Michael Foster

Javier Godard doubled, singled twice, scored twice, and drove-in the winning run with a squeeze bunt, as the Athletics rallied for three runs in the bottom of the 8th and hung-on to edge the Cubs 6-5 in Cactus League Extended Spring Training action this morning on Field #4 at the Lew Wolff Training Complex at Fitch Park in Mesa, AZ. 

The Cub cause was aided by Vimael Machin (drilled two singles and a triple, scored a run, and knocked-in another), Rafael Mejia (belted an RBI double, singled, walked, and stole a base), and Michael Foster (singled twice, walked, stole a base, scored a run, drove-in a run, and threw out an A's hitter 7-4 trying to stretch a single into a double), but the bullpen could not hold the lead for the second day in a row. 

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

Alexis Rivera hammered a two-run home run to key a five-run 3rd inning that turned a 4-2 deficit into a 7-4 lead, and the Angels held-on to edge the Cubs 7-6 in Cactus League Extended Spring Training action this morning on Field #5 at the Riverview Baseball Complex in Mesa, AZ. 

17-year old SS Aramis Ademan (2015 IFA - Dominican Republic - $2M bonus) ripped a double and a bases-loaded bases-clearing three-run triple, 17-year old 2B Yonathan Perlaza (2015 IFA - Venezuela - $1M bonus) drilled an RBI triple and a single, walked, and scored a run, and 19-year old CF D. J. Wilson (Cubs 2015 4th round draft pick - Canton South HS - Canton, OH) singled twice, walked, stole a base, and scored three runs for the Cubs in a losing cause.

Ademan also made a nice play in the field on an L-6 that he turned into an inning-ending DP in the top of the 1st. (This was Ademan's first Cactus League EXST game action since April 16th, although he did play in yesterday's intrasquad game). 

RHSP Pedro Silverio got the start for the Cubs and threw ten straight balls to start the game, before settling down and retiring eight of the last nine men he faced (K, L-6 DP, 6-3, BB, K, F-7, K, F-9, 4-3). 

Recently signed RHRP Nick Sarianides (ex-AZ) was the victim of the five-run explosion in the top of the 3rd, allowing all five runs on two hits (including the Rivera HR), two walks, a HBP, and two WP (he threw only 39% srikes and he could not complete the inning). The strikeout and save leader in the California League in 2015, Sarianides was released by the D'backs earlier this month because he could not throw strikes at AA Mobile. He posted a 1-2-3 nine-pitch inning in his first EXST outing on Tuesday. 

RF Michael Foster fouled a ball off his left ankle mid-AB in the bottom of the 7th and had to be carted off the field (Yohan Matos finished the AB), the third Cub outfielder to leave a game due to a leg, ankle, or foot injury in three days (Jose Gonzalez and Robert Garcia were injured in Wednesday's SS-DH versus the Rockies).  

Prior to the game on Field #5, RHSP Aaron Brooks (March 2016 hip contusion) and LHRP Jack Leathersich (July 2015 TJS) threw "live" BP on Field #6 (one inning - 25 pitches each), so if there are no medical setbacks, both pitchers should be ready for Cactus League EXST or intrasquad game action within a week or so. This was Leathersich's first time throwing from a mound on a field since his TJS, but Brooks threw in an intrasquad game at Riverview on April 26th (he was shut-down after just two innings, and he hadn't thrown on a field since). 

Among Cubs 40-man roster pitchers who are on the DL, LHRP Zac Rosscup has had season-ending left shoulder-surgery, RHRP Andury Acevedo has had season-ending knee surgery (torn ACL), and RHSP Dallas Beeler (right shoulder inflammation) was shut-down mid-AB while throwing in a Cactus League EXST game on April 30th, and he hasn't pitched since. RHSP Pierce Johnson (lat strain) is at the Cubs UAPC in Mesa, but he is not throwing "live" yet. And I have not seen Joe Nathan. 

RHSP Stephen Fife (oblique strain) is not on the Cubs 40-man roster but he was an NRI to Spring Training, and he has completed his EXST rehab assignment (he threw 81 pitches in a Cactus League EXST game on Wednesday) and he will be re-joining the Iowa Cubs when they return home on Monday. 

RHRP Aaron Crow (April 2015 TJS) is also not on the Cubs 40-man roster but (like Fife) he was an NRI to Spring Training, and he was active and pitching in Cactus League EXST games regularly (one inning every two or three days) up until ten days ago (5/10), when he was shut-down while warming up to come into a game versus the Giants in Scottsdale, and he hasn't pitched since.

And as I've mentioned here before, but in case you missed it, LHRP Manny Parra (another NRI to Cubs MLB Spring Training) had TJS last month and is out for the year. 

John Arguello has notes from the game at Cubs Den: 

link 

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

Five pitchers combined to toss a one-hit shutout and Didimo Bracho belted a two-run home run and an RBI single to account for all of his team's runs, helping the Diamondbacks blank the Cubs 3-0 at Sloan Park, and D. J. Wilson (two-run triple), Luis Ayala (RBI double), Gustavo Polanco (RBI double), and Jesse Hodges (RBI single) contributed run-scoring hits to highlight a five-run Cub 3rd, as the Cubs and D'backs played to a 7-7 tie on Field #1 at the Riverview Baseball Complex, in Cactus League Extended Spring Training split-squad doubleheader action this morning in Mesa, AZ.   

Michael Foster broke up the D'backs no-hit bid in Sloan Park with a one-out single in the bottom of the 9th. 

RHSP Duane Underwood (right ebow stiffness) made his final rehab start in the game at Sloan Park and threw 5.1 IP (78 pitches) of one-run ball, retiring 13 of the first 16 men he faced before running into trouble in the top of the 6th when he allowed three singles and a HBP and surrendered his only run. But he was outstanding through the first five innings, allowing no runs on two hits and a walk with four strikeouts.  

RHRP Dallas Beeler (on Cubs 15-day DL - right shoulder inflammation) made a rehab start in the game played on Field #1 and was hit hard, allowing four runs (three earned) on five hits (two singles, a double, a triple, and a home run) and a walk (plus a throwing error) in 3.1 IP (50 pitches).

RHRP Aaron Crow (ex-KC - April 2015 TJS rehab) threw in the game on Field #1, but was unable to complete his inning, allowing a single, a double, and a triple and two runs while retiring only one batter. I couldn't tell if he was lifted because of pitch count or performance issues, but his stuff was subpar today and obviously didn't fool any of the young D'backs hitters.  

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

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. . 

Jahmal Jones crushed a three-run HR and Chad Hinshaw drilled an RBI double and a single, reached base on an HBP, and scored a run, as the AZL Angels rallied for a run in the 7th and a run in the 8th to edge the AZL Cubs 5-4 in Arizona League action last night at Sloan Park in Mesa, AZ.  

Rudy Martin singled, doubled, and walked, and scored two runs, and Luke Willis singled twice, scored a run, and drove-in another with a sacrifice fly, lifting the AZL Royals to a 5-3 victory over the AZL Cubs in Arizona League action Wednesday night at Papago Park Sports Complex Field #2 in Phoenix, AZ.

Although they remain in the AZL West Division, the AZL Royals are playing their home games on the east-side of town at the Papago Park Sports Complex (the former home of the AZL Athletics) this season while their clubhouse is being renovated (expanded) at Surprise Stadium. (The Royals presently are in first place in the AZL West Division, and in fact they have the best record in the league). 
 
LHP Zac Rosscup (on Cubs MLB 15-day DL - left shoulder inflammation) saw his first game action since June 16th, getting the start for the AZL Cubs and throwing one inning (17 pitches - 11 strikes) and allowing no hits, no runs, and no walks, with two strikeouts (both swinging). One runner reached base on an E-5. Rosscup was working his fastball at 91-93 MPH and touched 94, and his breaking ball was sharp and unhittable. He looked to be in mid-season form. (Lots of swings & misses). 

Shawon Dunston Jr (on Myrtle Beach 7-day DL) continued his AZL rehab, serving as the AZL Cubs DH and batting third in the order. He drilled a one-out line-drive single to center in the top of the 1st inning, before leaving the game for a pinch-hitter in the top of the 3rd.

RHP Casey Bloomquist (Cubs 2015 17th round draft pick - Cal Poly SLO) made his pro debut, working the eighth inning and retiring the side 1-2-3 (a 5-3 GO followed by two strikeouts). Bloomquist displayed an 87-88 MPH fastball with sinking action that he mixed with a slider and a change-up that dive-bombed out of the strike zone. Bloomquist was the Mustang's "Friday night starter" (#1 starter) as a junior, and unlike some of the Cubs 2015 draft picks who were college seniors with no eligibility left (and no leverage in negotiations), Bloomquist had the option to return to school for his senior year at Cal Poly if he had not signed with the Cubs.  

The defensive Play of the Game was turned in by AZL Cubs RF Michael Foster (Cuhs 2015 16th round draft pick - Northeastern University), who made a spectacular diving catch in right-centerfield in the bottom of the 6th inning. Foster also singled twice and scored a run for the AZL Cubs in a losing cause.

Here is the abridged box score from Wednesday night's game (Cubs players only: 

Joey Martarano belted three doubles, knocked in two runs, and scored another, Andruw Monasterio drilled a line-drive RBI triple and a single and walked, and Dylan Cease tossed three innings of perfect baseball (6-3, K, F-8, K, 1-3, K, L-9, F-7, 4-3) and combined with three relievers to hurl a four-hitter, as the AZL Cubs defeated the AZL Giants 6-1 in Arizona League action Friday night at Sloan Park in Mesa, AZ.