Cubs Minor League Spring Training Game Recap

Jonathan Sierra slugged a grand slam HR and walked and scored, and Ismael Mena drilled a two-run double, walked twice, and scored a run, leading the Myrtle Beach Pelicans (Cubs' Lo-A affiliate) to a 10-5 drubbing of the San Jose Giants (Lo-A affiliate of the San Francisco Giants) in Cactus League Minor League Camp game action Thursday afternoon on Field #6 at the Riverview Baseball Complex in Mesa, AZ. 

Victor Bericoto belted a two-run triple and scored a run for the Giants in a losing cause. 

The game was pre-planned as a seven-inning affair. 

There was only one home game on the Riverview backfields on Thursday, because South Bend played Eugene in the stadium (Sloan Park). 

Here is the abridged box score from the game on Field #6 (Cubs players only): 

Matt Mervis slugged a two-run HR and drove-in another run with a FC, Reggie Preciado clubbed an RBI double and scored a run, and James Triantos drilled an RBI single and scored a run, helping the South Bend Cubs (Hi-A affiliate of the Chicago Cubs) defeat the Tri-City Dust Devils (Hi-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Angels) 6-4 on Field #6, and four pitchers combined to toss a one-hitter as the Inland Empire 66ers (Angels Lo-A affiliate) cruised past the Myrtle Beach Pelicans (Cubs Lo-A affiliate) 7-1 on Field #5, in Cactus League Minor League Spring Training Opening Day game action Friday afternoon at the Riverview Baseball Complex in Mesa, AZ. 

The game on Field #6 was pre-planned as a seven-inning affair, and the game on Field #5 was called after six innings of play. 

South Bend CF Christian Franklin (Cubs 2021 4th round draft pick - U. of Arkansas) had to be carted off the field after he was beaned on the top of the head by a fly ball in the top of the 5th inning of the game on Field #6.  

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

Yohendrick Pinango doubled and scored in the 2nd, walked and scored in the 4th, and drilled a two-run single in the 8th, and three pitchers combined to hurl a four hitter, as the Myrtle Beach Pelicans (Cubs Lo-A affiliate) defeated the San Jose Giants (Lo-A affiliate of the San Francisco Giants) 5-1 in Cactus League Minor League Camp game action Tuesday night at Sloan Park in Mesa, AZ. 

Casey Schmitt belted a solo HR in the top of the 1st inning to account for the lone Giant run.  

Myrtle Beach DH Matt Mervis left the game after tweaking something in his lower body while running the bases in the bottom of the 6th. 

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

Chase Strumpf drilled a two-run single and a triple and scored twice, and Yonathan Perlaza drove-in three runs with two run-scoring singles, leading the South Bend Cubs (Hi-A affiliate of the Chicago Cubs) to an 8-3 victory over the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers (Milwaukee Brewers Hi-A affiliate) in Cactus League Minor League Camp game action Monday night at Sloan Park in Mesa, AZ.  

Cubs 2019 1st round draft pick RHP Ryan Jensen got the start for the Cubs and once again was unable to get through his second inning of work, throwing 34 pitches in just 1.1 IP (only 44% strikes) and walking three. His FB velo was 95-98 and his SL velo was 89-90 in his first inning, but the FB velo was down to 93-95 and the SL velo was down to 87-88 by the time he left the game with one out in the top of the 2nd.

Jensen is a two-pitch pitcher with command issues who has a significant decrease in velo after throwing just one inning, so as of right now he would appear to project as a one-inning power-reliever (and that's only if he can command his pitches for that one inning).    

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

SP Ronnie Williams tossed three innings of no run / no hit ball and combined with four relievers to hurl a four-hitter, Ricardo Genoves drilled an RBI single and a double, and Drew Robinson smacked a solo HR, helping the Richmond Flying Squirrels (San Francisco Giants AA affiliate) edge the Tennessee Smokies (Cubs AA affiliate) 3-2 in Cactus League Minor League Camp game action Sunday night at Sloan Park in Mesa, AZ. 

Smokies SP Peyton Remy fanned seven Flying Squirrels (six swinging) in just 3.2 IP, and Christopher Morel crushed a two-run HR to the top of the LF berm in the bottom of the 9th to account for the two Tennessee runs.  

C. Morel continues to get reps in the outfield (he played CF again tonight), although he also does still play 3B occasionally. 

D. J. Wilson and Nelson Maldonado were moved up to AA Tennessee from Hi-A South Bend before the game. I don't know if the Maldonado move is permanent or if it relates to Tyler Durna being moved-down to South Bend from Tennessee and Alfonso Rivas not yet being active, and the D. J. Wilson move-up almost certainly relates to Brennen Davis being in concussion protocol.   

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

Tyler Payne cracked a solo HR in the bottom of the 2nd inning to put the Cubs on the board, and then Miguel Amaya tripled and scored in the 7th and belted a game-winning walk-off solo HR with two outs in the bottom of the 9th, earning the Tennessee Smokies (Cubs AA affiliate) a hard-fought 3-2 victory over the Midland RockHounds (Oakland Athletics AA affiliate) in Cactus League Minor League Camp game action Friday afternoon at Sloan Park in Mesa, AZ.  

J. J. Schwarz clubbed a game tying solo HR for the RockHounds in the top of the 9th to necessitate Amaya's heroics. 

This was Miguel Amaya's first game action since being sent to Minor League Camp from the Cubs Alternate Training Site in South Bend last week. He was sent to Minor League Camp after Tony Wolters agreed to accept an Outright Assignment to the ATS.  

Veteran MLB LHRP Adam Morgan saw his first game action of 2021, tossing a 1-2-3 twelve-pitch inning with two strikeouts (FB 91-93, SL 81-82, and CH/CV 76-78). The Cubs signed the 31-year old to a minor league contract this past off-season, and while he did receive an NRI to Spring Training, he did not pitch in any MLB Cactus League games. 

But RHRP Robert Stock was the highlight of the day pitching-wise, throwing two shutout innings and striking out four (swinging). He threw 28 pitches (75% strikes!) including 12 FB and 16 SL, and all 12 FB were 99 MPH or better (five at 99, four at 100, and three 101 MPH). Stock was claimed off waivers by the Cubs from the Boston Red Sox last December, and was sent outright to the minors in March.    

INF Luis Vazquez was moved-up to the Tennessee squad from the South Bend squad to replace Brennen Davis (who was hit in the face with a pitch yesterday). 

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

Zach Davis led off the 1st inning with a HR, doubled, walked, and stole two bases, Delvin Zinn collected three singles, walked, stole two bases, and scored two runs, and Connor Myers belted a two-run HR, as the Tennessee Smokies (Cubs AA affiliate) and the Rocket City Trash Pandas (Angels AA affiliate) played to a 6-6 tie in Cactus League Minor League Camp game action Thursday afternoon at Sloan Park in Mesa, AZ.  

Brennen Davis left the game after being hit on the side of his face with a pitch. He was on his hands and knees for a couple of minutes before leaving under his own power, but there was quite a bit of blood left behind on home plate.  

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

Jared Young drove-in four runs with a three-run HR and an RBI single, Christopher Morel blasted a three-run HR, doubled, walked, and scored two runs, Brennen Davis clubbed a solo HR, Connor Myers drilled an RBI double, Andy Weber singled, reached base on an HBP, and scored two runs, and Zach Davis singled, walked, and scored two runs, as the Tennessee Smokies (Cubs AA Affiliate) drubbed the Midland RockHounds (Oakland Athletics AA affiliate) 9-1 in Cactus League Minor League Camp game action Tuesday afternoon at Sloan Park in Mesa, AZ.   

Smokies SP Riley Thompson left the game with an unknown-type injury after facing just one batter in the 1st inning. 

Smokies RP Robert Stock's high-velo FB was (appropriately) smokin', clocking in at 97-99 MPH (T-100). The Cubs claimed the fireballin' Stock off waivers from the Boston Red Sox last December and then he was outrighted to the minors in March. 

The RockHounds played as the home team, and the game was called after 6-1/2 innings of play. 

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

Luis Vazquez clubbed an opposite-field HR onto the right-centerfield berm on the first pitch of the bottom of the 1st inning, Luis Verdugo blasted a solo HR and singled, and Fidel Mejia laced a two-run double, leading the South Bend Cubs (Hi-A affiliate of the Chicago Cubs) to a 5-2 victory over the Lansing Lugnuts (Oakland Athletics' Hi-A affiliate) in Cactus League Minor League Camp game action Saturday afternoon at Sloan Park in Mesa, AZ.  

Marty Bechina belted a solo HR for the Lugnuts in a losing cause. 

The game was called after six innings of play. 

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

Tyler Ramirez singled, doubled, and scored a run, and Mickey McDonald ripped a two run triple, walked, and scored, leading the Midland RockHounds (AA affiliate of the Oakland Athletics) to a 6-4 victory over the Tennessee Smokies (Cubs AA affiliate) in Cactus League Minor League game action Friday afternoon at Sloan Park in Mesa, AZ. 

Andy Weber collected three singles, stole two bases, drove-in a run, and scored another for the Cubs in a losing cause. Weber was just recently sent to Cubs Minor League Camp in Mesa from the Cubs Alternate Training Site in South Bend.  

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