Arizona Fall League game recaps
Published on October 10, 2004 under Arizona Fall League (AzFL) News Release
Rafters 8, Solar Sox 2
A five-run fifth inning by Grand Canyon gave the Rafters a convincing 8-2 victory over the Mesa Solar Sox. Scottsdale native J.D. Durbin (MIN) started the game, pitching three innings without allowing a run. A three-run home run in the fifth by Kevin Thompson (NYY) gave Grand Canyon the lead for good.
A fluke RBI single in the first inning by Grand Canyon's Chris Shelton (DET) put the Rafters on the board first. Shelton bounced a ground ball off pitcher Zach Parker's (COL) foot and past the shortstop. A two out double by Mitch Jones (NYY) in the second inning gave Grand Canyon a 2-0 lead.
Mesa would load the bases in the fifth inning with nobody out and score two runs to tie the game. The first scoring on a sacrifice fly by Pedro Lopez (CWS), and the second on a groundout by Adam Greenberg (CHC).
The Rafters broke the game open in the fifth, capitalizing on two errors by the Solar Sox, and scoring five runs. A two-out, two-run single by Scott Thorman (ATL) and the home run by Kevin Thompson (NYY) made the Grand Canyon lead 7-2. The Rafters added an insurance run in the sixth, and the Solar Sox didn't threaten the rest of the game.
Solar Sox 000 020 000 2 6 2
Rafters 110 051 00X 8 12 1
Solar Sox- Parker, Ryu (4), Rohlicek (5), Walton (6), Smith (8),
Rafters- Durbin, Marsonek (4), Coenen (7), Munter (8), Aardsma (9),
W- Marsonek (1-0) L- Ryu (0-1) Time: 2:23
Desert Dogs 9, Scorpions 6
The Desert Dogs wiped out a 6-2 deficit with a seven-run seventh inning and held the Scorpions scoreless in the final two innings to earn the win at Phoenix Municipal Stadium. Ryan Howard (PHI), Mike Napoli (ANA) and Buzz Hannahan (PHI) combined for six of the Desert Dogs 11 hits.
Phoenix was scoreless until the bottom of the fifth when Anaheim prospect Nick Gorneault lead off the inning with a walk. Jason Perry (OAK) followed with a two-run home run to the opposite field putting the Desert Dogs on the board.
The game was broken open in the seventh when Hannahan led off with a single to right field. Casey Smith (ANA) reached on a throwing error that advanced Hannahan to second. Kansas City prospect Donald Murphy singled to shortstop. Hannahan scored on a throwing error by the Scorpions short stop. Smith moved to third on the throw. A Howard single through the right side would score Smith and D. Murphy stood on second. Manager Dean Treanor brought in Chris Roberson (PHI) to run for Howard. Napoli's single to right field advanced the runners. A bases loaded walk by Jeremy Brown (OAK) scored a run. Gorneault drove in two runs with a single up the middle. Hannahan came to the plate for the second time in the inning and singled to center field scoring Brown. Smith's second appearance of the inning also ended with an RBI single. The inning would end with the Dogs leading 9-6.
Scorpion's Charlton Jimerson (HOU) was stellar at the plate going 3-for-4 with a run scored. Milwaukee farmhand Rickie Weeks added two hits, three RBIs and a run scored for Scottsdale. Jason Repko (LA) hit his first homer of the season, a two-run home run in the first inning. Scottsdale starting pitcher Michael Burns (HOU) was solid on the mound holding the Dogs scoreless through three innings of work.
Scorpions 200 010 300 6 9 4 Desert Dogs 000 020 70X 9 11 4
Scorpions-Burns, Housman (4), Costello (5), Gothreaux (7), Stults (7), Schultz (8). Desert Dogs-Hutchinson, Rice (4), Keppinger (5), Rouwenhorst (6), Messenger (7), Wilkerson (8), Street (9).
W-Messenger (1-0). L-Gothreaux (0-1). S-Street (1). Time: 2:47.
Javelinas 9, Saguaros 4
In the second all-Peoria battle in as many days, the Javelinas defeated the Saguaros 9-4. Between the sixth and seventh innings, the Javelinas scored eight times on their way to their second win. Eli Whiteside (BAL) was 3-for-four for the Javelinas.
The Saguaros struck first, scoring on a groundout by Aaron Hill (TOR) in the first inning. They would add to the lead in the third, taking advantage of a Javelinas' error and scoring three runs. Juan Senreiso (TEX) had an RBI on a fielders' choice, and Alberto Concepcion (BOS) hit a sacrifice fly to make the score 4-0 Saguaros.
An RBI double in the fourth inning by Eli Whiteside (BAL) made the score 4-1 Saguaros. In the sixth inning, three consecutive hits with two outs for the Saguaros tied the game.
The Javelinas took their first lead of the game in the bottom of the seventh off new Saguaros' pitcher Matt Lindstrom (NYM). A two-run homer by Javelinas' catcher Ryan Garko (CLE), and RBI singles by Whiteside and Josh Barfield (SD) gave the Javelinas a 9-4 lead. All five runs were credited to Lindstrom, who took his first loss of the season.
Saguaros 103 000 000 4 8 2
Javelinas 000 103 50X 9 14 2
Saguaros- Bannister, Gabbard (4), Johnston (6), Lindstrom (7), Delcarmen (7)
Javelinas- Stahl, Thomas (3), Denham (5), Ramsey (7), Spiehs (8), Baker (9)
W- Denham (1-0) L- Lindstrom (0-1) Time: 2:42
American W L PCT GB
Scottsdale Scorpions 2 2 .500 -
Mesa Solar Sox 1 2 .333 .5
Peoria Saguaros 1 3 .250 1.0
National W L PCT GB
Phoenix Desert Dogs 3 0 1.000 -
Grand Canyon Rafters 2 2 .500 1.5
Peoria Javelinas 2 2 .500 1.5
Arizona Fall League Stories from October 10, 2004
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