October 8 Arizona Fall League Report

February 25, 2013; Glendale, AZ, USA; Chicago Cubs right fielder

(68) hits against the Los Angeles Dodgers during a spring training game at Camelback Ranch. Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri-USA TODAY Sports

Game 1

In the first game of the Arizona Fall League (or what I’ll call Game 1, this game and the Peoria/Surprise game both started at the same time) the Mesa Solar Sox and the Glendale Desert Dogs played to an 8-8 tie in 11 innings. The pitchers were not pleased in this game that featured the offenses combining for 27 hits over the 11 innings. Leading the way for Mesa was 2013 draftee, phenom Kris Bryant, who went three for six with a double. Matt Skole, the designated hitter, hit the club’s sole home run as part of a two-for-four game. Brian Goodwin, C.J. Cron and Taylor Lindsey added a pair of hits each. Significantly, Mesa made three errors in the field that led to five of the Glendale runs being unearned. On the Glendale side, top prospect Byron Buxton was held to a one-for-six game but Yorman Rodriguez, playing right field, went three for five with a double, three runs scored, two RBI and a walk. Corey Seager, Micah Johnson and Marcus Semien each had a pair of hits. Johnson had an especially good game, adding three stolen bases to his single, double and walk (and three runs scored). Starting for Glendale, Alex Meyer, one of MLB’s top prospects, gave up three runs in three innings while Zack Jones gave up five runs in just two-thirds of an inning.

Mesa Solar Sox

Hitting:

Addison Russell (OAK) – 1/4, 2B, 2 BB, SB, E
Brian Goodwin (WAS) – 2/5, BB, K, PO
Jorge Soler (CHC) – 1/6, 2B, RBI, 2 K
Tyler Collins (DET) – 1/5, R, BB, K
C.J. Cron (LAA) – 2/5, 2 R, BB, 2 K, E
Taylor Lindsey (LAA) – 2/5, R, 2B, RBI, 2 K, SF, E
Kris Bryant (CHC) – 3/6, 2 R, 2B, 2 RBI
Matt Skole (WAS) – 2/4, R, HR, 3 RBI
David Freitas (OAK) – 0/4, R, K

Pitching:

Michael Roth (LAA) – 2 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 3 BB, 2 K
Matt Loosen (CHC) – 2 IP, 2 H, 2 R (0 ER), 1 BB, 1 K
Blaine Hardy (DET) – 1 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 K
Lendy Castillo (CHC) – 1 IP, 3 H, 3 R (0 ER), 1 K
Jeff Urlaub (OAK) – 1 IP, 1 H, 1 K
Armando Rivero (CHC) – 1 IP, 3 K
R.J. Alvarez (LAA) – 2 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 2 K
Mike Morin (LAA) – 1 IP, 1 H, 1 K

Glendale Desert Dogs

Hitting:

Byron Buxton (MIN) – 1/6, R, RBI, K
Micah Johnson (CWS) – 2/5, 3 R, 2B, 1 BB, 1 K, 3 SB
Colin Moran (MIA) – 1/5, 2 RBI, BB
Yorman Rodriguez (CIN) – 3/5, 3 R, 2B, 2 RBI, BB, K
Corey Seager (LAD) – 2/4, 2B, RBI, 2 K
Danny Black (MIA) – 1/2, K
Marcus Semien (CWS) – 2/4, 2 RBI, BB, K, PO, CS
Max Kepler (MIN) – 1/6, 2B, 3 K
Brian Cavazos-Galvez (LAD) – 0/4, BB, K
Tucker Barnhart (CIN) – 0/5, K

Pitching:

Alex Meyer (MIN) – 3 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 1 BB, 3 K
Edgar Olmos (MIA) – 2 IP, 1 H, 3 BB, 1 K
Trevor May (MIN) – 1 IP, 1 K
A.J. Achter (MIN) – 1 IP, 1 H, 1 K
Zack Jones (MIN) – 2/3 IP, 5 H, 5 R, 1 BB, 1 HR
Nick Wittgren (MIA) – 1 1/3 IP, 2 H, 2 K
Colby Suggs (MIA) – 1 IP, 1 BB
Drew Hayes (CIN) – 1 IP, 2 K

Game 2

February 28, 2013; Bradenton, FL, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher

(76) throws a pitch in the first inning against the Boston Red Sox at McKechnie Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

In the first completed game of the Arizona Fall League, the Surprise Saguaros took the victory over the Peoria Javelinas 7-6 by scoring four runs in the sixth inning and hanging on the rest of the way. For the Saguaros, catcher Jorge Alfaro had a two-hit game (single and a double) while right fielder Henry Urrutia had three singles. Left fielder Mitch Haniger of the Brewers’ system had the day of days, going two for four with a double and a home run with two runs scored and four RBI. For Peoria, Aaron Altherr drove in a pair on two hits while Austin Hedges also had two hits while Chelsor Cuthbert hit a solo home run. Starter Jason Adam ran into trouble, giving up three runs on six hits and a walk in three innings but Kyle Hunter pitched two excellent innings for Peoria. Adys Portillo took the loss, giving up four runs on a hit and two walks in one inning. For Surprise, Red Sox farmhand Miguel Pena was perfect for three innings, striking out one.

Peoria Javelinas

Hitting:

Cory Spangenberg (SD) – 1/5, R, 2B, K
Nolan Fontana (HOU) – 0/4, R, BB, K
Stefen Romero (SEA) – 1/3, 2 R
Japhet Amador (HOU) – 1/4, R, RBI, K
Aaron Altherr (PHI) – 2/3, 2 RBI, CS
Jorge Bonifacio (KC) – 1/3, 2 RBI, SF
Cheslor Cuthbert (KC) – 1/4, R, HR, RBI, K
Austin Hedges (SD) – 2/4
Delino DeShields (HOU) 0/0, SB
Patrick Kivlehan (SEA) – 1/4, K

Pitching:

Jason Adam (KC) – 3 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 1 BB, 3 K
Kyle Hunter (SEA) – 2 IP, 1 H, 3 K
Adys Portillo (SD) – L, 1 IP, 1 H, 4 R, 2 BB, 1 HR
Ken Giles (PHI) – 1 IP, 1 H, 2 K
Jonas Dufek (HOU) – 1 IP, 1 K

Surprise Saguaros

Hitting:

Tyler Naquin (CLE) – 1/5, R, K
Mitch Haniger (MIL) – 2/4, 2 R, 2B, HR, 4 RBI, K
Jonathan Schoop (BAL) – 0/4, 2 K
Jorge Alfaro (TEX) – 2/3, R, 2B, RBI, K
Henry Urrutia (BAL) – 3/4, RBI
Garin Cecchini (BOS) – 0/3, R, RBI, K, SB
Ryan Rua (TEX) – 1/3, R, BB, K
Brett Nicholas (TEX) – 0/4
Joe Wendle (CLE) – 0/2, R, 2 BB, 2 K, E

Pitching:

Miguel Pena (BOS) – 3 IP, 1 K
Pete Ruiz (BOS) – 1/3 IP, 1 H, 2 R, 2 BB
Tyler Cravy (MIL) – 1 2/3 IP, 1 H
Jason Gurka (BAL) – W, 1 IP, 2 H, 1 R
Keith Couch (BOS) – 1 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 K, 1 HR
Shawn Armstrong (CLE) – 1 IP, 3 H, 2 R (0 ER), 2 K
Trey Haley (CLE) – S, 1 IP, 1 H, 1 K

Game 3

A prospect filled game between the Scottsdale Scorpions and the Salt River Rafters ended with Scottsdale scoring three runs in the top of the ninth to win 6-5. For the victors, Pirates top prospect Jameson Taillon got the start and gave up an unearned run with three strikeouts in two innings. 20-year-old Adalberto Mejia followed Taillon to give up three runs in two innings. Scottsdale had a solid game with the bats, getting two-hit games from Alen Hanson, Tommy La Stella and Tyler Austin while third baseman Kyle Kubitza went three for four with a double. On the other side, Salt River only had four hits overall and three came off the bat of Blue Jays’ center fielder Kenny Wilson who also stole a base and was caught stealing. Kyle Parker had the other hit, a three-run home run off of Mejia. Arizona Diamondbacks prospect Bo Schultz gave up two runs in three and a third innings, walking three but striking out six. Marcus Stroman had a perfect inning with a strikeout and Merrill Kelly faced two batters and struck them both out.

Scottsdale Scorpions

Hitting:

Mason Williams (NYY) – 1/5, R, RBI, SB
Alen Hanson (PIT) – 2/4, R, BB, 2 K, SB, CS, E
Tommy La Stella (ATL) – 2/4, 2B, RBI, BB
Robby Hefflinger (ATL) – 0/5, 4 K
Alex Dickerson (PIT) – 0/4, R, BB, 3 K
Cory Vaughn (NYM) – 0/5, 2 K
Tyler Austin (NYY) – 2/3, 2 R, RBI, BB
Andrew Susac (SF) – 1/3, RBI, BB, K, E
Kyle Kubitza (ATL) – 3/4, R, 2B, RBI, K

Pitching:

Jameson Taillon (PIT) – 2 IP, 1 H, 1 R (0 ER), 1 BB, 3 K
Adalberto Mejia (SF) – 2 IP, 2 H, 3 R, 2 BB, 1 K, 1 HR
Juan Jaime (ATL) – 1 IP, 1 H, 1 R (0 ER), 1 BB
Zack Thornton (PIT) – 1 IP, 2 K
Matt Benedict (PIT) – 1 IP
James Pazos (NYY) – W, 1 IP, 2 BB, 1 K
Cody Satterwhite  (NYM) – 1 IP

Salt River Rafters

Hitting:

Kenny Wilson (TOR) – 3/4, R, SB, CS
Ryan Brett (TB) – 0/1, R, 3 BB
Jake Lamb (ARI) – 0/3, R, BB, 2 K, 2 E
Kyle Parker (COL) – 1/3, R, HR, 3 RBI, BB
Stephen Piscotty (STL) – 0/4, 2 K, 2 SB
Tim Wheeler (COL) – 0/4, 2 K
Nick Ahmed (ARI) – 0/4, K
Todd Glaesmann (TB) -0/4, K
Dustin Garneau (COL) – 0/4

Pitching:

Bo Schultz (ARI) – 3 1/3 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 3 BB, 6 K
Dan Houston (COL) – 1 2/3 IP, 1 H, 1 BB, 1 K
Matt Ramsey (TB) – 1 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 K
Tyler Matzek (COL) – 1 IP, 1 BB, 1 K
Marcus Stroman (TOR) – 1 IP, 1 K
Matt Stites (ARI) – L, 1/3 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 1 K
Merrill Kelly (TB) – 2/3 IP, 2 K