Cubs News Roundup: Arodys Vizcaino makes debut
The Cubs had a rough day Saturday, dropping the remainder of Friday’s suspended game 5-3 in extras and then being shut out 5-0 in the second game.
But one bright spot occurred with the much-anticipated debut of right-handed reliever Arodys Vizcaino. That is, until the first batter he faced, Jordy Mercer, who hit a solo home run.
Vizcaino then settled down, finishing off the top of the 9th inning of the second game without any further damage. The young reliever was hitting 94-95 mph on the radar gun, and struck out one.
After impressing in Double-A Tennessee and battling inconsistency in Triple-A Iowa, Vizcaino was called up to the Cubs on Sept. 2nd. Acquired from Atlanta for Paul Maholm in 2012, the former top Braves prospect battled injuries the past two seasons. He has a good chance of being slotted into the Cubs bullpen to begin the 2015 season.
Other notes
* It appears the back strain that kept catcher Wellington Castillo out of Friday’s game was nothing too serious. He started behind the plate on Saturday, batting fourth and going 1-for-3.
* Friday’s suspended game was the second of the season, the first of which occurring after the San Francisco Giants won an appeal to suspend the Aug. 19 game due to a tarp malfunction. (The game was originally ruled a Cubs win after 4.5 innings.) Before that, the last time a game was suspended at Wrigley Field? 1987, when play halted because of darkness and resumed the next day.
* Javier Baez struck out seven times over the past two games. When asked if Baez needs a day off, Cubs manager Rick Renteria said that’s not the case — just the opposite, in fact. Renteria said he would like to see Baez use the whole field more.
* It was a good night for the Cubs’ minor league affiliates. The Kane County Cougars won game 1 of the Western Division Championship 5-2. Mark Zagunis, a 2014 draft pick, homered and tripled.
The Daytona Cubs rallied behind a home run from catcher Willson Contreras in the bottom of the 8th to win the third game of the Florida State League Championship 8-7. Game 4 will take place on Sunday night.
