Eddie Butler Gets a Start at Minor League Camp
Isaac Paredes drilled an RBI double and two singles and scored a run, Rafael Mejia blasted a three-run home run, and SP Duncan Robinson hurled three innings of one-hit ball and combined with four relievers to toss a six-hitter with 13 strikeouts, leading the South Bend Cubs (Lo-A affiliate of the Chicago Cubs) to a 6-1 victory over the Kane County Cougars (Lo-A affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks) on Field #5, and Luis Alejandro Basabe belted a three-run HR, Ramon Hernandez singled and doubled and scored two runs, Kyle Smith stroked an RBI double and a single and scored a run, and SP Mack Lemieux threw four innings of one-hit shutout ball (albeit allowing four walks, an HBP, and two WP along the way), as the Visalia Rawhide (D'backs Hi-A affiliate) defeated the Myrtle Beach Pelicans (Cubs Hi-A affiliate) 7-3 on Field #6, in Cactus League Minor League doubleheader action Tuesday afternoon at the Riverview Baseball Complex in Mesa, AZ.
The MLB squad had the day off, so recently acquired RHSP Eddie Butler was sent to Minor League Camp to get his scheduled game work versus the Diamondbacks Hi-A affiiate (Visalia) on Field #6. Butler allowed four runs (all earned) on six hits (three singles, two doubles, and a triple) in 4.2 IP (69 pitches - 65% strikes), allowing no walks while striking out five with a 3/5 GO/AO. He retired the last five hitters he faced (K, F-9, K, 4-3, L-8). Butler's FB sat at 93-94 and he was able to throw his secondary pitches for strikes, but D'backs (Rawhide) hitters consistently squared-up his pitches and made hard contact up until the last five outs.
Cubs 2016 3rd round draft pick RHSP Thomas Hatch (Oklahoma State) followed Butler to the mound on Field #6 and worked 3.2 IP, allowing the Basabe three-run homer, but he got stronger as he got deeper into the outing, eventually retiring the last eight men he faced in a row (four of the last five by strikeout). Hatch had all of his pitches working (92-93 MPH two-seam FB, slider, and CH) over the last eight outs.
Here are the abridged box scores from the two games (Cubs players only)
FIELD #5:
SOUTH BEND LINEUP:
1. Luis Ayala, CF: 0-3 (BB, 4-3, K, K, R, SB)
2. Yeiler Peguero, 2B: 1-3 (6-3, BB, 1B, 4-3, R, SB)
3. Jonathan Sierra, RF: 0-4 (K, E-6, L-7, 4-3, R)
4. Isaac Paredes, SS: 3-4 (3-U, 2B, 1B, 1B, R, RBI)
5. Zack Short, 3B: 0-3 (6-3, 6-3, 1-5-3 DP, BB, R)
6a. Jhonny Pereda, C: 0-2 (BB, 4-3, 5-3)
6b. Gustavo Polanco, C: 0-1 (6-3)
7. Rafael Mejia, 1B: 1-3 (6-4-3 DP, F-7, BB, HR, R, 3 RBI, CS)
8. Kevin Zamudio, DH: 1-4 (5-3, F-8, 1B, F-7, PO)
9. Tolly Filotei, LF: 1-3 (1B, 1-3, F-9, PO)
SOUTH BEND PITCHERS:
1. Duncan Robinson: 3.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R (0 ER), 0 BB, 3 K, 5/1 GO/AO, 44 pitches (30 strikes)
2. Marc Huberman: 2.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K, 3/0 GO/AO, 27 pitches (14 strikes)
3. Dakota Mekkes: 2.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 K, 1/1 GO/AO, 32 pitches (21 strikes)
4. John Michael Knighton: 1.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K, 2/0 GO/AO, 12 pitches (8 strikes)
5. Chad Hockin: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K, 1 WP, 0/1 GO/AO, 18 pitches (12 strikes)
SOUTH BEND ERRORS: 3
SS Isaac Paredes: E-6 (fielding error allowed batter reach base safely)
P Dakota Mekkes: E-1 (errant throw to 1st base on infield single allowed batter to advance to 2nd)
P Dakota Mekkes: E-1 (errant throw on pick-off attempt at 2nd base allowed runner to advance to 3rd)
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
FIELD #6
MYRTLE BEACH LINEUP:
1a. Kevonte Mitchell, RF: 0-3 (K, E-6, E-8, HBP, R, SB)
1b. Jose Gutierrez, RF: 0-0 (BB)
2a. P. J. Higgins, C: 1-3 (K, 1B, 4-6-3 DP, SB)
2b. Jhonny Bethencourt, 2B: 0-1 (K)
3. Chris Pieters, 1B: 0-2 (HBP, F-9 SF, 6-3, P-6, RBI)
4. Wladimir Galindo, 3B: 0-4 (K, P-4, K, K)
5. Trent Giambrone, 2B-DH: 0-3 (BB, 6-3, L-5, 6-3, CS)
6. Sam Tidaback, DH-C: 1-2 (BB, BB, 1B, F-9, R, CS)
7a. Carlos Penalver, SS: 1-2 (BB, 5-4 FC, 1B)
7b. Andruw Monasterio, SS: 0-1 (4-3)
8. Brandon Cummins, CF: 2-4 (4-3, 1B, 1B, K, R, RBI, SB)
9. Zach Davis, LF: 0-3 (K, BB, 3-U, 5-3)
MYRTLE BEACH PITCHERS:
1. Eddie Butler: 4.2 IP, 6 H, 4 R (4 ER), 0 BB, 5 K, 1 WP, 3/5 GO/AO, 69 pitches (45 strikes)
2. Thomas Hatch: 3.2 IP, 2 H, 3 R (3 ER), 1 BB, 4 K, 1 HBP, 1 HR, 5/1 GO/AO, 48 pitches (29 strikes)
3. Wyatt Short: 0.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K, 1/0 GO/AO, 16 pitches (10 strikes)
MYRTLE BEACH ERRORS: 1
3B Wladimir Galindo: E-5 (errant throw to 1st base on infield single allowed batter & baserunner to advance an extra base)
MYRTLE BEACH CATCHERS DEFENSE:
P. J. Higgins: 2-2 CS
ATTENDANCE: 65
WEATHER: Sunny with temperatures in the 90's
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