Cubs Extended Spring Training game report

Catcher Miguel Amaya smacked a two-run HR and threw out four runners on the bases, Chris Dominguez (on AAA Iowa 7-day DL) doubled, singled, walked, and scored a run, Jacob Hannemann (on AA Tennessee DL - right knee) doubled twice, stole a base, and scored a run, Eloy Jimenez (on Myrtle Beach 7-day DL - right shoulder) belted a broken-bat RBI double off the LF fence and walked, Orian Nunez drilled an opposite-field two-run double, and six pitchers combined to toss a four-hitter, leading the Cubs to a 7-1 victory over the Giants "orange" squad in Cactus League Extended Spring Training game action Monday morning on Field #6 at the Riverview Baseball Complex in Mesa, AZ.

The Cubs slugged eight extra base hits in the game, including six doubles, a triple, and a home run.     

Cubs top prospect Eloy Jimenez saw his first game action since injuring his right shoulder in an MLB Cactus League Spring Training game at Sloan Park on March 14th. While he is able to hit, run, and field, he is not throwing at this point, and so he is restricted to being a DH in games.   

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

Joe Martarano raced home from 3rd base with the winning run on a walk-off wild pitch with one out in the bottom of the 9th, as the Cubs edged the Giants "black" squad 2-1 in Cactus League Extended Spring Training game action Saturday morning on Field #1 at the Riverview Baseball Complex in Mesa, AZ. 

Martarano laced an opposite-fiold  triple into the RF corner in his first PA, in what was his first game AB in almost two years. (Martarano returned to baseball last week after playing football at Boise State).   

1B Chris Dominguez (on AAA Iowa 7-day DL) reached base three times (solo HR, single, and an HBP) in his first game action in about three weeks.

LHRP Manny Parra (April 2016 TJS) needed only nine pitches to throw a scoreless inning in the game, and Cubs relievers Luis Aquino, Juan Carlos Paniagua, and David Garner combined to retire the last 12 Giants batters they faced (including seven on strikeouts), with Garner striking out the side in the top of the 9th. (Paniagua and Garner are at Extended Spring Training waiting for a slot to open up in the Tennessee or Iowa bullpen).  

LHP Ryan Kellogg saw his first game action since returning to the Cubs from Team Canada and the WBC last month. The big left-hander threw two perfect innings (32 pitches)

Jacob Hannemann (on AA Tennessee 7-day DL - right knee injury) continued his EXST rehab, playing CF and batting five times in the game (once in each of the first five innings), going 1-4 with a double and a sac bunt. 

RHSP Williams Perez was scheduled to start the game (he threw 6.2 IP of two-hit shutout ball in an intrasquad game last Monday) but was scratched, possibly because he may be moving-up to Iowa. (I-Cubs RHSP Alec Mills went on the DL yesterday with an ankle injury). 

RHP Casey Kelly (three innings - 45 pitches), RHP Jose Albertos (one inning - 15 pitches), and RHP Carlos Ocampo (one inning - 15 pitches) threw "live" BP on Field #2 prior to the start of the game on Field #1. Kelly is on the Iowa 7-day DL after spending most of Spring Training with the big club at Sloan Park, Albertos (one of the Cubs top pitching prospects) has been in the Rehab Throwing Program at Riverview Park since reporting to Minor League Camp last month and has yet to throw in a game, and Ocampo just arrived from the Cubs Dominican Academy (his expected arrival was delayed by a few days).   

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

Kyle Survance walked and scored, singled and stole a base and scored, and laced a two-run triple, Leonardo Rivas singled twice, drove-in two runs, and scored another, Brad Anderson reached base three times (two singles and an HBP), and the Angels took advantage of six errors en route to a 9-1 victory over the Cubs in Cactus League Extended Spring Training game action Friday morning on Field #4 at the Diablo Stadium Complex in Tempe, AZ.    

The game was pre-planned as an eight-inning affair but was extended an extra half-inning so that all of the Angels pitchers scheduled to throw in the game could get their work.  

In Extended Spring Training roster news, the Cubs have purchased the contract of 23-year old INF Andrew Sohn from Winnipeg (American Association)  The 2014 6th round draft pick of the St. Louis Cardinals out of Western Michigan University, Sohn was released by STL at the end of Minor League Camp and signed with Winnipeg last Friday. He was a shortstop in college and in his first season in pro ball, but he played 2B-3B-SS about equally in 2015-16, and he was a "two-way" player in college (RHP/SS), so the Cubs might try him on the mound at some point, too, and perhaps eventually use him as a utility INF & "emergency" pitcher at one of their full-season affiliates.  

So in the meantime, Sohn would likely be the "first call" replacement if an infielder at South Bend, Myrtle Beach, or Tennessee goes on the DL anytime during the next couple of months (just as Brandon Cummins would likely be the "first-call" replacement if an outfielder at South Bend, Myrtle Beach, or Tennessee goes on the DL).  

And (you read it here first two days ago), Cubs Top 20 prospect LHP Jose Paulino has officially been moved-up to South Bend from Extended Spring Training. 

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

LHSP Bryan Hudson hurled six innings of two-hit shutout ball with six strikeouts, no walks, and a 10/0 GO/AO, Michael Cruz drilled a triple and two singles and scored two runs, Andruw Monasterio doubled twice and scored a run, and Jacob Hannemann (on AA Tennessee 7-day DL - knee injury) reached base four times (two singles and two walks), as the Cubs edged the Athletics 3-2 in Cactus League Extended Spring Training Opening Day game action this morning on Field #6 at the Riverview Baseball Complex in Mesa, AZ. 

The game was called after eight innings of play. 

The 6'8 Hudson (Cubs 2015 3rd round draft pick - Alton HS - Alton, IL) was an absolute ground-ball machine, mixing an 87-89 MPH sinker, a plus-curve, and an occasional change-up to keep the A's hitters off-balance and constantly beating pitches into the ground. He also threw 70% strikes and averaged only 11.5 pitches-per-inning. Hudson's outing was simply one of the best performances by a starting pitcher in a Cactus League Extended Spring Training game I have ever witnessed (and I have seen many good ones over the last 40 years). There were three or four scouts from other MLB clubs in attendance at the game watching Hudson work, and I would think they probably came away favorably impressed as well. 

Prior to the game, the six newly-arrived pitchers from the Cubs Dominican Academy (LHP Faustino Carrera, RHP Hector Garcia, RHP Fauris Guerrero, LHP Brailyn Marquez, RHP Yunior Perez, and RHP Eury Ramos) threw "live" BP on Field #5. Each pitcher threw one inning (20 pitches). All six were at post-2016 AZ Instructs, so they have been at the Cubs Mesa facility before. Two other pitchers who attended post-2016 AZ Instructs (RHP Alfredo Colorado and Carlos Ocampo) were supposedly going to be at Extended Spring Training, too, but both will be remaining at the Cubs Dominican Academy.  

Also, Eloy Jimenez (on Myrtle Beach 7-day DL - right shoulder bruise) began taking BP this morning, as he gets himself into playing shape prior to playing in EXST games and (eventually) re-joining the Myrtle Beach Pelicans. However, he still is not throwing. Prior to today, Eloy had been participating in baserunning and outfield drills (without throwing), and he was "tracking" pitches in BP but not taking swings. So at least now he is able to swing the bat. Because the DH is used in the Carolina League, it's possible that Eloy could move-up to Myrtle Beach and be the DH even if he is unable to throw, although the Cubs will probably want him to complete the Rehab Throwing Program before he departs.

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

Andruw Monasterio drilled a two-run home run and a single, walked, and stole two bases, and Yapson Gomez and two relievers combined to hurl a three-hit shutout, as the Eugene Emeralds blanked the Mesa Cubs 7-0 in Extended Spring Training intrasquad game action Wednesday morning on Field #6 at the Riverview Baseball Complex in Mesa, AZ. 

The game was extended an extra half-inning so that all of the pitchers who were scheduled to throw in the game could get their work. 

Jacob Hannemann (on AA Tennessee 7-day DL - knee injury) played CF for Mesa and batted five times (once in each of the first five innings), collecting all three Mesa hits (two doubles and a single).

LHP Jose Paulino was notified during the game that he is being moved-up from Extended Spring Training, but he doesn't know if he is going to South Bend or to Myrtle Beach. (Players who started the season on a minor league 7-day DL cannot be reinstated until tomorrow). Paulino threw a "live" BP session on Field #6 last week and looked very good, so it's not surprising that he will be moving up.  

And based on how he looked today, I would say Jacob Hannemann probably won't be down here much lomger, either. 

Meanwhile, OF Eloy Jimenez (on Myrtle Beach 7-day DL - right shoulder bruise) is bunting in the cages and catching fly balls in outfield drills, but he is not hitting or throwing at this point. In "live" BP he's been standing in the box tracking pitches, but he doesn't swing. Hopefully he will be able to do more soon. 

INF Chris Dominguez (on AAA Iowa 7-day DL) is taking BP and is fielding grounders at 3B and 1B, but he hasn't played in any games yet.  Dominguez hit 282/317/538 with two HR and four doubles in 22 MLB Cactus League Spring Training games, and is projected to play the infield corners (1B-3B) at Iowa in 2017.    

The Cubs are trying Kevin Zamudio (2015 IFA - Mexico) at catcher again in pre-game drills (he hasn't caught in a game yet). He was a catcher when he first reported to Mesa last year, but then he was moved to corner infield (1B-3B) after he struggled behind the plate. The 19-year old Zamudio has plus raw power, and so it would be good for his career going forward if he can maybe be a C-1B-3B.    

Joe Martarano took pre-game BP again today but did not play in the game, and he is playing 1B in infield practice (one of the reasons Zamudio was moved back to catcher). Martarano was a third-baseman in HS and in his first year in pro ball (2014), but then was moved to 1B in 2015 and he hasn't played 3B since. However, it is expected that he will play both 1B and corner OF in Extended Spring Training (although he hasn't taken any fly balls yet), and if he proves he can handle OF (he is an athletic 6'4 240 with a third-baseman's arm), he conceivably could eventually morph into a "four-corner" player (1B-3B-LF-RF), or at least a 1B-LF-RF if 3B is too much of a problem for him defensively.  

Here is the box score from today's game: 

RHSP Williams Perez hurled 6.2 IP of two-hit shut-out ball with seven strikeouts and a 10/3 GO/AO and Edgar Rondon singled, walked twice, stole a base, and scored a run, leading the Eugene Emeralds to a 6-2 victory over the Mesa Cubs in Extended Spring Training intrasquad game action Monday morning on Field #6 at the Riverview Baseball Complex in Mesa, AZ.  

Aramis Ademan drilled an RBI triple and a double for Mesa in a losing cause.

The game was pre-planned as a ten-inning affair, but was called with one out in the top of the 10th once all of the pitchers who were scheduled to throw in the game got their work.  

Ex-Boise State LB (and now full-time Cubs 1B) Joe Martarano took pre-game BP on Field #3 and looked pretty good, but he did not play in the game. Six recently-arrived position-players from the Cubs Dominican Academy (Yovanny Cuevas, Fernando Kelli, Fidel Mejia, Christopher Morel, Orian Nunez, and Yonathan Perlaza) did play in the game, however. (Henderson Perez has also arrived at EXST from the Dominican Academy, but he made his U. S. debut serving as one of the bullpen catchers). 

Here is the box score from the game: