November 14 Arizona Fall League Report
By Jay Blue
Game 1
Nov 2, 2013; Surprise, AZ, USA; Chicago Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant bats against the West during the Fall Stars Game at Surprise Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
The Mesa Solar Sox capped their playoff run with a 9-3 victory over the Glendale Desert Dogs, eliminating the Salt River Rafters along the way. The Solar Sox sent Nationals’ prospect Sammy Solis to the mound where he had another strong start, throwing five innings and giving up just one run on six hits with four strikeouts. Detroit’s Tyler Collins had a big game, going one for three with a three-run home run and two walks. Kris Bryant scored three times after a single and a pair of walks while Devon Travis, C.J. Cron and Jorge Soler each had two hits. The Angels’ Zach Borenstein also hit a home run and drove in three.
For Glendale, starter Andrew Heaney was strong, giving up just a run on four hits and two walks in three innings with three strikeouts. Craig Stem took the brunt of the damage, giving up four runs on four hits (including a home run) in just one inning. Edgar Olmos closed out his fall with two runs allowed in just a third of an inning but Jarret Martin stranded all three runners on base with a pair of strikeouts to escape further damage. The Desert Dogs got a huge game from Dodgers’ prospect Brian Cavazos-Galvez who went three for four with three doubles, one run and one RBI. Colin Moran and Corey Seager each had a pair of hits.
Mesa Solar Sox
Hitting:
Addison Russell (OAK) – 0/4, BB, 2 K, SB
Brian Goodwin (WAS) – 1/4, R, 2B, BB, 2 K
Jorge Soler (CHC) –2/5, R, 2 K
C.J. Cron (LAA) – 2/4, R, 2B, RBI, SF, E
Kris Bryant (CHC) – 1/3, 3 R, 2 BB
Devon Travis (DET) – 2/5
Tyler Collins (DET) – 1/3, 2 R, HR, 4 RBI, 2 BB, K
Adrian Nieto (WAS) – 1/5, RBI
Albert Almora (CHC) – 0/1
Zach Borenstein (LAA) – 1/2, R, HR, 3 RBI, BB
Pitching:
Sammy Solis (WAS) – W, 5 IP, 6 H, 1 R, 4 K
Omar Duran (OAK) – 2 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 1 BB, 2 K
Cam Bedrosian (LAA) – 1 IP, 1 K
R.J. Alvarez (LAA) – 1 IP, 2 H, 1 K
Glendale Desert Dogs
Hitting:
Marcus Semien (CWS) – 0/4, K
Eddie Rosario (MIN) – 1/3, R, BB, K, PO
Colin Moran (MIA) – 2/4, 2 K, E
Yorman Rodriguez (CIN) – 0/4, K
Corey Seager (LAD) – 2/4, R
Brian Cavazos-Galvez (LAD) – 3/4, R, 3 2B, RBI
Travis Mattair (CIN) – 0/3, RBI, K
Pratt Maynard (LAD) – 1/4, K
Danny Black (MIA) – 1/3, K
Pitching:
Andrew Heaney (MIA) – L, 3 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 3 K
A.J. Achter (MIN) – 1 IP, 1 H, 2 R, 1 BB, 1 HR
Craig Stem (LAD) – 1 IP, 4 H, 4 R, 1 HR
Colby Suggs (MIA) – 1 IP, 1 BB, 1 K
Edgar Olmos (MIA) – 1/3 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 3 BB
Jarret Martin (LAD) – 2/3 IP, 2 K
Nick Wittgren (MIA) – 1 IP, 1 K
Trevor May (MIN)– 1 IP
Game 2
Nov 2, 2013; Surprise, AZ, USA; Texas Rangers first baseman Brett Nicholas (left) is congratulated by Houston Astros outfielder Delino DeShields after hitting a solo home run against East during the fourth inning of the Fall Stars Game at Surprise Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
In the final game of the season, the Peoria Javelinas took advantage of three errors and shut out the Surprise Saguaros in a 3-0 win. Houston’s Matt Heidenreich threw impressively in his four innings, giving up just one hit and no walks while striking out six for the Javelinas. At the end of the game, both Austin Wright and Ken Giles struck out the side in their respective innings. The Javs had two-hit games from Delino DeShields and Jonathan Meyer although only Meyer scored. Cory Spangenberg scored twice for The Javelinas while Cameron Perkins drove in a run with a double.
Starting for Surprise, Will Roberts (Indians) took the loss but only one his three runs against was earned. He was otherwise quite solid, striking out seven in five innings. The Saguaros hitters only got four hits including two from Cleveland’s Joe Wendle.
Surprise Saguaros
Hitting:
Tyler Naquin (CLE) – 0/4, 2 K
Joe Wendle (CLE) – 2/4, K
Mitch Haniger (MIL) – 0/4, 2 K
Jorge Alfaro (TEX) – 0/4, 2 K
Jason Rogers (MIL) – 1/3, K, OF Asst.
Brett Nicholas (TEX) – 1/3, 2B
Jonathan Schoop (BAL) – 0/3, 2 K, E
Ryan Rua (TEX) – 0/3, 2 K, 2 E
Tony Wolters (CLE) – 0/2, BB, K, CS
Pitching:
Will Roberts (CLE) – L, 5 IP, 5 H, 3 R (1 ER), 2 BB, 7 K
Jason Gurka (BAL) – 1 IP, 1 K
Kevin Shackelford (MIL) – 1 IP, 1 H, 1 BB
Nick McBride (TEX) – 1 IP, 1 K
Peoria Javelinas
Hitting:
Chris Taylor (SEA) – 1/4, K
Delino DeShields (HOU) – 2/4, K, CS
Austin Hedges (SD) – 0/4, 3 K
Tommy Medica (SD) – 0/4, 2 K
Jonathan Meyer (HOU) – 2/4, R, 2B
Cory Spangenberg (SD) – 0/1, 2 R, BB
Jorge Bonifacio (KC) – 0/2, BB, K
Cameron Perkins (PHI) – 1/3, 2B, RBI
Nolan Fontana (HOU) – 0/2, BB, K
Pitching:
Matt Heidenreich (HOU) – W, 4 IP, 1 H, 6 K
Joe Wieland (SD) – 1 IP, 1 H
Kyle Hunter (SEA) – 1 IP, 1 H, 1 BB, 1 K
Dennis O’Grady (SD) – 1 IP
Austin Wright (PHI) – 1 IP, 3 K
Ken Giles (PHI) – S, 1 IP, 1 H, 3 K
Game 3
Nov 2, 2013; Surprise, AZ, USA; Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Aaron Sanchez against the West during the Fall Stars Game at Surprise Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Despite beating the Scottsdale Scorpions 3-2 on the final day of the Arizona Fall League season, the Salt River Rafters lost out on the championship game due to Mesa’s victory. Salt River starter Aaron Sanchez was extremely solid, giving up only one run on six hits and two walks in five innings while striking out three. He sat in the mid-90s, touching 97 on occasion. On the other side of the diamond, Kyle Crick from the San Francisco organization threw three excellent innings, not allowing a hit and walking two while striking out five. Crick was hitting 98 on the radar guns and blowing the ball by Rafters hitters. The Rafters got to John Cornely and Brett Gerritse before the rest of the bullpen locked things down for the rest of the game. Scottsdale reliever Fred Lews, from the Yankees organization, finished his AFL season with a perfect 0.00 ERA, striking out two batters in his inning. Coming into the game for Salt River, Tampa Bay’s Mike Montgomery threw two perfect innings, racking up two strikeouts while Lee Stoppelman and Jake Barrett each threw an inning with Stoppelman surrendering one run and Barrett earning the save, working his way out of a jam in which he allowed two hits.
The victorious Rafters only had three hits including a solo home run from catcher Dustin Garneau. Garneau was also outstanding defensively, throwing out both runners who attempted to steal. Kyle Parker hit a double and Stephen Piscotty hit a single to finish up with a .371 batting average for the AFL. Scottsdale’s nine hits couldn’t get a win but San Francisco’s Andrew Susac and the Yankees’ Mason Williams each had a pair of hits.
Scottsdale Scorpions
Hitting:
Alen Hanson (PIT) – 1/3, RBI, BB, K, CS
Addison Maruszak (NYY) – 1/4, RBI, K
Cory Vaughn (NYM) – 0/4
Andrew Susac (SF) – 2/3, RBI
Alex Dickerson (PIT) – 1/4, K
Robbie Hefflinger (ATL) – 1/4, 2 K
Kyle Kubitza (ATL) – 1/2, R, BB
Gift Ngoepe (PIT) – 0/3, K
Mason Williams (NYY) – 2/3, R, 2B, CS
Pitching:
Kyle Crick (SF) – 3 IP, 2 BB, 5 K
John Cornely (ATL) – 1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 2 BB
Brett Gerritse (NYY) – L, 1 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 BB, 1 K, 1 HR
Zack Thornton (PIT) – 1 IP, 1 BB
Juan Jaime (ATL) – 1 IP, 1 K
Fred Lewis (NYY) – 1 IP, 2 K
Salt River Rafters
Hitting:
Kenny Wilson (TOR) – 0/3, BB, 2 K
Andy Burns (TOR) – 0/4, 2 K
Jake Lamb (ARI) – 0/3, BB, 2 K
Stephen Piscotty (STL) – 1/3, R, RBI, BB, K
Kyle Parker (COL) – 1/4, 2B, K
James Ramsey (STL) – 0/1, 2 BB, K
Mike Freeman (ARI) – 0/2, RBI, BB
Nick Ahmed (ARI) – 0/2, BB
Dustin Garneau (COL) – 1/3, R, HR, RBI
Pitching:
Aaron Sanchez (TOR) – W, 5 IP, 6 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 3 K
Mike Montgomery (TB) – 2 IP, 2 K
Lee Stoppelman (STL) – 1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 BB
Jake Barrett (ARI) – S, 1 IP, 2 H, 1 K