Kalish Pinch Shot Perfect Elixir for I-Cubs at Fitch

Ryan Kalish launched a lead-off moon-shot pinch-hit home run over the right-centerfield fence and Bijan Rademacher and Willson Contreras contributed RBI singles later in the inning, as the Iowa Cubs (AAA affiliate of the Chicago Cubs) scored three in the 8th to break a 1-1 tie and went on to defeat the Nashville Sounds (Oakland Athletics AAA affiliate) 4-2 on Field #4, and RHSP Daniel Mengden hurled five innings of one-hit shutout ball with seven strikeouts, Bret Vertigan tripled, singled, walked, and scored three runs, and James Harris drove-in three runs with an RBI double and a two-run single, helping the Midland Rockhounds (A's AA affiliate) blank the Tennessee Smokies (Cubs AA affiliate) 6-0 on Field #4, in Cactus League Minor League doubleheader action Tuesday afternoon at the Lew Wolff Training Complex at Fitch Park in Mesa, AZ. 

Willson Contreras collected three hits, scored a run, knocked-in a run, and stole a base, Albert Almora Jr singled, doubled, and walked, and SP Drew Rucinski retired 12 of the first 14 men he faced for the I-Cubs on Field #4. 

The game on Field #4 was called after 8-1/2 innings of play.

RHSP Brad Markey had a rough outing for Tennessee on Field #3, allowing five runs on seven hits (five singles, a double, and a triple) and two walks (and no strikeouts) in 4.1 IP. 

The Smokies were playing short-handed (four of their guys were assigned to the MLB game at Sloan Park), so four players (OF Luis Ayala, SS Andruw Monasterio, 1B Jose Paniagua, and 2B Edgar Rondon) were moved-up to the Tennessee squad for the day from Eugene/Mesa (the Extended Spring Training group).  

Ex-Cub LHP Felix Doubront (currently the Oakland A's #5 starter) came down to Fitch Park from HoHoKam and got the start for Nashville. He worked 3.2 IP and did not allow a run, but he surrendered three hits and three walks along the way, and he needed 81 pitches (of which only 54% were strikes) to record the eleven outs.    

John Arguello (Cubs Den) was at Riverview Park for the Lo-A/Hi-A games, and he has game notes and some great pics from there: 

link 

And here are the abridged box scores from the AA/AAA games played at Fitch Park (Cubs players only): 

FIELD #3

TENNESSEE LINEUP:
1. Bryant Flete, 3B: 0-2 (1B, HBP, 4-3, F-9, SB)
2a. Edgar Rondon, 2B: 0-2 (K, K)
2b. Andruw Monasterio, SS: 1-2 (1B, 4-3, CS)
3. Victor Caratini, DH #1: 0-4 (3-U, 4-3, E-6, K) 
4a. Anthony Giansanti, DH #2: 0-2 (F-7, F-8)
4b. Jose Paniagua, PH-DH: 1-1 (BB, 2B)
5. Kelly Dugan, LF: 0-4 (1-3, K, P-4, F-7)
6. Mark Zagunis, RF: 0-3 (K, 5-3, 6-3)
7. Danny Lockhart, SS-2B: 1-3 (F-8, 1B, 4-3)
8. Ben Carhart, 1B: 0-3 (6-3, K, L-7)
9. Gioskar Amaya, C: 1-3 (K, 6-3, 1B)
10. Luis Ayala, CF: 1-3 (K, K, 2B)

TENNESSEE PITCHERS: 
1. Brad Markey: 4.1 IP, 7 H, 5 R (5 ER), 2 BB, 0 K, 1 WP, 8/5 GO/AO, 65 pitches (42 strikes) 
2. Josh Conway: 0.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1/1 GO/AO, 13 pitches (6 strikes)
3. Daury Torrez: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K, 1/1 GO/AO, 16 pitches (12 strikes)
4. David Garner: 2.0 IP, 0 H, 1 R (1 ER), 2 BB, 5 K, 2 WP, 1/0 GO/AO, 36 pitches (20 strikes) 

TENNESSEE ERRORS: NONE 

TENNESSEE CATCHERS DEFENSE: 
Gioskar Amaya: 0-1 CS


FIELD #4

IOWA LINEUP:
1. John Andreoli, RF: 0-3 (P-4, 5-3, K, BB)
2. Willson Contreras, DH #1: 3-4 (1B, K, 1B, 1B, R, RBI, SB)
3. Albert Almora Jr, CF: 2-3 (BB, 2B, 1B, F-8)
4. Dan Vogelbach, 1B: 1-3 (F-8, 4-3, 1B, BB, RBI)
5. Jeimer Candelario, 3B: 1-2 (BB, BB, 1B, K)
6. Matt Murton, DH #2: 0-4 (K, 4-3, K, 4-3 DP)
7. Ryan Dent, SS: 0-2 (F-7, BB, P-3 DP)
8. Logan Watkins, 2B: 0-3 (5-3, F-8 DP, 3-U)
9a. Arismendy Alcantara, DH #3: 0-1 (3-1)
9b. Taylor Davis, PH: 0-1 (5-3) 
9c. Ryan Kalish, PH: 1-1 (HR, R, RBI)
10. David Freitas, C: 1-3 (F-9, 6-3, 1B, R)
11. Juan Carlos Perez, LF: 2-3 (1B, 2B, 5-3)
12a. Drew Rucinski, P: 0-0 (1-3 SH, 2-3 SH)
12b. Bijan Rademacher, PH: 1-1 (1B, R, RBI)

IOWA PITCHERS:
1. Drew Rucinski: 4.1 IP, 4 H, 1 R (1 ER), 0 BB, 4 K, 1 WP, 4/4 GO/AO, 61 pitches (46 strikes) 
2. Corey Black: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K, 0/1 GO/AO, 14 pitches (9 strikes)
3. Jean Machi: 0.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 0 K, 0/2 GO/AO, 15 pitches (8 strikes)
4. Andury Acevedo: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 0 K, 1/2 GO/AO, 23 pitches (13 strikes) 
5. C. J. Riefenhauser: 1.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R (1 ER), 0 BB, 1 K, 1/1 GO/AO, 16 pitches (11 strikes) 

IOWA ERRORS: NONE 

IOWA CATCHERS DEFENSE: 
David Freitas: 1-1 CS 

ATTENDANCE: 37 

WEATHER: Partly cloudy & breezy with temperatures in the 60's