Cubs Extended Spring Training game report

Jose Gonzalez (RBI single), Jemile Weeks (two-run double), and Elliot Soto (RBI single) stroked consecutive two-out run-scoring hits to cap a five-run 5th, Christopher Morel belted a two-run HR in the 6th, Kevin Cornelius and Kevin Zamudio drilled RBI doubles in the 7th, and SP Casey Kelly fired four innings of shutout ball, leading the Cubs to a 9-2 victory over the Rockies in Cactus League Extended Spring Training game action Saturday morning on Dust Storm Field at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick Resort east of Scottsdale, AZ.  

Jemile Weeks (on AAA Iowa 7-day DL - February 2017 sprained knee) and Elliot Soto (on Iowa 7-day DL - March 2017 foot injury) continued their rehab in the game, with Weeks going 2-4 with the two-run double mentioned above, a single, and a walk,and Soto going 2-4 with two singles. Weeks was at SS amd Soto was at 2B for the first five innings, and then the pair switched positions with each other for the final four innings. Both appear to be ready to return to the I-Cubs  

Veteran MLB RHRP Fernando Rodriguez (on Iowa 7- day DL - September 2016 lat surgery) threw "live" BP (one inning - 25 pitches) on Field #1 at Riverview Park earlier in the day and it appeared to go very well, so he could be close to seeing some action in Cactus League EXST games. He also would be a good candidate to get called up to Chicago at some point later in the season (presuming he completes his rehab without any setbacks and pitches OK at Iowa).    

In EXST Cubs roster news, OF John Andreoli (hamstring strain) has completed his rehab and has returned to AAA Iowa. Andreoli went 0-15 with ten strikeouts in three Cactus League EXST games

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

Jose Gutierrez belted an RBI triple and a single and scored a run, Miguel Amaya doubled and scored and knocked-in a run with a sacrifice fly, Henderson Perez drilled a two-run triple, and five pitchers combined to hurl a four-hit shutout with eleven strikeouts, as the Cubs blanked the Diamondbacks 8-0 on Field #5, and Luis Lara mashed a two-run triple, singled, and walked, Connor Owings slugged a solo HR and walked three times, Luis Tejeda roped an RBI double, walked, and scored a run, and RHSP Jhoan Duran tossed five innings of two-hit shutout ball, leading the D'backs to a 5-2 victory over the Cubs on Field #6, in Cactus League Extended Spring Training doubleheader action Friday morning at the Riverview Baseball Complex in Mesa, AZ.

AAA Iowa RHRP Conor Mullee (August 2016 ulnar nerve decompression surgery), LHRP Manny Parra, (April 2016 TJS), OF John Andreoli (April 2017 hamstring strain), INF Jemile Weeks (February 2017 sprained knee), and INF Elliot Soto (March 2017 foot injury), and AA Tennessee 1B Kevin Cornelius (March 2017 broken left hand) continued their EXST rehab on Friday in the games at Riverview Park.

Mullee threw an inning on Field #5 and allowed no runs on one hit (a harmless two-out single) with two strikeouts, Parra followed Mullee to the mound on Field #5 and threw two shutout innings (two singles and a walk, an inning-ending 6-4-3 DP, and three strikeouts - all three swinging), Weeks played SS on Field #6 and went 1-4 with a double and a run scored, Corneluis doubled and walked and scored a run while playing LF on Field #6 (as the Cubs begin to try Cornelius at other positions besides 1B), Soto played 2B with his usual flair, singled twice, walked, and scored a run on Field #5, and Andreoli served as a DH and went 0-5 with a HBP and a run scored in six PA (Andreoli is now 0-15 with ten strikeouts in three EXST games).     

Also, LHRP Jack Leathersich (who is at EXST to find his fastball command) looked VERY good in his one inning of work on Field #5, striking out the side (albeit with a walk mixed-in) while throwing 60% strikes (a definite improvement from when he arrived in Mesa last month).

OF Eloy Jimenez (right shoulder bruise) took pre-game BP on Field #3 in a group with Andreoli, Cornelius, Soto, and Weeks, and looked good, but he did not play in either of the games. He also did not participate in pre-game outfield drills. Note that - IF -  Eloy were to remain at Extended Spring Training until mid-June and then join Myrtle Beach, he would not accrue 90 days on minor league active list(s) in 2017 (90 days accrued being necessary before he would accrue a "full season"), and if so he will get a 4th minor league option in 2021 (presuming he is added to the Cubs MLB 40-man roster post-2017) - IF - he remains at Extended Spring Training until mid-June.    

In EXST Cubs roster news, RHRP Juan Carlos Paniagua has been moved-up to AAA Iowa, and OF Brandon Cummins has been moved-up to South Bend.

Both games were called after 6-1/2 innings of play.   

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

The Diamondbacks took advantage of four errors, six walks, and two wild pitches and defeated the Cubs 9-4 in Cactus League Extended Spring Training game action Thursday morning on Whirlwind Field at Salt Piver Fields at Talking Stick Resort east of Scottsdale, AZ.

Kevin Cornelius belted a three-run HR to account for three of the four Cub runs.

RHSP Jose Albertos (2015 IFA - Mexico) made his 2017 game debut, getting the start for the Cubs and working 2.1 IP (46 pitches). He allowed two runs (both unearned) on two hits (both singles) and three walks (but no strikeouts), and threw a ton of ground balls (6/0 GO/AO including a 4-6-3 DP, plus two more ground balls that turned into errors). He was obviously a bit rusty, however, throwing only 52% strikes while occasionally spiking his 94 MPH fastball into the ground and bouncing his plus-curve in front of home plate from time-to-time. (Catcher Gustavo Polanco got quite a work-out trying to block pitches in the dirt!). Albertos also mixed-in a couple of decent change-ups in addition to the FB and CV. (Unlike most any pitcher his age, Albertos already has a legit three-pitch arsenal... he just needs a lot more innings).   
 
The 18-year old Albertos was rated one of the Cubs Top 10 prospects (and #4 pitching prospect) by Baseball America going into the 2017 season, but he hadn't thrown in a game since last June. He was placed on the AZL Cubs 60-day DL after being shut-down with right forearm/elbow soreness, and while he was eligible to be reinstated the last week of the AZL season in August (he was throwing bullpen side-sessions at that time), the Cubs opted to have him wait until post-2016 Instructs to get game work. But he did not pitch in Instructs, and he was assigned to the Rehab Throwing Program when he reported to Minor League Camp this past March. He threw a two inning "live" BP session (30 pitches) on April 15th, and then a couple or three bullpen sessions after that (to work on improving his command) prior to making his first game appearance today.

INF Elliot Soto (on AAA Iowa 7-day DL - March 2017 foot injury), OF John Andreoli (on Iowa 7-day DL - hamstrong strain), and 1B Kevin Cornelius (on AA Tennessee 7-day DL - March 2017 broken left hand) continued their EXST game rehab. Soto played 2B for all nine innings and went 2-4 with two singles and a walk, Andreoli played CF for eight innings and went 0-5 at the plate (including three strikeouts-- and he has now struck out seven times in ten EXST PA), and Corneliuis played 1B and went 1-3 at the plate with the three run homer and a HBP (plus a CS), and he also committed an E-3 fielding error.  
 
The game was pre-planned as a ten-inning affair so that all of the D'backs pitchers who were scheduled to throw could get their work.  
 
Here is the abridged box score from the game (Cubs players only):

LHSP Grant Watson hurled five innings of one-hit shutout ball with ten strikeouts and John Riley walked twice and fisted a two-un double into the RF-CF-2B "Bermuda Triangle" (as three Cub fielders collided attempting to catch the ball), leading the Giants "black" squad to a 13-6 drubbing of the Cubs in Cactus League Extended Spring Training game action Wednesday morning on Field #2 at Indian School Park in Scottsdale, AZ.  

Michael Cruz belted a moon-shot two-run HR over the RF fence and onto busy Hayden Road and Luis Diaz ripped a two-run triple to provide the Cub offensive highlights,  

John Andreoli (on AAA Iowa 7-day DL - hamstring strain) saw game action for the first time since , playing CF for seven innings and going 0-5 at the plate (he struck out looking the first four times up, then reached on an error and scored a run). . 

Jemile Weeks (on AAA Iowa 7-day DL - ACL sprain) continued his EXST rehab, playing 2B for seven innings and going 1-5 (K, 6-3, F-9, F-7, and an RBI single). He also made a spectacular defensive stop & throw in the 2nd and a diving catch in short right before starting a slick inning-ending 4-6-3 DP in the 3rd.

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

Jemile Weeks tripled, singled, and scored, Elliot Soto reached base four tines (solo HR, HBP, and two walks). Kevin Cornelius belted a solo HR, and Kwangmin Kwon ripped an RBI triple and walked, leading the Cubs to a 4-1 victory over the Giants "orange" squad in Cactus League Extended SpringTraining game action Tuesday morning on Field #1 at the Riverview Baseball Complex in Mesa, AZ.

The game was called after eight innings of play.

RHRP Conor Mullee (on Iowa 7-day DL - August 2016 right elbow surgery) saw his first game action since undergoing right elbow ulnar nerve decompression surgery last July. The 29-year old Mullee was claimed off waivers by the Cubs from the New York Yankees on November 2nd (later that day -- actually early the next morning -- the Cubs would win Game 7 of the World Series), then he was non-tendered and signed to a 2017 minor league contract in December. Prior to the injury, Mullee was a member of the Yankees MLB bullpen, so once he has completed his rehab at EXST, he should slide right into the AAA Iowa bullpen and be available for a possible call-up to Chicago later this season, should his services be required.      

And Jemile Weeks (on AAA Iowa 7-day DL - February 2017 left knee injury) saw his first game action since suffering a sprained ACL after being upended while attempting to turn a DP in an MLB Cactus League game versus the White Sox at Sloan Park on February 27th. He showed no signs of any problem with the knee today, busting out of the batter's box and motoring around the bases at full speed after belting a triple off the CF Batter's Eye leading off the bottom of the 1st inning. He did commit an error in field, however. Barring any medical set-backs in the meantime, Weeks could get called up to Chicago at some point in 2017, providing a veteran utility player who can play 2B-SS-CF, switch hit, and steal bases.  
 
Meanwhile, SS Elliot Soto (on Iowa 7-day DL - March 2017 left foot injury) has reached base in all seven of his Plate Appearances (a HR, a single, three walks, and two HBP) since returning to game action yesterday at Fitch Park. So within a week or so, Iowa Cubs fans should be seeing Weeks and Soto manning the 2B-SS slots in Des Moines.    

Not to be outdone, 1B Kevin Cornelius (on AA Tennessee 7-day DL - March 2017 broken left hand) hit a monster solo HR over the LF fence and onto Field #2 in the bottom of the 3rd. Cornelius was selected by the Cubs off the New York Yankees AA Trenton roster in the AAA Phase of the December 2016 Rule 5 Draft.  
 
In EXST Cubs roster news, 1B Chris Dominguez has completed his rehab assignment and has rejoined the Iowa Cubs.

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

Yairo Munoz collected four hits (three singles and a double), drove-in two runs, and scored another, Jarrett Costa belted a two-run double, Jeramiah McCray drilled a two-run triple, and Jordan Diaz ripped two doubles, drove-in two runs, and scored two more, as the Athletics rode an 18-hit attack (including five doubles and a triple) en route to a 14-6 derailment of the Cubs in Cactus League Extended Spring Training game action Monday morning on Field #4 at the Lew Wolff Training Complex at Fitch Park in Mesa, AZ.    

The Cubs scored five of their six runs in the first three innings, taking an early 5-3 lead.

Elliot Soto reached base on an HBP leading off the game, took third on a one-out Kevin Corneluis single, and scored on a Michael Cruz RBI double, Corneluis then scored on a Jonathan Sierra sacrifice fly.   

Fidel Mejia reached base on an HBP leading-off the top of the third, took second on a passed ball, advanced to third on an Elliot Soto single, and then scored on a Zach Davis infield hit (with Soto alertly taking 3rd on the play). Corneliuis followed with a sacrifice fly to tally Soto, and Sierra cracked an RBI double to drive-in Davis from 1st base with the third run of the inning.   

The Cubs scored their final run in the top of the sixth. Kevin Cornelius singled (taking 2nd on an E-7), and then scored on a Michael Cruz RBI single.

Elliot Soto (on Iowa 7-day DL - left foot injury) saw his first game action in six weeks, playing shortstop for five innings, reaching base all three times up (HBP, a single, and a walk), and scoring two runs. He also made a nice play in the field on a 6-3 GO (Soto is one of the best defensive shortstops in pro ball). 

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

Luis Lara slugged a two-run HR and a triple, Raymel Flores laced a bases-loaded three-run triple and a single, and Juan Araujo belted an RBI triple and a single, as the Diamondbacks rallied from an early 5-1 deficit to eventually outslug the Cubs 13-7 in Cactus League Extended Spring Training game action Saturday morning on Whirlwind Field at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick Resort east of Scottsdale, AZ. 

Jose Gutierrez tripled and scored on an Aramis Ademan RBI GO and Kevin Cornelius walked and Miguel Amaya doubled and both scored on a Kwangmin Kwon two-run double into the RF corner as the Cubs scored three times in the top of the 1st, Orian Nunez clubbed a solo HR leading-off the inning and Fernando Kelli doubled and scored on a two-out RBI single by Ademan in the 2nd to give the Cubs a 5-1 lead, and then after the Diamondbacks tied it up with a four-run 4th, Henderson Perez tripled off the right-centerfield fence and Rafael Narea knocked him in with an RBI double into the LF corner and scored later in the inning on an error as the Cubs scored twice in the 6th to take back the lead 7-5, only to watch the D'backs score eight unanswered runs over the final three innings to grab the victory. 

Through the first three weeks of Cactus League Extended Spring Training games, the Cubs are 7-8-3, after starting 5-1.     

Kevin Cornelius (selected from the New York Yankees AA Trenton affuliate in the AAA Phase of the 2016 Rule 5 Draft) saw his first game action of 2017 after fracturing his left hand in Minor League Camp. He played 1B for five innings and went 1-2 in three PA (the previously-mentioned first-inning walk, an F-9 FO in the 2nd, and a double in the 4th).  

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

RHSP Javier Salas (four innings, one run, two hits, two walks, two strikeouts, and 8/1 GO/AO) and two relievers combined to fire a four-hitter, Zach Clark and Nick Roscetti lofted sacrifice flies (Clark in the 3rd and Roscetti in the 5th), and 5'3 Jose Gomez (the shortest player in affiliated ball) laced an opposite-field two-run single in the 6th to cap the Brewers scoring, as the Brew Crew defeated the Cubs 5-2 in Cactus League Extended Spring Training game action Friday morning on Field # 7 (AKA "Paul Molitor Field") at the Maryvale Baseball Park in Phoenix, AZ.    

Kevin Zamudio had two of the four Cub hits and drove-in both Cub runs (RBI double in the 1st and RBI single in the 7th).   

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

Jacy Cave ripped an RBI single and an RBI double and scored a run, Andrew Yerzy drove-in two runs with an RBI single and a sacrifice fly, and RHSP Mitch Akers hurled three innings of one-hit shutout ball and combined with three relievers on a four-hitter, helping the Diamondbacks defeat the Cubs 7-1 on Field #5, and D'backs RHSP Luis Madero and RHRP Rubby de la Rosa retired the first twelve batters they faced (seven on strikeouts) and Eduardo Diaz belted a double in the 1st inning and an RBI single in the 3rd, but the Cubs plated the tying run in the 5th on a HBP, a WP, a walk, and a Carlos Diaz RBI single and Cub relievers retired twelve of the last 14 men they faced, as the Cubs and Diamondbacks played to a 1-1 tie on Field #6, in Cactus League Extended Spring Training doubleheader action Thursday morning at Riverview Park in Mesa, AZ.

Aramis Ademan singled twice, stole a base, and drove-in the lone Cub run on Field #5. 

The game on Field #5 was called after seven innings of play, and the game on Field #6 was called after 7-1/2 innings 

INF Jemile Weeks (on Iowa 7-day DL - right ACL sprain suffered in MLB Cactus League Spring Training game two months ago) took pre-game BP on Field #3 but he did not play in either game, and there is still no sign of OF Eloy Jimenez (on Myrtle Beach 7-day DL - right shoulder injury) since last Friday when he played four innings in LF in an EXST game at Riverview Park. 

In EXST Cubs roster news, RHRP David Garner has been moved up to AA Tennessee. 

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

Orian Nunez (two-run double) and Jose Gutierrez (two-run triple) stroked run-scoring hits to highlight a five-run 7th, as the Cubs rallied from a 6-1 deficit to tie the Athletics 6-6 in Cactus League Extended Spring Training game action Wednesday morning on Field #6 at the Riverview Baseball Complex in Mesa, AZ. 

LHSP Ivan Andueza tossed three innings of one-hit shutout ball and Anthony Churlin laced an RBI triple, singled twice, and scored two runs for the A's in a losing cause. 

For the Cubs, Aramis Ademan tripled and scored in the 4th, Jonathan Sierra drilled an RBI single, walked twice, and stole a base, Gustavo Polanco singled twice and scored a run, Orian Nunez collected two doubles (one in the 3rd and the key two-run double in the 7th), and Jose Gutierrez doubled in the 6th before belting his big two-run triple in the 7th. 

The game was called after eight innings of play. 

LHSP Ryan Kellogg was scheduled to start the game for the Cubs, but he was moved-up to Myrtle Beach today. 

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