Czech Swing Not Up to the Challenge at Riverview

Jake Hannemann belted a solo home run leading off the bottom of the 1st inning and an RBI double in the 4th, Trey Martin tripled twice and knocked-in two runs, Yasiel Balaguert hammered a three-run HR in the 1st and walked in the 3rd, Will Remillard doubled twice and scored a run, and Paul Blackburn and seven relievers combined to toss a four-hit shutout, as the Tennessee Smokies (Cubs AA affiliate) blanked Team Czech Republic 10-0 in Minor League Camp game action this morning on Field #5 at the Riverview Baseball Complex in Mesa, AZ.  

The Czech team (managed by Mike Griffin, with Trot Nixon and Corey Lee serving as assistant coaches) is in Arizona preparing for the World Baseball Classic Qualifier #2 tournament in Mexicali, Mexico later this week. Mexico is the host team, and Germany and Nicaragua are the other two particpants. The winner qualifies for the 2017 WBC. 

As per usual, the Tennessee squad added some additional players for the game, with RHP Corey Black, catchers David Freitas, Will Remillard, and Ben Carhart, 1B Matt Clark, SS Bryant Flete, and OF Bijan Rademacher moving down from the Iowa squad, RHRP Scott Effross, 1B Yasiel Balaguert, 2B Ian Happ, and LF Donnie Dewees moving up from the Myrtle Beach group, and 3B Adonis Paula and catcher P. J. Higgins moving up from the South Bend squad.     

Cubs Spring Training Depth Chart
Minor League Camp Rosters (updated daily)

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

TENNESSEE LINEUP: 
1a. Jake Hannemann, CF: 2-3 (HR, F-7, 2B, R, 2 RBI)
1b. Bijan Rademacher, PH: 1-1 (3B, RBI)
NOTE: SLOT WAS SKIPPED FIFTH TIME THRU BATTING ORDER
2a. Chesny Young, 2B: 0-2 (BB, F-8, 5-3, CS)
2b. Ben Carhart, PH-C 0-2 (4-3, F-7)
3. Donnie Dewees, LF: 0-4 (F-9, 3-1, L-7, F-7)
4. Ian Happ, DH-2B: 1-3 (BB, 1B, 4-3, 6-3, R, SB)
5a. Mark Zagunis, RF: 0-1 (BB, F-8, R)
5b. Will Remillard, PH-DH: 2-2 (2B, 2B, R)
6a. Yasiel Balaguert, 1B: 1-1 (HR, BB, R, 3 RBI)
6b. Matt Clark, PH-1B: 1-2 (F-8, 2B, R, RBI)
7a. Jason Vosler, 3B: 0-2 (3-U, F-7)
7b. Adonis Paula, PH-3B: 1-2 (6-3, 1B, RBI)
8. David Freitas, C-DH: 0-2 (F-8, 3-U) 
NOTE: SLOT WAS SKIPPED FIRST TWO TIMES THRU BATTING ORDER
9. Billy McKinney, DH-RF: 1-3 (1B, F-9, BB, 4-3, R)
10a. P. J. Higgins, DH-C: 1-1 (1B, R, SB)
10b. Bryant Flete, PH-SS: 1-2 (1B, K, R) 
NOTE: SLOT WAS SKIPPED FIRST TIME THRU BATTING ORDER
11a. Carlos Penalver, SS: 0-2 (F-7, 5-3) 
11b. Trey Martin, PH-CF: 2-2 (3B, 3B, R, 2 RBI)

TENNESSEE PITCHERS: 
1. Paul Blackburn: 2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K, 1 PO, 3/0 GO/AO, 30 pitches (20 strikes) 
2. Corey Black: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K, 15 pitches (9 strikes) 
3. David Berg: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K, 1/1 GO/AO, 10 pitches (7 strikes) 
4. Craig Brooks: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K, 1 GIDP, 2/0 GO/AO, 7 pitches (5 strikes) 
5. Josh Conway: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K, 1 GIDP, 1/0 GO/AO, 18 pitches (9 strikes) 
6. David Garner: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K, 0/3 GO/AO, 12 pitches (6 strikes) 
7. Scott Effross: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K, 3/0 GO/AO, 10 pitches (6 strikes) 
8. Daury Torrez: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 0 K, 2/1 GO/AO, 15 pitches (9 strikes) 

TENNESSEE ERRORS: NONE 

TENNESSEE CATCHERS DEFENSE: 
1. David Freitas: 0-1 CS 
2. P. J. Higgins: 1-1 CS 

ATTENDANCE: 71 

WEATHER: Sunny with temperatures in the 70's