Mitchell Grand Salami Gives Angels Indigestion at Riverview

Submitted by Arizona Phil on Tue, 03/20/2018 - 8:21pm

Kevonte Mitchell blasted a grand slam over the LF fence and onto the south bank of the Loop 202 Red Mountain Freeway to cap a nine-run explosion in the bottom of the 5th inning as the Myrtle Beach Pelicans (Cubs Hi-affiliate) turned a 5-0 deficit into a 9-5 lead and then hung-on for dear life to edge the Inland Empire 66ers (Los Angeles Angels Hi-A affiliate) 9-8 on Field #6, and RHSP Erich Uelmen (Cubs 2017 4th round draft pick - Cal Poly SLO) hurled four innings of one-run ball with five strikeouts, no walks (72% strikes), and 6/0 GO/AO, and Cam Balego (RBI triple), Alexander Guerra (RBI double), and Luis Hidalgo (RBI single) contributed run-scoring hits to stake the Cubs Lo-A South Bend affiliate to a 4-1 lead, but the Burlington Bees (Angels Lo-A affiliate) came-back in the late innings to tie the game at four and then the potential winning run was picked-off 2nd base with no outs in the bottom of the 9th to thwart a Cub plan to plate the winning run with a sac bunt and maybe a sac fly, as Burlington and South Bend played to a 4-4 tie on Field #5, in Cactus League Minor League Camp doubleheader game action Tuesday afternoon on John Arguello Way at the Riverview Baseball Complex in Mesa, AZ.

The MLB Cubs had the day off so Kyle Hendricks was supposed to have started the Myrtle Beach game on Field #6, but he was scratched due to illness (strep throat). 

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

FIELD #5:

SOUTH BEND LINEUP:
1a. Rafael Narea, DH-2B: 1-3 (K, 6-3, 1B, BB, R, CS)
1b. Jose Gutierrez, PH: 0-1 (1-3)
2a. Jared Young, 2B-DH: 1-3 (3B+E4, 4-3, K, R)
2b. Abraham Rodriguez, PH: 0-1 (F-7)
3a. Christopher Morel, 3B: 1-2 (2B, F-7)
3b. Ramsey Romano, 3B: 0-1 (E-6, BB, SB)
4. Kwangmin Kwon, LF: 1-4 (F-9 DP, K, P-5, 1B)
5. Jonathan Sierra, RF: 0-4 (E-8, 3-1, K, K, R)
6a. Cam Balego, 1B: 1-2 (3B, 1-3, RBI)
6b. Luis Hidalgo, 1B: 1-2 (5-3, 1B, RBI)
7. Luis Valdez, SS: 0-4 (P-6, 4-3, F-9, P-3)
8. Zach Davis, CF: 2-4 (K, 1B, 4-3, 1B, R, SB, PO)
9a. Alexander Guerra, C: 1-2 (L-6, 2B, RBI)
9b. Raymond Pena, C: 0-2 (F-9, K)

SOUTH BEND PITCHERS:
1. Erich Uelmen: 4.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R (1 ER), 0 BB, 5 K, 1 HR, 1 GIDP, 6/0 GO/AO, 53 pitches (38 strikes)
2. Manuel Rodriguez: 2.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K, 1 GIDP, 1/2 GO/AO, 29 pitches (19 strikes)
3. Jake Steffens: 1.1 IP, 3 H, 3 R (2 ER), 1 BB, 3 K, 1 WP,  1/0 GO/AO, 33 pitches (20 strikes)
4. Jhon Romero: 1.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K, 1 GIDP, 2/1 GO/AO, 20 pitches (12 strikes)

SOUTH BEND ERRORS: 3
1. 1B Cam Balego: E-3 (missed catch allowed batter to reach base safely)
2. P Jake Steffens: E-1 (errant pick-off attempt at 1st base allowed runner to advance to 2nd)
3. C Raymond Pena: E-2 (errant pick-off attempt at 2nd base allowed runner to advance to 3rd) 

SOUTH BEND CATCHERS DEFENSE:
Raymond Pena: 1 PB, 1 E (see above)

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

FIELD #6:

MYRTLE BEACH LINEUP:
1a. D. J. Wilson, CF: 0-1 (L-1, HBP, SH-E1, BB, R, RBI, SB)
1b. Connor Myers, CF: 0-1 (L-5)
2a. Austin Upshaw, 2B: 0-2 (F-7, K, HBP, R)
2b. Jhonny Bethencourt, 2B: 0-1 (4-3)
3. Aramis Ademan, SS: 0-2 (K, BB, BB, F-7, R, RBI)
4a. Cael Brockmeyer, C: 0-1 (F-9, HBP)
4b. Kevin Zamudio, PR-C: 1-1 (1B, BB, R, RBI)
5. Wladimir Galindo, DH #1: 1-4 (6-3, 4-6-3 DP, K, 1B)
6. Kevonte Mitchell, LF: 2-4 (K, 1B, HR, F-8, 2 R, 4 RBI, SB)
7a. Brandon Hughes, RF: 0-2 (K, BB, F-8, R)
7b. Yovanny Cuevas, RF: 1-1 (1B, PO)
8. Chris Carrier, DH #2: 1-4 (E-6, F-8, F-8, 2B)
9. Yeiler Peguero, 3B: 1-4 (1-4 FC, 1B, K, K, R, RBI)
10a. Adonis Paula, 1B: 0-1 (K, BB, R)
10b. Rafael Mejia, 1B: 1-2 (1B, K)

MYRTLE BEACH PITCHERS:
1. Ricky Tyler Thomas: 3.1 IP, 3 H, 2 R (2 ER), 2 BB, 3 K, 1 HBP, 1 GIDP, 2/3 GO/AO, 64 pitches (35 strikes)
2. Ivan Medina: 0.2 IP, 2 H, 2 R (2 ER), 1 BB, 2 K, 23 pitches (12 strikes)
3. Matt Swarmer: 3.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R (1 ER), 1 BB, 3 K, 1 HR, 3/3 GO/AO, 45 pitches (30 strikes)
4. Mark Malave: 2.0 IP, 5 H, 3 R (3 ER), 0 BB, 4 K, 1/1 GO/AO, 34 pitches (22 strikes)

MYRTLE BEACH ERRORS: 1
P Ricky Tyler Thomas: E-1 (errant pick-off attempt at 1st base allowed runner to advance to 2nd)

MYRTLE BEACH CATCHERS DEFENSE:
Cael Brockmeyer: 0-1 CS

MYRTLE BEACH OUTFIELD ASSIST:
CF D. J. Wilson - runner thrown out 8-2 attempting to score from 2nd base on line-drive single to CF

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

ATTENDANCE: 48

WEATHER: Sunny with temperatures in the 80's

Arizona
Scoring
Service

"Just because it isn't official doesn't mean it didn't happen"

Tags: 
Cubs Minor League Spring Training Game Recap
Kevonte Mitchell
Erich Uelman
Cam Balego
Alexander Guerra
Luis Hidalgo

Comments

Submitted by bradsbeard  on Tue, 03/20/2018 - 8:26pm  

Curious to know what you thought of Erich Uelman’s stuff. That was an impressive outing. 

Also, any early impressions of Alexander Guerra (as a catcher or a hitter)?

Submitted by Arizona Phil  on Tue, 03/20/2018 - 8:58pm  

BRADSBEARD: Erich Uelmen had outstanding command AND control today, and he was pounding the bottom of the strike zone with a low 90's FB that he mixed with a decent breaking ball (can't tell if it's a SL or a CV). I also am not sure if he was trying to throw a CH, but if he did it was maybe only once or twice, and the HR was hit off an off-speed pitch that didn't do anything (which could have been a CH).

Alexander Guerra is fairly polished both at bat and behind the plate and he has some HR power (at least he shows it in BP) and what looks (to me) like above-average exit velocity off the bat in games, but he probably could stand to lose a few pounds. I would be surprised if he weighs less than 275. He is a load. He makes Rene Rivera look thin.

BTW, Alzolay, Underwood, Hatch and some of the other Spring Training NRI pitchers threw in the AA/AAA game versus the A's at Fitch Park yesterday. That was where the Alzolay report you cited in a previous comment came from. So I had to choose between going to Fitch or Riverview and I chose Riverview (where Strop, Morrow, Duensing, de la Cruz, and Paulino were scheduled to pitch), but it was a tough decision because I also wanted to see Alzolay, Hatch, and Underwood throw in the other games.

Alas, there are just too many games to watch, too many places to go, too many pitchers to see, and not enough hours in the day...

Submitted by bradsbeard  on Tue, 03/20/2018 - 9:50pm  
Thanks for the detailed reports! Need to hook Guerra up with Schwarber’s nutritionist. If the CH doesn’t come along for Uelman, having control and command of two good pitches should at least give him a shot to make it as a reliever. Like to hear about guys pounding the bottom of the zone especially.

Submitted by Hagsag  on Wed, 03/21/2018 - 5:46am  

Phil, you work day is amazing!

Submitted by Hagsag  on Wed, 03/21/2018 - 5:51am  

Phil, there was a report last week that Corey Black took the mound and left with some type of arm issue.after a few pitches. Do you have an update on his arm problem?

Submitted by Arizona Phil  on Wed, 03/21/2018 - 9:54am  
HAGSAG: The good news is Black has not been shut-down. The bad news is that he is back in the Rehab Throwing Program, so his return to game action will be delayed.

Submitted by crunch  on Wed, 03/21/2018 - 11:00am  
cubs marching out a "big boy" lineup for today's game happ/bryant/rizzo/contreras/schwarber/zobrist/heyward/baez

Submitted by crunch  on Wed, 03/21/2018 - 11:20am  
strop scheduled to make his spring debut on thursday.

Submitted by Lester's rattle...  on Wed, 03/21/2018 - 1:42pm  
With Addison Russell and Albert Almora on the bench, that's some serious depth we have. Lot's to be excited about for 2018, especially considering our rotation too.

Submitted by crunch  on Wed, 03/21/2018 - 3:47pm  

Greg Johns‏ @GregJohnsMLB

Mariners claimed LH Dario Alvarez off waivers from the Cubs. WIll be optioned to Tacoma and report to Minor League camp. That puts Mariners 40-man at 38 players.

Submitted by Dolorous Jon Lester  on Wed, 03/21/2018 - 4:03pm  
I think that puts Cubs at 38 too. I have a feeling that could mean Gimenez and Bourjos chances have gone up.

Submitted by crunch  on Wed, 03/21/2018 - 4:34pm  
with almora and happ around, i hope we can do without bourjos unless one of them gets injured. aside from the fact you can stick him in CF, i dunno how he's still employed. he's not fast anymore, he can't hit well, he has negligible power, he's a right handed hitter...still, he manages to find teams to give him 200-300+ PA a year even though he's not had an ob% over .300 since 2013...and only 2 times in his 8 year career. i wouldn't be shocked to see him welcomed to the team for a few hundred PA's though. when he was signed they were gushing about how he's speedy with killer D. meh...i'd rather see jacob hannemann in CF off the bench if the need arises since he's at least got a little pop in his bat.

Submitted by Dolorous Jon Lester  on Wed, 03/21/2018 - 5:07pm  
Agreed with everything you said. Rather have a third SS or a super sub. Court and Freeman are both preferable to Bourjos. But Bourjos has an opt out; that’s gotta be playing into it. And agreed on Hannemann over Bourjos too.

Submitted by cubbies.4ever  on Wed, 03/21/2018 - 5:24pm  
Given it is at 38 now I'd see it being Chris Jiminez (almost obvious choice) and Justin Hancock. According to an article on the Cubs site Maddon loves Hancock and was quoted as saying "he had the best arm he's never heard of". A starter by trade, could do emregency starts (if not Butler) or be a swingman. It'd be nice to see him on the roster on the 40 man at least to show they got something worthwhile for Szczur. That is assuming they don't claim somebody off waivers (a Red Sox player)

Submitted by Dolorous Jon Lester  on Wed, 03/21/2018 - 6:10pm  
Kinda makes me wonder if they keep Butler but put someone else on the 15 day. Maybe Strop won’t be up to speed, or maybe Wilson’s blister/ inability to get outs will land him on the DL. If it is Hancock, they could easily give him Butlers 40 Man spot. Guess we’ll see!

Submitted by Charlie  on Wed, 03/21/2018 - 6:28pm  
That makes more sense than losing bullpen depth for the sake of Bourjos when you've got 3 CF capable players in MLB and there's always some dude around the AAA level with legs and a glove. [Edit: Also I just realized Dario Alvarez is not Daury Torrez, so, whatever.]

Submitted by The E-Man  on Thu, 03/22/2018 - 1:54pm  

I am thinking the same re Bourjos. Is Zagunis a possibility as well?

Submitted by The E-Man  on Thu, 03/22/2018 - 1:56pm  
Who will be 2018's Austin Jackson, traded for at the deadline? Anyone want to take a shot at this?