Baez, Clifton, and Hodges Star at Riverview Park

Jeffrey Baez belted a solo home run, an RBI triple, and a single, and stole a base, and RHSP Trevor Clifton hurled six innings of three-hit shutout ball, as the Tennessee Smokies blanked the Iowa Cubs 3-0 on Field #6, and Jesse Hodges ripped a two-run double and a single and stole a base, Carlos Sepulverda singled twice, walked, scored a run, and drove-in another, and Robert Garcia laced an RBI double and a single, stole a base, and scored a run, leading the Myrtle Beach Pelicans to a 6-4 victory over the South Bend Cubs on Field #5, in Cubs Minor League Camp intrasquad doubleheader action Saturday morning at the Riverview Baseball Complex in Mesa, AZ.
D. J. Wilson hammered a solo HR for South Bend and Victori Caratini drilled a single and a double for Iowa (and both hits were absolutely crushed).

RHSP Eddie Butler got the start for Iowa and was just OK, allowing three runs on eight hits (five singles, a double, a triple, and a HR) in five innings of work (84 pitches).. However, he also struck out six and did not walk anyone, and he threw a high percentage of strikes (73%).

And if you want to know how highly Cubs top catching prospect Miguel Amaya is thought of by the Player Development Department, the 18-year old Panamanian was entrusted with catching Butler rather than playing in the "A"-ball game.

Iowa SS Elliot Soto (left foot injury) will begin the 2017 season on the DL and will likely be out of action for quite some time, and so SS Carlos Penalver has been moved-up to Iowa from Tennessee, and SS Bryant Flete has been moved-up to Tennessee from Myrtle Beach. No decision yet on who will replace Flete at Myrtle Beach. (2B-3B Trent Giambrone has been playing SS this week to increase his versatility, but he probably won't be the primary SS for the Pelicans).

Also, Tennessee 1B Yasiel Balaguert is out of action, and so C-1B Ian Rice has been moved-up to Tennessee from Myrtle Beach after an outstanding Minor League Camp. However, C-1B Cael Brockmeyer has been playing more 1B than catcher in recent days, and 3B Jason Vosler has been getting starts at 1B as well, so Rice might not remain with the Smokies beyond this weekend (TBD).

And OF Eddy Julio Martinez (who had been with the Tennessee squad throughout Minor League Camp) has been moved-down to Myrtle Beach (he played CF for the Pelicans in the intrasquad game).

Here are the box scores from the two games:

FIELD #5

SOUTH BEND LINEUP:
1. D. J. Wilson, RF: 1-3 (BB, K, HR, 4-3, R, RBI)
2. Yeiler Peguero, 2B: 0-4 (4-1, F-8, F-7, K)
3. Luis Ayala, CF: 1-4 (1-3, F-8, 2B, 1-3, R)
4. Chris Pieters, 1B: 1-3 (K, 3-1, 1B, R, RBI)
5. Isaac Paredes, SS: 1-3 (BB, F-7, 1B, R)
6. Rafael Mejia, DH: 2-3 (L-5, 2B, 1B, RBI)
7. Kevonte Mitchell, LF: 1-3 (2B, F-8, 6-3, RBI)
8. Alberto Mineo, C: 0-3 (K, F-7, 6-3)
9. Zack Short, 3B: 0-3 (6-3, F-8, F-8)

MYRTLE BEACH LINEUP:
1. Connor Myers, RF: 1-4 (F-8, 2B, K, 6-3, R, RBI)
2. Carlos Sepulveda, 2B: 2-3 (F-7, 1B, 1B, BB, R, RBI)
3. Eddy Julio Martinez, CF: 0-4 (F-9, P-3, F-8, P-4)
4. Tyler Pearson, C: 1-2 (5-3, 1B, HBP, BB, 2 R, SB)
5. Jesse Hodges, 3B: 2-4 (1B, F-7, 2B, K, 2 RBI, SB)
6. Trent Giambrone, SS: 1-3 (K, 1B, K, R)
7. Tyler Alamo, 1B: 1-3 (P-4, 1B, P-3, RBI)
8. Robert Garcia, LF: 2-3 (K, 2B, 1B, R, RBI, SB)
9. Adonis Paula, DH: 1-3 (6-3, K, 1B, SB)

SOUTH BEND PITCHERS:
1. Tyson Miller: 4.0 IP, 8 H, 4 R (4 ER), 0 BB, 4 K, 1 WP, 2/6 GO/AO, 76 pitches (51 strikes)
2. Kyle Miller: 2.0 IP, 3 H, 2 R (2 ER), 2 BB, 2 K, 1 HBP, 1/3 GO/AO, 48 pitches (24 strikes)

MYRTLE BEACH PITCHERS:
1. Erling Moreno: 1.2 IP, 1 H, 1 R (1 ER), 2 BB, 2 K, 2/1 GO/AO, 34 pitches (17 strikes)
2. Casey Bloomquist: 5.1 IP, 6 H, 3 R (3 ER), 0 BB, 3 K, 1 HR, 5/8 GO/AO, 65 pitches (48 strikes) 

SOUTH BEND ERRORS: NONE

MYRTLE BEACH ERRORS: 1
LF Robert Garcia: E-7 (fielding error on single to LF allowed batter to advance to 2nd base)

SOUTH BEND CATCHERS DEFENSE:
Alberto Mineo: 0-4 CS

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

FIELD #6

IOWA LINEUP:
X. Eddie Butler, P: 0-0 (1-3 SH)
NOTE: Butler batted 2nd in the bottom of the 2nd inning
1. John Andreoli, CF: 1-3 (3B, L-5, F-9)
2. Mark Zagunis, LF: 1-3 (K, L-8, 1B)
3. Jeimer Candelario, 3B: 0-3 (P-4, K, 3-U)
4. Victor Caratini, 1B: 2-3 (F-8, 1B, 2B) 
5a. Todd Glaesmann, RF: 0-1 (BB, P-4)
5b. Matt Rose, PH: 0-1 (K)
6a. Bijan Rademacher, DH: 0-2 (F-9, F-8)
6b. Richard Nunez, PH: 0-1 (4-3)
7a. Stephen Bruno, 2B: 0-2 (6-3, 6-3)
7b. Brandon Cummins, PH: 0-0 (BB)
8a. Carlos Penalver, SS: 0-2 (K, F-9)
8b. Ruben Reyes, PH: 0-1 (F-9)
9. Miguel Amaya, C: 0-2 (4-3, 5-3)

TENNESSEE LINEUP:
1. Roberto Caro, LF: 0-3 (K, 5-4 SH, K, P-6)
2. Ian Rice, DH: 0-3 (K, 6-3, K, RBI)
3. Jeffrey Baez, RF: 3-3 (1B, 3B, HR, R, 2 RBI, SB)
4. Cael Brockmeyer, 1B: 1-3 (K, 1-3, 1B)
5. Jason Vosler, 3B: 2-3 (P-6, 1B, 1B)
6. Bryant Flete, SS: 1-3 (K, 2B, 4-6 FC)
7. Trey Martin, CF: 0-3 (F-7, 5-3, 4-3)
8. Vimael Machin, 2B: 1-2 (HBP, F-7, 2B, R)
9. Erick Castillo, C: 1-3 (1B, F-7, 3-U)

IOWA PITCHERS:
1. Eddie Butler: 5.0 IP, 8 H, 3 R (3 ER), 0 BB, 6 K, 1 HBP, 5/4 GO/AO, 84 pitches (63 strikes)  
2. Zac Rosscup: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K, 2/1 GO/AO, 15 pitches (12 strikes)

TENNESSEE PITCHERS:
1. Trevor Clifton: 6.0 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K, 6/9 GO/AO, 83 pitches (56 strikes)
2. Craig Brooks: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K, 1 WP, 1/1 GO/AO, 21 pitches (10 strikes)

IOWA ERRORS: 1
C Miguel Amaya: E-2 (errant throw on stolen base attempt at 2nd base allowed runner to advance to 3rd)

TENNESSEE ERRORS: NONE

ATTENDANCE: 28

WEATHER: Sunny with temperatures in the 60's