Cub Pitchers Shine in the Arizona Sun at Riverview Park

Ryan Williams hurled 6-2/3 innings of one-hit ball (no walks) and combined with Rob Zastryzny to toss a two-hit shutout, as the Iowa Cubs blanked the Tennessee Smokies 1-0 on Field #6, and Yeiler Peguero slugged a solo HR and Dylan Cease tossed 4-2/3 innings of three-hit one-run ball with six strikeouts (81 pitches), as the South Bend Cubs edged the Eugene Emeralds 3-2 on Field #5, in Cubs Minor League Camp doubleheader intrasquad action Sunday morning at the Riverview Baseball Complex in Mesa, AZ. 
Preston Morrison threw 5-2/3 innings of one-run three-hit ball (no walks) for Tennessee in a losing cause on Field #6.

Brandon Cummins (ex-Southern Illinois Miners - Frontier League) singled twice, walked twice, stole three bases, and threw out a runner on the bases for Eugene.

LHRP Brian Duensing (on Cubs MLB 10-day DL - back spasms) saw game action on Field #6, throwing an inning for Tennessee (13 pitches). After striking out Chesny Young on three pitches, Duensing surrendered a walk to Mark Zagunis before inducing Victor Caratini to roll into an inning-ending 6-4-3 DP. From the way he looked today, you would almost think Duensing had no back problem at all.    

Dylan Cease was throwing his fastball at 96-97 MPH (touched 98) and he had his plus-curve working on Field #5, but command is still a bit of a concern as he walked four and threw only 56% strikes.  

The Myrtle Beach Pelicans start a day earlier than the other three Cubs full-season affiliates, so most of the team left town this morning. (That's why South Bend played Eugene instead of Myrtle Beach). However, Pelicans LHSP Justin Steele, RHRP Jeremy Null, and LHRP Jordan Minch were left behind at Minor League Camp to get their scheduled work in the intrasquad game on Field #5.  

Opening Day rosters are just about set, but in a roster tweak made after yesterday's intrasquad games, the Cubs signed 28-year old ex-MIA SS Osvaldo Martinez to a minor league contract and he has been assigned to Iowa (although he will need a few days to get into playing shape), and so SS Carlos Penalver was moved back to AA Tennessee from AAA Iowa and SS Bryant Flete was moved back to Hi-A Myrtle Beach from Tennessee. Chesny Young is the "supersub" at Iowa, and while he can play shortstop, Martinez will probably be the primary I-Cubs SS once he is in game shape. The Cubs had hoped that they would be able to re-sign Munenori Kawasaki and have him be the #1 shotstop at Iowa after he was released by the club in a procedural move last Tuesday, but Kawasaki somewhat unexpectedly decided to return to Japan. (I-Cubs SS Elliot Soto will start the season on the 7-day DL and could miss considerable time with a foot injury).  

It appears that OF Jacob Hannemann, 1B Chris Dominguez, and 1B Yasiel Balaguert will also start the season on the 7-day DL, although I don't know the nature of their injuries. With Balaguert out of action, C-1B Ian Rice makes the Tennessee Smokies Opening Day roster after an outstanding Minor League Camp. They don't actually award MVP trophies at Minor League Camp, but if they did, Ian Rice and Jeffrey Baez would probably be the co-winners for the Tennessee squad.   

Also, Isaac Paredes has won the starting SS job, Luis Ayala has won the starting RF slot, and Jhonny Pereda will be one of the catchers at South Bend. All three jumped over Eugene and went directly from AZL Cubs to South Bend. (Paredes was moved-up to South Bend for the 2016 MWL playoffs, but that's only because the AZL Cubs did not qualify for the AZL playoffs, and the Cubs didn't want to disturb the Eugene Emeralds roster since the Ems were in the NWL playoffs). Each of the three (Paredes, Ayala, and Pereda) had an impressive Minor League Camp.

Here are the box scores from the two games:

FIELD #5

EUGENE LINEUP:
1. Jose Gutierrez, RF: 0-4 (6-3, 4-6-3 DP, E-4, K)
2. Brandon Cummins, CF: 2-2 (1B, 1B, BB, BB, 3 SB, CS)
3. Michael Cruz, 1B: 1-3 (1B, HBP, K, K, SB)
4. Aramis Ademan, SS: 1-2 (HBP, HBP, 3B, K, R)
5. Rafael Mejia, DH: 0-3 (F-9, K, BB, K)
6. Gustavo Polanco, C: 1-3 (L-5, F-9, 2B, RBI, PO)
7. Rafael Narea, 2B: 1-2 (2B, F-8, BB, R, CS)
8. Jhonny Bethencourt, 3B: 1-3 (E-5, F-8, 1B, CS)
9. Tolly Filotei, LF: 1-3 (1B, K, 4-3, RBI)

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

EUGENE PITCHERS:
1. Justin Steele: 4.0 IP, 5 H, 2 R (1 ER), 2 BB, 5 K, 1 WP, 1/5 GO/FO, 71 pitches (41 strikes)
2. Jose Rosario: 1.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R (1 ER), 1 BB, 0 K, 1 HR, 2/1 GO/AO, 20 pitches (11 strikes)
3. Jack Leathersich: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K, 1/1 GO/AO, 13 pitches (9 strikes)

SOUTH BEND PITCHERS:
1. Jeremy Null: 2.0 IP, 4 H, 1 R (1 ER), 0 BB, 0 K, 1 HBP, 1 GIDP, 2/2 GO/AO, 30 pitches (17 strikes)
2. Jordan Minch: 0.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K, 2 HBP, 18 pitches (10 strikes)
3. Dylan Cease: 4.2 IP, 3 H, 1 R (1 ER), 4 BB, 6 K, 1 PO, 1/3 GO/AO, 81 pitches (45 strikes)

EUGENE ERRORS: 2
1. 3B Jhonny Bethencourt: E-5 (dropped pop fly in foul territory extending AB)
2. RF Jose Gutierrez: E-9 (dropped pop fly allowing batter to reach 2nd base safely)

SOUTH BEND ERRORS: 2
1. 3B Zack Short: E-5 (errant throw to 1st base allowed batter to reach base safely)
2. 2B Yeiler Peguero: E-4 (fielding error allowed batter to reach base safely)

EUGENE CATCHERS DEFENSE:
Gustavo Polanco: 0-2 CS, 2 PB

SOUTH BEND CATCHERS DEFENSE:
Jhonny Pereda: 3-7 CS, 1 PB

EUGENE OUTFIELD ASSISTS:
CF Brandon Cummins - threw out baserunner (Yeiler Peguero) 8-5 attempting to advance from 1st to 3rd on single

SOUTH BEND OUTFIELD ASSIST:
RF Luis Ayala - baserunner (Rafael Mejia) thrown out 9-4-2 attempting score from 1st base on double

FIELD #6

TENNESSEE LINEUP:
X. Preston Morrison, P: 0-0 (1-4 SH)
NOTE: Morrison batted 4th in the 6th inning
1. Charcer Burks, LF: 0-4 (P-3, 5-3, L-5, 5-3)
2. Jeffrey Baez, RF: 1-4 (1B, 6-3, L-5, K)
3. David Bote, 2B: 1-4 (6-4 FC, K, 1B, 4-3)
4. Jason Vosler, 3B: 0-4 (4-3, 4-3, K, F-7)
5. Cael Brockmeyer, 1B: 0-3 (K, 5-3, K)
6. Ian Rice, C: 0-3 (F-9, 1-U, L-7)
7a. Trey Martin, CF: 0-1 (6-3, HBP)
7b. Roberto Caro, CF: 0-0 (BB, 2 SB)
8. Andrew Ely, DH: 0-3 (F-7, F-8, K)
9. Carlos Penalver, SS: 0-3 (6-3, E-5, 1-3)

IOWA LINEUP:
X. Ryan Williams, P: 0-1 (1-4 SH, E-6,, 1-3 SH)
NOTE: Williams batted 2nd in the 2nd inning and 3rd in the 3rd & 8th innings
1. Chesny Young, SS: 0-3 (K, 6-4 FC, 6-3)
2. Mark Zagunis, LF: 1-2 (BB, 2B, K, R)
3. Victor Caratini, 1B: 1-3 (6-4-3 DP, 1B, 3-1)
4. Jeimer Candelario, 3B: 0-1 (E-4, F-7 SF, HBP, RBI)
5. Taylor Davis, C-DH: 0-3 (P-3, 4-3 DP, K)
6. John Andreoli, CF: 0-3 (K, F-8, P-6)
7. Stephen Bruno, 2B: 0-3 (F-7, 1-3, 6-3)
8. Carlos Corporan, DH-C: 1-3 (1B, K, K)
9. Jose Gonzalez, RF: 0-2 (F-7, K)

TENNESSEE PITCHERS:
1. Brian Duensing: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K, 1 GIDP, 1/0 GO/AO, 13 pitches (8 strikes)
2. Preston Morrison: 5.2 IP, 3 H, 1 R (1 ER), 0 BB, 4 K, 1 BALK, 1 GIDP, 7/5 GO/AO, 74 pitches (51 strikes)
3. Seth Frankoff: 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K, 1/1 GO/AO, 17 pitches (15 strikes)

IOWA PITCHERS:
1. Ryan Williams: 6.2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 K, 1 HBP, 10/6 GO/AO, 70 pitches (46 strikes)
2. Rob Zastryzny: 2.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K, 3/2 GO/AO, 29 pitches (16 strikes)

TENNESSEE ERRORS:2
1. 2B David Bote: E-4 (fielding error allowed batter to reach base safely)
2. SS Carlos Penalver: E-6 (fielding error allowed batter to reach base safely)

IOWA ERRORS: 1
3B Jeimer Candelario: E-5 (throwing error allowed batter to reach base safely) 

IOWA CATCHERS DEFENSE:
Carlos Corporan: 0-1 CS

ATTENDANCE: 20

WEATHER: Sunny with temperatures in the 60's