For Cubs Infielder Miles Mastrobuoni, First Meeting vs. Former Team 'Was Weird'

Miles Mastrobuoni was the starting third baseman for the Chicago Cubs on Monday when they beat the Tampa Bay Rays. The former Rays minor-leaguer who playing eight games in the majors a year ago, said it ''was weird'' to face Taj Bradley, one of his best friends, on the mound. The Cubs won 1-0, and Mastrobuoni went 0-for-3 with a walk and a stolen base.

CHICAGO — Miles Mastrobuoni grew up in the Tampa Bay Rays organization but found a new home in Chicago during the offseason because of the logjam in the Rays' infield.

But on Monday, when the Rays made another trip to Chicago — this time to face the Cubs — Mastrobuoni was playing third base against his former team. And he was batting against Tampa Bay pitcher Taj Bradley, a minor-league teammate that he's very close to.

‘’Yeah, that was weird playing against them,'' Mastrobuoni said in the victorious Cubs clubhouse after the 1-0 win over the Rays. "I know all those guys, and hitting against Taj was really hard because we’ve grown up in the minors together and he’s one of my best friends. He got me a few times.

“I thought he threw a heck of a game. I mean, that was fun to play in. Taj was really good, but our guy (Marcus Stroman) was even better. He just completely dominated that game, and I know how good the Rays have been hitting. There was nothing but soft contact the whole game. Even the hit they got, the Wander hit, that was just a little blooper.’’

Mastrobuoni, a 27-year-old from San Ramon, Calif., made his major-league debut with the Rays last season. He played in eight games, going 3-for-16 at time plate, with. three singles. 

This year, he's played in 23 games, and is just 7-for-47 at the plate, with two doubles and five singles. His average is just .149. He went 0-for-3 on Monday, but did walk and steal a base. He flied out to left field in the first and fifth innings, and struck out in the third inning. He walked in the eighth.

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