Strop Sharp in 2018 Debut at Riverview

Dairon Blanco ripped a bases-loaded triple with two outs in the top of the 9th as the Stockton Ports (Oakland Athletics Hi-A affiliate) rallied to edge the Myrtle Beach Pelicans (Hi-A affiliate of the Chicago Cubs) 4-3 on Field #6, and Anthony Churlin went 4-4 with a solo HR (off an MLB pitcher) and three singles to lead the Beloit Snappers (A's Lo-A affiliate) to a 4-2 victory over the Cubs Lo-A South Bend affiliate on Field #5, in Cactus League Minor League Camp doubleheader game action Monday afternoon on John Arguello Way at the Riverview Baseball Complex in Mesa, AZ.  

Wladimir Galindo collected three hits (two singles and a double), drove-in a run, and scored a run, and RHSP Oscar de la Cruz hurled three shutout innings for Myrtle Beach, and Christopher Morel drilled two doubles (both pulled sharply into the LF corner) for South Bend (the SB Cubs managed only three hits, and Morel had two of them).

South Bend 1B Austin Filiere left the game after being hit on the helmet with a pitch in the bottom of the 5th.  

Both games were called after 8-1/2 innings of play.  
 
Cubs RHRP Pedro Strop (calf strain) made his 2018 debut in the game on Field #5, and he was outstanding, working 1.1 IP (18 pitches - 89% strikes) and allowing a single while striking out four (all four swinging, all four on hard sliders). Most of the Beloit kids probably have never seen a slider like Strop's so it was a true education for the youngsters, but no question Strop was on his game. Cubs closer Brandon Morrow and LHRP Brian Duensing also saw action in the South Bend game, with Morrow allowing an unearned run on a single and a walk with two strikeouts, and Duensing surrendering a solo HR in his one inning of work (and he also two recorded a couple of punch-outs). 

NRI catcher Ali Solis was sent to the Riverview backfields from the Cubs MLB squad, and he caught Strop, Morrow, and Duensing. AAA Iowa catcher Cael Brockmeyer was also assigned to the South Bend game to warm up the MLB guys in the bullpen, and he got a couple of token AB as a DH as part of the deal. 

Will Remillard (2015 & 2016 TJS) saw his first game action of 2018 on Field #6. He looked healthy and in great shape, throwing out a Stockton baserunner who was attempting to steal 2nd with a strong pinpoint throw, and he also reached base on an opposite-field double that bounced off the warning track and over the fence in RF.  

Here are the abridged box scores from the two games (Cubs players only):

FIELD #5:

SOUTH BEND LINEUP:
1. Chris Singleton, CF: 0-3 (BB, K, 5-3, K, R, SB)
2a. Ali Solis, C: 0-1 (BB, L-8 DP)
2b. Miguel Amaya, C: 0-2 (P-3, K)
3a. Ramsey Romano, 3B: 0-1 (BB, K)
3b. Rafael Narea, 3B: 0-1 (5-3)
4a. Jonathan Sierra, RF: 0-2 (4-6-3 DP, 4-3)
4b. Kwangmin Kwon, RF: 0-1 (K)  
5a. Nelson Velazquez, LF: 0-2 (6-3, 4-3)
5b. Zach Davis, LF: 0-1 (K)
6a. Luis Vazquez, DH #1: 0-1 (F-9, HBP, R, SB)
6b. Delvin Zinn, 2B: 0-1 (BB, SB)
7a. Austin Filiere, 1B: 0-1 (5-3, HBP)
7b. Rafael Mejia, PR-1B: 0-0 (BB)
8. Jared Young, 2B-DH: 1-3 (1B, 6-U FC+E6, 6-4-3 DP)
9. Cael Brockmeyer, DH #2: 0-2 (L-8, F-8)
NOTE: SLOT WAS SKIPPED SECOND TIME THRU BATTING ORDER
10. Christopher Morel, SS: 2-3 (3-1, 2B, 2B)

SOUTH BEND PITCHERS:
1. Pedro Strop: 1.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 K, 18 pitches (16 strikes)
2. Brandon Morrow: 0.2 IP, 1 H, 1 R (0 ER), 1 BB, 2 K, 23 pitches (14 strikes)
3. Brian Duensing: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R (1 ER), 0 BB, 2 K, 1 HR, 1/0 GO/AO, 18 pitches (14 strikes)
4. Javier Assad: 3.0 IP, 2 H, 2 R (2 ER), 2 BB, 2 K, 1 WP, 3/2 GO/AO, 49 pitches (30 strikes)
5. Jesus Camargo: 2.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K, 2/0 GO/AO, 27 pitches (18 strikes)
6. Brendan King: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K, 1/1 GO/AO, 8 pitches (8 strikes)

SOUTH BEND ERRORS: 1
SS Christopher Morel: E-6 (two-out throwing error allowed batter to reach base safely and unearned run to score)

SOUTH BEND CATCHERS DEFENSE:
Miguel Amaya: 3-6 CS

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

FIELD #6:

MYRTLE BEACH LINEUP:
1. Austin Upshaw, DH: 0-3 (F-8, K, K, BB)
2. Aramis Ademan, SS: 0-2 (BB, BB, 1-3, K, R, SB)
3. Brandon Hughes, CF: 0-2 (BB, K, BB, L-6 DP, SB)
4. Wladimir Galindo, 3B: 3-4 (1B, F-9, 2B, 1B, R, RBI)
5a. Fernando Kelli, LF: 0-3 (K, 4-3, K)
5b. Kevonte Mitchell, LF: 0-1 (K)
6a. Gustavo Polanco, 1B: 0-2 (F-9, 6-3)
6b. Adonis Paula, 1B: 1-1 (BB, 1B, R)
7a. Chris Carrier, LF: 0-2 (K, F-7)
7b. Yovanny Cuevas, LF: 1-2 (P-6, 2B, RBI)
8a. Yeiler Peguero, 2B: 0-2 (6-3, K)
8b. Jhonny Bethencourt, 2B: 0-2 (4-3, 6-5 FC, RBI)
9a. Will Remillard, C: 1-2 (2B, K)
9b. Michael Cruz, PH-C: 0-1 (BB, P-2)

MYRTLE BEACH PITCHERS:
1. Oscar de la Cruz: 3.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K, 2/5 GO/AO, 34 pitches (22 strikes)
2. Jose Paulino: 4.0 IP, 6 H, 1 R (1 ER), 2 BB, 2 K, 2 GIDP, 5/3 GO/AO, 56 pitches (36 strikes)
3. Wyatt Short: 2.0 IP, 3 H, 3 R (0 ER), 0 BB, 2 K, 1 HBP, 1 BALK, 2/2 GO/AO, 28 pitches (19 strikes)

MYRTLE BEACH ERRORS: 2
1. SS Aramis Ademan: E-6 (throwing error allowee batter to reach base safely)
2. 1B Adonis Paula, E-3 (fielding error allowed batter to reach base safely)

MYRTLE BEACH CATCHERS DEFENSE:
1. Will Remillard: 1-1 CS

ATTENDANCE: 31

WEATHER: Partly cloudy with temperatures in the 70's

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