AFL game recaps

October 23, 2005 - Arizona Fall League (AzFL) News Release

Surprise @ Peoria Saguaros

David Murphy's RBI single capped a five-run seventh inning as the Peoria Saguaros rallied for a 12-10 victory over the visiting Surprise Scorpions on Saturday.

With the Saguaros trailing, 10-7, in the bottom of the seventh, Chicago White Sox prospect Josh Fields connected for a one-out solo homer, his second long ball of the contest and fourth of the season.

Adam Lind (Blue Jays) followed with a single to left field and Ryan Roberts (Blue Jays) sent a drive over the right-field fence to tie the game, 10-10. Pinch hitter Larry Broadway (Nationals) then doubled to set the stage for Murphy's game-winner off Phillies farmhand Scott Mathieson (0-1).

Murphy (Red Sox) singled to left and raced for second base on Billy Butler's throw to catcher Matt Tupman (Royals). Tupman's throw to second skipped into right-center field, allowing Murphy to score.

Tupman's miscue was one of five errors by the Scorpions.

Murphy finished 3-for-5 with a triple, three runs scored and three RBIs. Lind was 3-for-4 with two runs, while Roberts and Brendan Harris (Nationals) each went 2-for-5.

Saguaros starter Chris Smith (Red Sox) was ejected with two outs in the top of the second for beaning Butler (Royals) following a two-run homer by Charlton Jimerson (Astros) that gave Surprise a 6-0 lead. Smith allowed six runs on five hits to raise his ERA to 18.36.

White Sox farmhand Sean Tracey (1-1) picked up the win with two scoreless innings. Stephen Andrade (Blue Jays) earned his first save with a hitless ninth.

Jimerson finished 2-for-4 with two runs scored and three RBIs. Tupman and AFL home run leader Brandon Wood (Angels) each went 2-for-5. Alex Gordon (Royals) reached base in four of five plate appearances, contributing a double, two runs scored, an RBI, and three walks to the losing cause.

Jered Weaver, the Angels' top pitching prospect, made the start for Surprise and allowed three runs -- one earned -- on three hits in 2 2/3 innings. He fanned five and did not walk a batter.

The Javelinas snapped a three-game losing streak to improve their AFL-worst record to 3-12, while the first-place Scorpions fell to 10-5.

The Scorpions remain in Peoria to take on the Javelinas at 4:05 p.m. ET on Monday. The Saguaros head to Mesa to play the Solar Sox at the same time

Peoria Javelinas @ Grand Canyon

Orioles prospect Brandon Fahey delivered the go-ahead base hit as Peoria beat Grand Canyon, 9-4, on Saturday.

Fahey faced a bases-loaded no-outs situation in the ninth inning against one of the Rafters' top hurlers, Nick Masset (Rangers), and deposited a two-run single to right on the first pitch he saw, breaking a 4-4 tie and giving the Javelinas their first lead of the night.

Dan Uggla (Diamondbacks) added to Peoria's lead in the next at-bat with a bases-clearing two-run double before Vinny Rottino (Brewers) capped the five-run rally two outs later with a single up the middle, scoring Uggla from second.

Fahey, Uggla, Rottino and Mariners farmhand Gary Harris each had two RBIs while Chris Ianetta (Rockies) belted a pair of doubles in three plate appearances.

Padres prospect Rusty Tucker (1-0) picked up the win after hurling a scoreless eighth, striking out two while allowing a hit and two walks.

The Rafters used some thunder and lightning to grab a lead early in the game. Grand Canyon scored two in the third after stealing four bases, including two from Mets hopeful Lastings Milledge, then increased its lead to 4-0 after a two-run homer by Josh Wilson (Marlins) in the fourth.

Masset (2-2) took the loss as he allowed five runs -- three earned -- on five hits and a walk over an inning of work, but struck out every batter he retired.

The Javelinas return to Peoria on Monday to face the Surprise Scorpions at 4:05 p.m. ET, while the Rafters stay home to take on the Phoenix Desert Dogs, also at 4:05 p.m. on Monday

Phoenix @ Mesa

James Loney went 4-for-4 and Casey Daigle induced a game-ending bases-loaded double play as Phoenix edged Mesa, 5-4, on Saturday afternoon at HoHoKam Park.

Loney, a Los Angeles Dodgers prospect, singled in the first and third innings, delivered a sacrifice fly in the fifth and added two more singles in the seventh and ninth to raise his batting average to .471. Three days earlier, in his only other at-bat of the week, Loney broke up a no-hitter with a ninth-inning solo homer.

Andre Ethier (A's) gave the Desert Dogs a 2-0 lead with a two-run triple in the third. Loney's sacrifice fly tied the game at 3-3, and Andy LaRoche (Dodgers) put Phoenix on top for good with a two-run single in the seventh off Indians farmhand Brian Slocum (0-1).

Ethier, the Texas League MVP, finished 2-for-5 with a double. Kurt Suzuki (A's) was 2-for-3 with two doubles while Stephen Drew (Diamondbacks) hit a triple and scored his league-leading 17th run.

Braves prospect Paul Bush (2-1) earned the win in relief of starter Brian Stokes (Devil Rays), who surrendered three runs on four hits in four innings. Bush allowed a solo homer and a walk in three innings of work. Doug Slaten (Diamondbacks) tossed a scoreless eighth before closer Casey Daigle (Diamondbacks) nailed down his third save, but not without a scare along the way.

With Phoenix clinging to a one-run lead, Daigle retired the first batter before yielding three consecutive singles to load the bases. Then, with the tying run 90 feet from home plate, Daigle got Kevin Frandsen (Giants) to bounce into a 5-4-3 double play.

Kody Kirkland (Tigers) led the Solar Sox offense, going 2-for-3 with a solo homer and two runs. Reliever John Koronka (Cubs) surrendered a hit and two walks in one frame, but escaped the jam to extend his season-long scoreless streak to eight innings.

Phoenix, first in the National Division, improved to 11-5 while Mesa dropped to 6-9. The Desert Dogs go to Grand Canyon to take on the Rafters at 4:05 p.m. ET on Monday, while the Solar Sox remain at home to face the Peoria Saguaros at the same time.

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