All That Jazz at Talking Stick

Jazz Chisholm (2015 IFA - Bahamas - $200K bonus) drilled two triples and an RBI single and scored a run and RHSP Pierce Romero tossed three innings of shutout ball, as the Diamondbacks edged the Cubs 3-2 in Cactus League Extended Spring Training action Saturday morning on Ramada Field at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick Resort east of Scottsdale, AZ.

Marcus Mastrobuoni doubled twice, walked, and scored a run and Kevonte Mitchell singled twice, stole a base, and scored a run for the Cubs in a losing cause. 

Mitchell also turned-in the Defensive Play of the Game, an inning-ending run-saving diving catch on the warning track in right-centerfield in the top of the 3rd. He also started an 8-6-2 relay that cut-down a runner at home who was attempting to score from 2nd base on a double off the CF Batter's Eye (the runner went back to 2nd base to tag up before realizing that the ball was carrying over Mitchell's head, thanks to a nice catch-fake by one-time HS hoops star Mitchell). 

On the negative side, Mitchell was thrown out 7-5 attempting to advance from 1st to 3rd on a line-drive single to LF with two outs in the top of the 1st, thus making the third out of the inning at 3rd base.

So I guess you have to take the good with the bad.  

EXST Cubs RBI leader Isaac Paredes (2015 IFA - Mexico - $800K bonus) started his second consecutive game at 3B (he also played there in the intrasquad game on Thursday). It's very likely that he will eventually move to 3B (one scout who has been following the EXST Cubs projects Paredes as a catcher!), so the process to move him from SS to 3B may already have started. Paredes (who just turned 17 in February) is a VERY slow runner, but he has plus-HR & XBH power, he doesn't strike out a lot for a power-hitter (10% K-rate), and he has soft hands and a strong arm at SS (committing only one error so far in 15 Cactus League EXST games).   

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

CUBS LINEUP:
1. Robert Garcia, RF: 1-4 (4-3, 2B, 5-3, K)
2. Yeiler Peguero, SS: 0-4 (4-3, L-7, 4-3, K)
3. Kevonte Mitchell, CF: 2-4 (1B, 1B, E-6, F-8, R, SB)
4. Isaac Paredes, 3B: 1-4 (1B, K, 5-3, 6-3)
5. Alberto Mineo, C-DH: 0-3 (BB, 6-3, K, K, RBI)
6. Marcus Mastrobuoni, 1B: 2-3 (F-9, 2B, 2B, BB, R)
7. Roberto Caro, DH #1: 0-3 (F-7, 1-3, K, BB)
8. Kwang-Min Kwon, LF: 1-3 (P-5, HBP, 6-3, 1B)
9. Edgar Rondon, 2B: 1-4 (4-3, K, 1B, K, RBI, CS)
10. Eric Gonzalez, DH-C: 1-3 (6-3, K, 1B) 

CUBS PITCHERS:
1. Manny Rondon: 3.0 IP, 6 H, 2 R (2 ER), 1 BB, 1 K, 1 PO, 2/3 GO/AO, 61 pitches (37 strikes) 
2. Andry Rondon: 2.0 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K, 3/1 GO/AO, 41 pitches (27 strikes) 
3. Jose Leidenz: 2.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R (1 ER), 0 BB, 3 K, 1 WP, 2/1 GO/AO, 25 pitches (19 strikes) 
4. Tommy Nance: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K, 0/1 GO/AO, 14 pitches (10 strikes)

CUBS ERRORS: 1 
SS Yeiler Peguero: E-6 (fielding error allowed batter to reach base safely) 

CUBS OUTFIELD ASSISTS: 
CF Kevonte Mitchell - runner thrown out 8-6-2 attempting to score from 2nd base on double off CF Batter's Eye 

CUBS BASERUNNING ADVENTURES: 
Kevonte Mitchell - thrown out 7-5 atempting to advance from 1st to 3rd on two-out line-drive single to LF 

ATTENDANCE: 19 

WEATHER: Sunny & breezy with temperatures in the 80's