Cubs Extended Spring Training game report

Carlos Pacheco singled twice, doubled, stole a base, scored a run, and drove-in another, Jonathan Sierra singled, walked, reached base on an HBP, stole a base, and scored three runs, Brailyn Marquez and Jeremiah Estrada combined to strike out seven of the first 11 men they faced, and seven pitchers combined to toss a five-hitter, as the Cubs cruised past the Giants black squad 7-3 in Cactus League Extended Spring Training game action Monday morning on Field #5 on John Arguello Way at the Riverview Baseball Complex in Mesa, AZ. 

The game was called after eight innings of play.

The 19-year old Pacheco was signed by the Cubs out of Mexico in 2016, he tied for 2nd in the DSL in HR in 2017, and he is expected to provide power for one the two Cubs AZL teams this summer.

RHPs Fernando Calderon, Benjamin Rodriguez, and Jose M. Gonzalez made their U. S. debut in today's game, working one inning a piece. All three pitched in the DSL last year.

Not counting pitchers who are rehabbing at Extended Spring Training, Marquez and Estrada are clearly the Cubs top two pitching prospects at EXST, and the duo will likely be at the top of the Eugene starting rotation when the NWL begins play in June.

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

RHSP Adbert Alzolay hurled five innings (75 pitches) of one-run ball with seven strikeouts, Yovanny Cuevas knocked-in four runs with a two-run single and a two run double, Gustavo Polanco belted a solo HR and singled twice (including an RBI single), and Fidel Mejia drilled a two-run double and a single and scored twice, leading the Cubs to a 10-2 victory over the Angels in Cactus League Extended Spring Training game action Saturday morning on Field #6 on John Arguello Way at the Riverview Baseball Complex in Mesa, AZ.

Prior to the game, RHPs Yovanny Cruz, Eduarniel Nunez, Jesus Tejada, Garrett Kelly, and Stephen Ridings, and LHP Riger Fernandez threw "live" BP on Field #4. Y. Cruz, Fernandez, and Tejada attended AZ Instructs post-2017 but did not pitch in any games, but E. Nunez is making his U. S. debut at Extended Spring Training this year. G. Kelly (ex-MIN) was acquired by the Cubs from Schaumburg (Frontier League) last month but he has not yet pitched in a game. 

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

Rafael Mejia belted a three-run HR to cap a five-run 4th and drew a bases-loaded walk in the bottom of the 8th to force-in what proved to be the winning run, Luis Diaz drilled an RBI double to put the Cubs on the board in the bottom of the 1st and later walked twice and scored a run, and Luis Vazquez singled twice and scored a run, helping the Cubs edge the Diamondbacks 8-7 in Cactus League Extended Spring Training game action Friday morning on Field #6 on John Arguello Way at the Riverview Baseball Complex in Mesa, AZ.   

RHPs Fernando Calderon, Yan de la Cruz, Jose M. Gonzalez, Junior Marte, and Benjamin Rodriguez (all five recent arrivals from the Cubs Dominican Academy) threw "live" BP on Field #4 prior to the start of the Cactus League game on Field #6. Marte has pitched in both the AZL and the Northwest League in prior seasons (2015-17), but the other four are making their U. S. debut this year at Extended Spring Training.

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

Kyle Ryan hurled three innings of shutout ball and combined with four relievers to toss a two-hit shutout, Fernando Kelli singled twice, walked, stole two bases, and scored two runs, and Cam Balego (two-run double) and Gioskar Amaya (RBI single) contributed run-scoring hits, as the Cubs blanked the Dodgers 4-0 in Cactus League Extended Spring Training Opening Day game action Tuesday morning on Field #6 on John Arguello Way at the Riverview Baseball Complex in Mesa, AZ. 

The game was extended an extra half-inning so that all of the Cubs pitchers who were scheduled to throw could get their work (and even with the extra half-inning Cubs pitchers still threw a two-hit shutout!).   

K. Ryan was left behind when the Iowa Cubs departed Arizona last week, and he is staying ready in case he is needed in Des Moines. He dominated the young Dodgers today. 

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

Iowa Cubs RHSP Duane Underwood Jr hurled 6.2 IP of two-hit shutout baseball, Henderson Perez belted a two-run HR, and Christopher Morel smacked a solo HR, in Cubs Extended Spring Training intrasquad game action Wednesday morning on Field #6 on John Arguello Way at the Riverview Baseball Complex in Mesa, AZ.  

The Morel HR was hit halfway to Scottsdale.

The game was pre-planned as an eleven-inning affair so that all of the pitchers who were scheduled to throw today could get their work.

So it looks like Underwood is ready for his first start with the I-Cubs (probably next Tuesday).

LHRP Kyle Ryan (who was an NRI to MLB Spring Training) followed Underwood to the mound and retired seven of the eight men he faced. (K. Ryan was assigned to Extended Spring Training to get work and stay ready in case he is needed at Iowa).  

LHP Manuel Rondon and RHP Erick Leal also threw in the game (this was the second game appearance for both of them after spending most of Minor League Camp in the Rehab Throwing Program).
 
Here is the box score from the game:

Oscar de la Cruz hurled six innings (78 pitches - 72% strikes) of one-run/three-hit ball (run was unearned) with five strikeouts and no walks, Cam Balego drilled an RBI single and an RBI double and drew a walk, Delvin Zinn singled, doubled, stole a base, and scored three runs, Jonathan Soto belted a two-run HR and a single, and Alexander Guerra smacked a solo HR, in Cubs Extended Spring Training intrasquad game action Tuesday morning on Field #6 on John Arguello Way at the Riverview Baseball Complex in Mesa, AZ.

Alec Mills (Iowa) and Oscar de la Cruz (Tennessee) were the starting pitchers in the game. Both were left behind in Mesa by their respective full-season clubs so that they could pitch in a game on what was their normal day to pitch, with both scheduled to make regular-season starts for their teams this coming Sunday or Monday. So it was a matter of them getting both their normal-scheduled work and increasing their pitch counts closer to regular-season levels.  

Enrique de los Rios and Brendan King followed de la Cruz and Mills to the mound, getting stretched-out in preparation for being Cubs EXST SP.  
 
Here is the box score from the game:      

Abraham Rodriguez belted a three-run HR, Luis Vazquez drove-in three runs (two-run HR and a sac fly), singled, walked, stole a base, and scored two runs, Chris Coghlan drilled a two-run HR and a single and scored two runs, Kevin Zamudio slammed a two-run HR, Joe Martarano knocked-in two runs (solo HR and an RBI single), Cam Balego doubled, singled, walked, stole a base, and scored a run, and Henderson Perez singled twice and scored two runs, in Extended Spring Training intrasquad game action Monday morning on Field #6 on John Arguello Way at the Riverview Baseball Complex in Mesa, AZ.

Chris Coghlan served as a DH for both squads, going a combined 2-6.

The Defensive Gem of the Day was turned-in by SS Luis Vazquez (Cubs 2017 14th round draft pick out of Puerto Rico), who made a spectacular diving stop behind 2nd base, and then from flat on his back, somehow was able to complete a "no-look pass" to 2nd baseman Luis Diaz, who then completed the 6-4-3 DP. Vazquez had an excellent Minor League Camp and will very likely be the starting SS at Eugene once the short-season leagues begin play in June.  

The Iowa Cubs, Tennessee Smokies, and South Bend Cubs departed Arizona today, but three pitchers from Cubs "full-season" affiliates who are not scheduled to start a game until this weekend (Iowa RHSP Luke Farrell, Tennessee RHSP Thomas Hatch, and South Bend RHSP Cory Abbott) were left behind in Mesa and threw in today's intrasquad game, mainly for the purpose of getting their scheduled work, but also to increase their pitch count to where it will need to be once the regular season starts. (Tennessee RHSP Adbert Alzolay also threw in the game, but he will probably need at least one more EXST start beyond today before he is ready to join the Smokies).   

Also, Cubs 2012 3rd round pick RHRP Ryan McNeil saw his first game-action of 2017 after spending Minor League Camp in the Rehab Throwing Program (back, hip, and elbow). McNeil is eligible to be a minor league 6YFA post-2018, so this season will be an important one for him.   

Here is the box score from the game:

Aramis Ademan tripled to lead off the game, singled twice, and scored two runs, Rafael Narea drilled an RBI double and a two-run single and scored a run, Gustavo Polanco laced an RBI double and an RBI single, Richard Nunez clubbed an RBI double and a single and scored a run, Miguel Amaya doubled, walked, and scored, and Tolly Filotei doubled and scored, helping the Eugene Emeralds thrash the AZL Cubs 8-1 in a six-inning Extended Spring Training intrasquad game played Sunday morning on Field #1 at the Riverview Baseball Complex in Mesa, AZ. 

The last Cactus League Extended Spring Training game was yesterday, and today's intrasquad game marks the official end of Extended Spring Training. AZL mini-camp will commence later in the week after the First-Year Player Draft has concluded, as players who sign soon after being drafted (as well as perhaps a NDFA or two) report to the Cubs facility in Mesa. (The AZL season begins on 6/24).

The main purpose of  today's game was to give Eugene pitchers work before the team leaves for Oregon tomorrow, so all of the pitchers who threw in the game (except maybe one) will be on the Ems Opening Day roster. (NWL Opening Night is this coming Thursday).    

Here is the box score from the game: 

Rafael Narea drilled an RBI single, walked, stole two bases and scored a run, Marcus Mastrobuoni walked twice, singled, stole a base, and scored a run, and LHSP Brett Anderson (on Cubs MLB 60-day DL - lower back strain) hurled three innings (47 pitches) of no run/no hit ball with three strikeouts and a 5/1 GO/AO and combined with Jesus Camargo amd Andry Rondon on a three-hitter, as the Cubs edged the Angels 5-4 in Cactus League Extended Spring Training game action Saturday morning on Field #3 at the Diablo Stadium Complex in Tempe, AZ.  

Although Cub pitchers surrendered only three hits, they also walked six, hit three batters, and uncorked a WP, and Cub defenders committed three errors in the field.   

Zach Davis was hit on the left knee by a pitch in the top of the 3rd inning and had to be helped off the field. He appeared to be in a lot of pain. 

The game was called after eight innings of play. 

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

Robinson Medrano belted two solo home runs and singled, stole a base, and scored a run, and 6'9 RHSP Stetson Woods hurled six innings of one-hit shutout ball and combined with two relievers on a one-hit shutout, as the Giants "black" squad blanked the Cubs 6-0 in Cactus League Extended Spring Training game action Friday morning on Field #1 at the Riverview Baseball Complex in Mesa, AZ. 

The only Cub hit was a one-out single in the bottom of the sixth by Jemile Weeks (on the AAA Iowa 7-day DL - February 2017 sprained ACL), who is back at Extended Spring Training after spending a grand total of three days on the Iowa Cubs active list in mid-May. Weeks suffered the original knee injury after being upended at 2nd base while attempting to turn a DP in an MLB Cactus League Spring Training game at Sloan Park in February, and he had previously spent about a month rehabbing at Extended Spring Training before joining the I-Cubs on May 15th (he went back on the DL on May 18th). In addition to recording the only Cubs hit today, Weeks also committed two errors (one fielding and one throwing), made a spectacular over-the-shoulder catch of a pop-up in short right-centerfield in the 5th, and made a run-saving diving stop of what would otherwise have been an RBI ground-single to right with a runner at 2nd base and two outs in the 6th (this is why infielders are told to "knock it down!" when there is a runner at 2nd base with two outs). 

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