AFL recaps
October 20, 2005 - Arizona Fall League (AzFL) News Release
Peoria Saguaros @ Grand Canyon
Grand Canyon earned a 5-4 win over the Peoria Saguaros Wednesday night.
The game was scoreless until the Rafter scored the first run in the bottom of the fourth. Eric Duncan (Yankees) reached on an error by first baseman Brad Eldred (Pirates). Duncan scored on an RBI single by Branson Sardinha.
The Rafters took a 4-0 lead with three more runs in the bottom of the fifth. With the bases loaded, Josh Wilson (Marlins) hit a sac fly. Later in the inning, Garret Jones hit a two-run double.
The Saguaros mounted a comeback in the sixth and seventh. Larry Broadway doubled in the sixth and scored on a David Murphy fielders' choice. Brad Eldred atoned for his error in the seventh with a two-run single to tie the game at 4
The Rafters took a 5-4 lead in the bottom of the eighth. Roy Cocoran (Nationals) came into pitch for Peoria in the bottom of the eighth. Reggie Abercrombie (Marlins) greeted him with a triple to right center. Bronson Sardinha (Yankees) followed with an RBI single up the middle.
Wes Littleton (Rangers) earned the win. Roy Cocoran (Nationals) suffered the loss.
Grand Canyon returns to action against Surprise,Thursday at 1:05. Peoria hosts Phoenix, Wednesday at 1:05.
Phoenix @ Peoria Javelinas
The Javelinas came within two outs of the Arizona Fall League's first no-hitter in 2005 on Wednesday, but lost it in a pinch. Dodgers prospect James Loney broke it up with a pinch-hit one-out homer in the ninth, but Peoria was able to hold on to beat the Phoenix Desert Dogs, 3-1 at the Peoria Sports Complex on Wednesday night.
Orioles farmhand Adam Loewen (1-0) pitched five strong innings, striking out six, walking two and got Jarrod Saltalamacchia to bounce into an inning-ending double play in the first. The southpaw also finished his night strong as he retired the last 12 batters he faced.
Relievers Ramon Ramirez (Rockies), Andy Mitchell (Orioles) and Rusty Tucker (Padres) each helped keep Phoenix hitless through the next three innings before giving way to Brian Wolfe (Brewers) in the ninth. After Tony Abreu (Dodgers) made the first out of the inning, Loney stepped in for leadoff man Josh Burrus (Braves) and hit the first pitch he saw from Wolfe over the right field fence, ending both the no-hitter and shutout.
The Javelinas grabbed the lead back in the third inning when Adam Jones (Mariners) drew a two-out walk and advanced on a balk from Desert Dogs starter Jamie Shields (Devil Rays). Corey Hart (Brewers) brought Jones home in the next at-bat with a line drive single to left. Peoria tacked on two more insurances runs in the sixth on an RBI ground out from Dan Uggla (Diamondbacks) and an RBI single by Nick Markakis (Orioles).
Shields (1-1) pitched effectively, despite getting tagged with the loss, tossing five innings of one-run ball, allowing four hits and a walk while striking out three. Saltalamacchia earned the other Phoenix hit with a two-out bloop single in the ninth.
The Javelinas travel to Mesa for a 10:05 p.m. ET game against the Solar Sox on Thursday while Phoenix remains in Peoria to take on the Saguaros at 4:05 p.m.
Surprise @ Mesa
Travis Hanson keyed a balanced Scorpions attack with a homer and two RBIs in Surprise's 9-3 rout of the Solar Sox on Wednesday in Mesa. Hanson, a Cardinals prospect, clubbed a solo homer in the seventh inning and capped a four-run eighth with an RBI single.
Eight of nine starters collected at least one hit for the Scorpions. Charlton Jimerson (Astros) went 2-for-5 with two runs scored and Matt Tupman (Royals) chipped in with two hits.
Royals farmhand Jonah Bayliss (3-0) got the win in relief, walking two in a scoreless fifth inning. Taylor Buchholz (Astros) started for Surprise and gave up one run on four hits in four innings.
Mesa starter Angel Guzman (0-2), a Cubs prospect, yielded two runs on two hits and four walks with one strikeout in three innings.
Brad Snyder (Indians) finished 4-for-4 and is batting .366 for the Solar Sox. David Espinosa (Tigers) launched his first homer for Mesa.
Surprise hosts Grand Canyon at 4:05 p.m. ET on Thursday. The Solar Sox play the Peoria Javelinas at 10:05 p.m. on Thursday in Mesa.
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Arizona Fall League Stories from October 20, 2005
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