notable Cub position player prospects playing in the two games, Ian Happ played 2B and went 0-2 with two walks, a strikeout (swinging), and a 1-3 bounce-out (slamming his bat into the ground in frustration before starting for 1st) and an E-4 fielding miscue (which led to an unearned run scoring), Donnie Dewees served as a DH and reached base three times (two singles and a walk), Eddy Julio Martinez also served as a DH and drilled a ringing RBI double (near HR) off the LF wall, and Eloy Jimenez played LF and went 1-3 (double into to the LF corner, walk, and a run scored).   

Angelo Amendolare, Vimael Machin, Alberto Mineo, Andruw Monasterio, and Ho-Young Son were moved-up from the Eugene/Mesa group for the day to augment the South Bend and Myrtle Beach rosters.

Cubs Spring Training Depth Chart
Minor League Camp Rosters (updated daily)

Here are the abridged box scores from the two games (Cubs players only):

Daniel Spingola belted an opposite-field RBI double into the LF corner (first pro hit) to give the Cubs the lead and next batter 18-year old Andruw Monasterio followed with a towering two-run home run off the LF foul pole (first pro HR) to highlight a four-run 7th, as the AZL Cubs rallied to overwhelm the AZL Rangers 11-5 in Arizona League action Tuesday night at Sloan Park in Mesa, AZ.

D. J. Wilson drilled an RBI triple, walked, stole a base, and scored two runs, Roberto Caro ripped a triple and an RBI single and scored a run, Robert Garcia collected three hits, stole a base, scored a run, and drove-in another, Carlos Sepulveda singled twice, walked, and collected two RBI, and Eric Jokisch and Austyn Willis combined to toss a shutout, as the AZL Cubs blanked the AZL Athletics 6-0 in Arizona League action Saturday night on Field #4 at the Lew Wolff Training Complex at Fitch Park in Mesa, AZ. 

Michael Foster belted an opposite-field line-drive RBI triple into the RF corner and Carlos Jimenez drilled a line-drive RBI single to center to highlight a two-run 4th, and Carlos Sepulveda rifled an RBI single through the box and into CF (his third hit of the game) to cap a three-run 6th, helping the AZL Cubs to a 5-1 victory over the AZL Giants in Arizona League action Monday night at Sloan Park in Mesa, AZ. . 

Javy Baez doubled, singled, walked, reached base on an HBP, and scored two runs, Roberrt Garcia singled twice, walked twice, stole a base, scored two runs, and drove-in another, Carlos Sepulveda knocked-in four runs with a pair of two-run singles, and RHSP Austyn Willis hurled five innings of two-hit shutout ball and combined with three relievers to toss a five-hit shutout with eleven strikeouts, as the AZL Cubs whitewashed the AZL Brewers 11-0 in Arizona League action Saturday night at Maryvale Baseball Park in Phoenix, AZ. 

Baez (on AAA Iowa 7-day DL - broken left ring finger) continued his AZL Cubs rehab, serving as the DH and batting five times: 

Dillon Dobson (SF 2015 23rd round draft pick - Appalachian State) belted a two-run triple and an RBI double, and Nathaniel Javier and Matt Winn (SF 2015 14th round draft pick - VMI) clubbed solo home runs, helping the AZL Giants hammer the AZL Cubs 11-6 in Arizona League action last night on Field #1 at Mesa CubTown at Riverview Park in Mesa, AZ. 

Eloy Jimenez belted a three-run HR, a two-run double, and an RBI single, Carlos Sepulveda reached base three times (a triple, a walk, and an RBI single) and scored three runs, and Joey Martarano clubbed a two-run HR, lifting the Eugene Emeralds to a 10-4 victory over the Mesa Cubs in Extended Spring Training intrasquad action this morning on Field #6 at Mesa CubTown at Riverview Park.  

Here is the abridged box score rrom today's intrasquad game, followed by the updated Cubs Extended Spring Training roster:: 

Carlos Sepulveda tripled and singled and scored two runs, Roney Alcala belted an RBI double, singled, and scored a run, Miguel Rico drilled a two-run double, and five pitchers combined to toss a four-hitter, helping the Cubs to a 6-4 victory over the Rockies in Cactus League Extended Spring Training action this morning on Field #6 at Mesa CubTown at Riverview Park. 

Denzel Richardson and Jordan Ribera stroked solo home runs to account for two of the Rockies four runs.  

The Cubs had several baserunning gaffes in the game. Slow-footed catcher Tyler Pearson was gunned-down 7-4 trying to stretch a single into a double with no outs in the bottom of the 2nd inning, Kevin Encarnacion was doubled-up at 1st base on a pop out to the second-baseman in the bottom of the 6th (Rockies shortstop faked like he was fielding a ground ball and Encarnacion fell for it), and Roney Alcala was called out on an appeal play at 3rd base in the bottom of the 7th inning when the home plate umpire ruled that Alcala had left 3rd too early on what should have been a sacrifice fly (it was really obvious, too), taking what should have been a third RBI away from Miguel Rico. 

So I guess we might see a special emphasis on baserunning drills tomorrow. 

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

Adonis Paula singled twice, stole a base, and drove-in a run, Kevonte Mitchell singled twice and scored a run, and Carlos Sepulveda smacked a solo home run, in Cubs Extended Spring Training intrasquad game action this morning on Field #5 at Mesa CubTown at Riverview Park. 

The game was called after 4-1/2 innings with the score tied 2-2. (All three Extended Spring Training intrasquad games played this week have ended in a tie)

RHP (ex-C) Mark Malave finally made his game debut as a pitcher, throwing a shutout inning (4-3, 3-1, BB, 4-6 FC). I didn't see anthing special with his stuff, although he throws both a two-seam fastball and a curve (and the curve might be his best pitch). Malave received a reported $1.6M bonus when he was signed by the Cubs as a 16-year old switch-hitting catcher out of Venezuela in July 2011, the highest bonus ever given by the Cubs to an international amateur free-agent up to that point in time. He was moved almost immediately to 3rd base, and then he was moved back to catcher again (and gave up switch-hitting to hit only RH) after the 2013 season. He struggled offensively throughout his pro career as a postion player (248/347/305 in 141 career minor league games and 560 career minor league PA), and then was converted to a pitcher at Minor League Camp last month.       

In Cubs minor league roster news, RHP Daniel Bard (signed to a minor league contract during the off-season with an NRI to Spring Training, then couldn't throw strikes) and ex-Cubs LHP James Russell (signed to a minor league contract by the Cubs this morning after being released by the Atlanta Braves last week) have been assigned to Extended Spring Training. Both pitchers threw morning bullpen side-sessions but did not pitch in the game. Rehabbers RHP Dylan Cease (2014 TJS), RHP Trey Masek (2014 shoulder surgery), and RHP Austin Reed (2014 TJS) also threw bullpen side-sessions this morning.  

Chicago Cubs OF Chris Denorfia (15-day DL - hamstring) took BP on Field #6 prior to the game.  

Here is the box score from the game: