Cubs Are the Real Power at Riverview

Rafelin Lorenzo drilled an RBI triple and a double and scored two runs, Fidel Mejia belted an RBI triple and a double and scored one run, Levi Jordan cracked an RBI triple and a single and scored a run, and six pitchers combined on a two-hitter, leading the South Bend Cubs (Lo-A affiliate of the Chicago Cubs) to a 6-1 victory over the West Virginia Power (Seattle Mariners Lo-A affiliate) in Cactus League Minor League Spring Training game action Thursday night on Field #1 at the Riverview Baseball Complex in Mesa, AZ. 

Although they were pitching for South Bend, it was actually a Eugene/Mesa "bullpen day" on Field #1, with six relievers from the Eugene/Mesa squad called upon to provide some "two-hit relief" for the SB-Cubs pen.  

Meanwhile, Thursday night's offensive heroes Rafelin Lorenzo and Fidel Mejia have been two of the pleasant surprises at Cubs Minor League Camp.

Lorenzo was selected by the Cubs in the AAA Phase of last December's Rule 5 Draft from the Pittsburgh Pirates in what appeared to be just an organizational depth transaction, but it turns out he is a really good receiver with a plus-arm and he has some XBH power at the plate as well. He showed enough at Minor League Camp that he beat-out Alexander Guerra, Jonathan Soto, and Henderson Perez for the #1 catching job at South Bend, and he actually probably could have been the #1 catcher at Myrtle Beach or maybe even at Tennessee if it wasn't for a guy named Miguel Amaya at Myrtle Beach and P. J. Higgins and Jhonny Pereda at Tennessee. Kudos to the Cubs Pro Scouting Dept. 

Fidel Mejia was leading (and may still be leading, I don't know) Cubs Minor League Camp in HR and XBH and (apparently) has won the starting 3B job at South Bend, even though he spent the last two seasons in the AZL and has yet to see Eugene. The 20-year old switch-hitter obviously put on some muscle during the off-season and now has pop from both sides of the plate (he hit a HR over the CF Batter's Eye on Riverview Field #5 last week), and he has worked hard to make himself into a decent-enough third-baseman that he should be able to stay at the hot corner as he advances through the Cubs system, although he can also play 1B and even a bit of 2B as well. 

Meanwhile, the jury is still out on whether Cole Roederer will open the 2019 season at South Bend or at Extended Spring Training. Sometimes he looks great, and other times (like in Thursday night's game) he doesn't. So he is squarely "on the bubble," and it could go either way. (I guess we'll find out shortly). 

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

SOUTH BEND LINEUP:
1. D. J. Artis, LF: 1-3 (1-U, K, BB, 1B, R, SB)
2. Levi Jordan, 2B: 2-4 (6-3, 1B, 4-3 DP, 3B, R, RBI)
3. Fidel Mejia, 3B: 2-4 (2B, K, 4-3, 3B, R, RBI)
4. Jonathan Sierra, RF: 0-4 (K, F-9, F-7, K)
5. Nelson Velazquez, CF: 1-3 (F-8, 1B, K, F-8 SF, R, RBI)
6. Cole Roederer, DH #1: 0-3 (F-9, 1-3 SH, K, K)
7. Rafelin Lorenzo, C: 2-3 (4-3, 3B, 2B, 2 R, RBI)
8. Andy Weber, DH #2: 1-2 (1B, F-7 SF, 3-1, RBI)
9. Gustavo Polanco, 1B: 0-1 (L-4, HBP, F-8 SF, RBI)
10. Delvin Zinn, SS: 0-3 (4-3 DP, 6-3, K)

SOUTH BEND PITCHERS: 
1. Jack Patterson: 2.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R (0 ER), 0 BB, 2 K, 1 WP, 4/0 GO/AO, 30 pitches (22 strikes)
2. Casey Ryan: 2.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K, 2/3 GO/AO, 23 pitches (13 strikes)
3. Ivan Medina: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K, 2/0 GO/AO, 18 pitches (11 strikes)
4. Blake Whitney: 2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K, 3/0 GO/AO, 24 pitches (16 strikes)
5. Jake Reindl: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 0 K, 1 GIDP, 2/0 GO/AO, 14 pitches (5 strikes)
6. Fauris Guerrero: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K, 1/0 GO/AO, 12 pitches (9 strikes) 

SOUTH BEND ERRORS: 1 
2B Levi Jordan: E-4 (fielding error allowed batter to reach base safely) 

ATTENDANCE: 21 

WEATHER: Clear skies with temperatures in the 70's 

Arizona 
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