Arizona Fall League game notes
Published on October 29, 2004 under Arizona Fall League (AzFL) News Release
FREAKY FRIDAY: The Solar Sox host the Javelinas in Mesa and the Desert Dogs travel to Peoria to play the Saguaros...first pitch is 1:05 pm. The Rafters and Scorpions round out the days games in Scottsdale...first pitch is following the Garret Anderson Hall of Fame induction at 7:20 pm. Each team will play 38 games and the winners of the two divisions will meet in a one-game championship on November 20th at Scottsdale Stadium.
WEEKLY HONORS: Phoenix Desert Dogs Houston Street and Scottsdale Scorpions Conor Jackson were named the Arizona Fall League's Pitcher and Player-of-the-Week, respectively, for the week of October 18-October 23, 2004.
Phoenix pitcher Houston Street (OAK) ranks second in the league with a .90 ERA. In eight games, Street has held hitters to one run on eight hits. He has walked only one batter and struck out 11. Street has helped the Desert Dogs to a 13-5 record and first place in the National Division.
Conor Jackson (AZ) hit .400 (10-for-25) for the Scorpions. The outfielder hit a double and four home runs. He drove in eight and scored five times. Jackson is hitting .361 overall and leads the league in home runs (6) and is third in RBI (19). His offensive performance has helped the Scorpions remain in first place for the American Division.
Garret Anderson: The Arizona Fall League continues its tradition of honoring former player and managers by inducting them into the Hall of Fame. The AFL welcomes Garret Anderson to this evenings Rafters-Scorpions. The induction ceremony will take place prior to the start of the 7:05 pm game.
Before Garret Anderson led the Anaheim Angels to an American League West Division Title he played for the Tempe Rafters in 1993. Last year was a breakout season for Anderson, winning the 2003 home run derby and being voted the MVP of the all-star game the next night in Chicago. Anderson has spent his entire career in the Angels' organization after being selected by them in the 1990 Amateur draft. A two-time all-star, Anderson was a member of the 2002 World Champion Anaheim Angels.
ASU Baseball: The Arizona Fall League welcomes the Arizona State Sun Devils baseball team to Friday nights game between Scottsdale and Grand Canyon. Arizona State is coming off a 41-18 season, finishing fourth in the PAC 10 Conference.
Both teams in Friday's Arizona Fall League game feature a notable former Sun Devil player. Dustin Pedroia, who's .393 batting average led the Sun Devils in 2004, is now a prospect for the Boston Red Sox organization and is playing for the Scottsdale Scorpions. Pedroia was drafted in the second round of the 2004 MLB Amateur Draft and went on to hit .357 for Red Sox minor league teams in Augusta, GA and Sarasota, FL.
Mitch Jones will be in the visitors' dugout Friday night as a member of the Grand Canyon Rafters. Jones is coming off a sensational season for the Trenton Thunder, a New York Yankees affiliate, hitting 39 home runs to lead the Eastern League. In 2000 Jones set the ASU single-season home run record after hitting 27 in his senior season.
THURSDAY'S RECAPS
All three games were postponed due to wet grounds. The games may be made up at a later date this season.
WEDNESDAY'S RECAPS
In Grand Style: A fifth inning grand slam by Jeremy Hermida (FLA) was the key hit in an 8-6 Desert Dogs' win over the Javelinas in Peoria. With a strong wind blowing out to left field, the Desert Dogs hit two home runs, the other a solo home run by Tommy Murphy (ANA) in the first inning.
Rafters Rally: Jason Bartlett (MIN), Scott Thorman (ATL) and Aaron Herr (ATL) combined for six of the Rafters 10 hits to lead Grand Canyon to a 6-3 win over the Peoria Saguaros at Scottsdale Stadium. Bartlett finished 2-for-3 with two runs scored and a RBI. Thorman went 2-for-4 with a double and a run scored and Herr finished 2-for-3 with a double and a run scored. Yankees prospect Kevin Thompson continued to swing a hot bat for the Rafters adding a three-run home run.
Red Hot: The Scorpions scored runs in seven innings on their way to a 19-10 win over the Solar Sox. A seven-run sixth inning propelled Scottsdale to their 13th win. Jesse Gutierrez (CIN) continues to swing a hot bat. Gutierrez finished 5-for-7 with an RBI and Jason Repko (LA) went 4-for-5 with five RBIs. Diamondbacks' prospect Conor Jackson added two hits and drove in five.
Q & A: Oakland Athletics prospect John Baker and Atlanta Braves prospect Tony Peña Jr. will be answering your questions on MLB.com and MLB.com en Español. Log on to the website today and send in your questions then stay tuned for their responses.
In Honor of Tony Peña, Sr.: The Arizona Fall League continues its tradition of honoring former player and managers by inducting them into the Hall of Fame. Tony Peña, Sr. will be in attendance for the Saguaros-Scorpions game on Wednesday, November 3rd at Scottsdale Stadium. The induction ceremony will take place prior to the start of the 7:05 pm game.
STANDINGS
American Division W L GB National Division W L GB
Scorpions 13 6 - Desert Dogs 13 5 -
Solar Sox 8 10 4.5 Rafters 7 10 5.5
Saguaros 6 11 6.0 Javelinas 7 12 6.5
TODAY'S GAMES
Javelinas @ Solar Sox 1:05 pm RHP Chris Oxsping (0-1) vs. RHP Adam Wainwright (0-1)
Desert Dogs @ Saguaros 1:05 pm RHP Keith Bucktrot (0-1) vs. RHP Kevin Deaton (0-1)
Rafters @ Scorpions 7:05 pm RHP J. D. Durbin (1-0) vs. RHP Dennis Sarfate (0-2)
SATURDAY'S PROBABLE STARTERS
Solar Sox @ Javelinas 12:05 pm RHP Jae-Kuk Ryu (1-1) vs. RHP Jake Dittler (0-1)
Saguaros @ Desert Dogs 1:05 pm RHP John Hudgins (0-1) vs. RHP Steve Obenchain (0-1)
Scorpions @ Rafters 1:05 pm RHP Dustin Moseley (0-0) vs. RHP Scott Baker (0-1)
Arizona Fall League Stories from October 29, 2004
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