Clifton & Albertos in Shut-Down Mode at Riverview

Caleb Knight drilled an RBI single and a two-run HR, Luis Vazquez belted a two-run HR, Fernando Kelli doubled twice, stole a base, and scored a run, Edmond Americaan singled, walked twice, stole a base, and scored two runs, Brennen Davis collected three hits, and Trevor Clifton and Jose Albertos each hurled three innngs of shutout ball (Clifton allowing just a single and Albertos allowing just a walk), in Cubs Minor League Camp intrasquad game action Thursday morning on Field #6 at the Riverview Baseball Complex on John Arguello Way in Mesa, AZ. 

Although he will eventually join the Iowa starting rotation, Clifton has been assigned to the Eugene roster from AAA iowa while he gets stretched-out as a SP at Minor League Camp and (starting next week) Extended Spring Training. (Clifton was moved to the Iowa bullpen when Minor League Camp opened last month). 

Besides Clifton, other players who were assigned to the Eugene roster today are RHRP Brad Markey and C Erick Castillo (from Iowa), RHRP Ryan Williams and 3B Jesse Hodges (from Tennessee), RHP Garrett Kelly, C-INF Cam Balego, and OF Zach Davis (from Myrtle Beach), and RHRP Dalton Geekie and C-1B Gustavo Polanco (from South Bend). However, only Clifton and Hodges are actually at Minor League Camp. The others are physically remaining with their previously-assigned club and can be "called-up" to the club's active roster at literally a moment's notice if needed (the players "assigned" to Eugene won't have to wait the seven days they would have had to wait if they had been placed on the 7-day Injured List on Opening Day).  

Also, a number of Cubs minor league players were placed on the 7-day and 60-day injured lists today (minor league players cannot be placed onto an injured list until minor league Opening Day):

IOWA: RHSP Adbert Alzolay, LHRP Alberto Baldonado, RHSP Alec Mills, RHRP Junichi Tazawa, RHSP Jen-Ho Tseng, OF Wynton Bernard, and OF Jacob Hannemann were placed on the Iowa 7-day Injured List, and RHRP Casey Bloomquist, LHRP Luke Hagerty, LHRP Danny Hultzen, and LHRP Jerry Vasto were placed on the I-Cubs 60-day Injured List.   

TENNESSEE: RHRP Zach Hedges, RHSP Erick Leal, LHRP Conor Lillis-White, RHRP Tommy Nance, RHRP Jake Stinnett, RHRP Alexander Vargas, INF Gioskar Amaya, and OF Jose Cardona have been placed onto the Tennessee 7-day Injured List, and RHRP Corey Black, C Will Remillard, 1B-OF Yasiel Balaguert, and OF Chris Pieters were placed onto the Smokies 60-day Injured List (however, Remillard, Balaguert, and Pieters will actually be serving as coaches in 2019, Remillard with Tennessee, Balaguert with AZL Cubs #1, and Pieters with AZL Cubs #2). 

MYRTLE BEACH: RHRP Enrique de los Rios, RHRP Chad Hockin, and RHSP Erich Uelmen have been placed onto the Pelicans 7-day Injured List. 

SOUTH BEND: LHSP Andres Bonalde, LHSP Brendon Little, C Marcus Mastrobuoni, and OF Jose Gutierrez have been placed onto the South Bend 7-day Injured List  

Today is Minor League Opening Day, and it also marks the official conclusion of Minor League Camp. Extended Spring Training starts next week. 

However, a number of players who did not attend Minor League Camp but who have been invited to attend Extended Spring Training have already arrived in Mesa, including RHSP Willy Cabrera (pitched in DSL in 2018), LHSP Riger Fernandez (pitched in AZL in 2018), RHSP Emilio Ferrebus (pitched in AZL in 2018), RHSP Richard Gallardo (2018-19 IFA making his pro debut in 2019), RHRP Julio Guante (pitched in DSL in 2019 - DSL eligibility has expired), RHRP Elias Herrera (pitched in AZL in 2018), RHSP Chi-Feng Lee (pitched in AZL in 2018), RHSP Luis Ramos (pitched in DSL in 2018), LHRP (ex-OF) Ruben Reyes (played OF and pitched in AZL in 2018), RHSP Benjamin Rodriguez (attended EXST last year and then pitched in the DSL), LHSP Luis Rodriguez (pitched in DSL in 2018), LHRP Luis Silva (pitched in AZL in 2018), RHRP Jesus Tejada (pitched in AZL in 2018), LHSP Didier Vargas (pitched in AZL in 2018), RHRP Omar Ventura (pitched in DSL in 2018 - DSL eligibility has expired), C Daniel Diaz (played in DSL in 2018 - DSL eligibility has expired), 2B Revaj Garcia (played in AZL in 2018), INF Ignacio Otano (played in DSL in 2018 - DSL eligibility has expired), SS Luis Verdugo (played in AZL in 2018), and OF Carlos Morfa (played in DSL in 2018 and was the only DSL Cubs player to get invited to AZ Instructs in January). 

About a dozen more players are expected to arrive from the Cubs Dominican Academy later today.  

Here is the box score from the game: 

EUGENE/MESA SQUAD "B" LINEUP:
1a. Luis Vazquez, SS: 1-4 (K, K, K, HR, R, 2 RBI)
1b. Jonathan Soto, PH: 0-1 (4-6-3 DP) 
2. Fernando Kelli, CF: 2-4 (2B, K, 2B, K, R, SB)
3. Yonathan Perlaza, 2B: 0-3 (3-U, K, F-9 SF, 5-3, RBI)
4a. Alexander Guerra, C: 1-3 (K, 5-3, 1B)
4b. Raymond Pena, C: 0-0 (BB, SB)
5. Dalton Hurd, RF: 0-4 (P-5, F-8, F-8, 5-3)
6. Josue Huma, 3B: 1-2 (4-3, 1B, BB, BB, R, SB, CS)
7. Rafael Mejia, 1B: 1-4 (K, K, F-7, 2B)
8. Brandon Vicens, LF: 1-3 (4-3, 2B, F-8, 3-U, RBI)
9. Danny Zardon, DH: 0-2 (5-3, K, BB, BB, R)

EUGENE/MESA SQUAD "A" LINEUP:
1. Edmond Americaan, RF: 1-2 (BB, K, BB, 1B, 2 R, SB)
2. Brennen Davis, LF: 3-4 (1B, K, 1B, 1B)
3. Christopher Morel, SS: 0-3 (5-3 DP, 6-3, K, L-7 SF, RBI)
4. Jake Slaughter, 1B: 0-2 (HBP, BB, P-4, K, SB)
5a. Henderson Perez, C: 0-2 (4-3, L-3 DP)
5b. Orian Nunez, C: 0-1 (F-8)
6. Clayton Daniel. 3B: 1-2 (BB, F-8, 1B, CS)
7a. Jesse Hodges, DH #1: 0-1 (BB, L-5)
7b. Richard Nunez, PH: 1-1 (1B, R, SB)
8. Kevin Moreno, RF: 0-3 (K, K, P-3)
NOTE: R. Nunez & K. Moreno switched slots third time thru batting order
9. Luis Diaz, 2B: 0-2 (3-U, BB, F-9, R, SB)
10. Caleb Knight, DH #2: 2-3 (3-1, 1B, HR, R, 3 RBI)

EUGENE/MESA SQUAD "B" PITCHERS: 
1. Kohl Franklin: 1.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 0 K, 1 HBP, 1 GIDP, 2/0 GO/AO, 29 pitches (11 strikes) 
2. Jose Albertos: 3.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K, 3/2 GO/AO, 30 pitches (15 strikes) 
3. Niels Stone: 1.1 IP, 2 H, 2 R (1 ER), 2 BB, 2 K, 0/1 GO/AO, 33 pitches (20 strikes) 
4. Sean Barry: 1.2 IP, 3 H, 2 R (2 ER), 0 BB, 0 K, 1 HR, 0/4 GO/AO, 26 pitches (14 strikes) 
5. Raidel Orta: 0.2 IP, 2 H, 1 R (1 ER), 0 BB, 1 K, 1 WP, 0/1 GO/AO, 18 pitches (10 strikes) 

EUGENE/MESA SQUAD "A" PITCHERS: 
1. Trevor Clifton: 3.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 K, 4/1 GO/AO, 36 pitches (25 strikes) 
2. Yunior Perez: 2.2 IP, 4 H, 2 R (2 ER), 0 BB, 5 K, 1 WP, 1/2 GO/AO, 48 pitches (30 strikes) 
3. Jack Patterson: 2.0 IP, 1 H, 2 R (2 ER), 2 BB, 1 K, 1 HR, 1/3 GO/AO, 36 pitches (17 strikes) 
4. Carlos Vega: 1.1 IP,  1 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 0 K, 1 GIDP, 3/0 GO/AO, 34 pitches (16 strikes) 

EUGENE/MESA SQUAD "B" ERRORS: 
1. CF Fernando Kelli: E-8 (overthrow home on RBI single allowed batter to advance to 2nd) 
2. C Raymond Pena: E-2 (errant throw to 2nd base on SB attempt allowed runner to score) 

EUGENE/MESA SQUAD "A" ERRORS: NONE 

EUGENE/MESA SQUAD "B" CATCHERS DEFENSE: 
1. Alexander Guerra: 1-2 CS 
2. Raymond Pena: 0-3 CS, 1 E (see above) 

EUGENE/MESA SQUAD "A" CATCHERS DEFENSE: 
1. Henderson Perez: 0-2 CS 
2. Orian Nunez: 1-2 CS 

EUGENE/MESA SQUAD "B" OUTFIELD ASSIST:
RF Dalton Hurd - threw out batter (Clayton Daniel) 9-6 attempting to stretch single into double 

ATTENDANCE: 7 

WEATHER: Partly cloudy with temperatures in the 70's 

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