2014 Minor League Ball AFL Gameday, October 12th

Hey folks, welcome back to AFL headquarters with game recaps, performances of the day, probable starters and the standings all in one place. We had our first game go into extra frames yesterday

Game Recaps from Saturday, October 11th

Scottsdale - Surprise

A two-run homer off the bat of SS Matt Reynolds (SCO) gave the Scorpions the lead in the 10th inning as they held off a late rally by the Saguaros for a 7-6 victory. Reynolds was not the only player to run into one as C Kyle Higashioka (SCO) hit a two-run blast of his own in the second inning and 1B Patrick Kivlehan (SUR) matched the feat in the bottom half of the same inning. Reynolds finished the day with three hits, also doubling, scoring twice and striking out. Higashioka tallied three hits as well in the contest with two singles and two runs scored as well. CF Roman Quinn (SCO) showed off his 80 speed by swiping three bases after walking twice, scoring both times while also striking out and throwing out a runner at third base. LF Brandon Nimmo (SCO) had the only other extra base hit with a double, two RBI's, two strike outs and a fielding error. SS Trea Turner (SUR) picked up three hits in the game for the Saguaros, singling all three times with a walk, two RBI's, a strike out, stolen base and fielding error. In addition to Kivlehan's two-run shot, he also singled while LF Nick Williams (SUR) doubled for his only hit, driving in one and striking out twice. 2B Juan Perez (SUR) reached base twice with a walk and a single and he also stole a bag as 3B Seth Mejias-Brean (SUR) also reached twice with a double and a walk, scoring once and striking out once as well.

Both starting pitchers were roughed up in their three frames with RHP Rob Whalen (SCO) allowing three runs on three hits and two walks while striking out three and allowing the bomb to Kivlehan. His fastball sat 88-91 mph with a 78-79 mph hook, a 78-80 mph slider, a 90 mph cutter, and a 81-84 mph change up according to pitchf/x. On the other side of the diamond, RHP Lisalverto Bonilla (SUR) allowed three runs as well on a walk and a pair of hits with one of those hits leaving the yard off Higashioka's bat. Bonilla's heat was a bit toastier, sitting 89-94 with an 80-81 mph curve and an 83-87 mph change up. Neither starter factored into the decision as RHP Nefi Ogando (SCO) earned the win with two innings of relief and RHP Ben Klimesh (SUR) was hit with the loss. Ogando allowed a run on three hits and a walk, striking out one while touching 98 mph with his fastball and 90 mph with his slider and a cutter (once again, according to pitchf/x). Klimesh allowed the go-ahead two-run home run to Matt Reynolds in the 10th inning, one of three hits he allowed while also striking out two and not allowing a free pass. Klimesh was 92-94 mph with his fastball, also mixing an 83-85 mph slider and 83-85 mph change up into the mix. All other pitcher's velocity readings can be found below.

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Peoria - Mesa

Mesa took the lead three batters into the bottom half of the first inning and would never relinquish control of the game, going on to a 6-3 win over Peoria. 1B Matt Olson (MSS) was key to the Solar Sox victory, blasting a pair of solo home runs, working a walk, and scoring all three times he reached base. CF Dalton Pompey (MSS) only had one hit in the game but it was an RBI triple to left and he would come around to score. 3B Cal Towey (MSS) roped a two-run double to center and also worked a walk while C Sean Ochinko (MSS) doubled, singled, and struck out. LF Dwight Smith Jr (MSS) also doubled and struck out, and RF Bijan Rademacher (MSS) singled, stole a base, scored a run, and gunned down a runner at second base. 2B Tony Renda (MSS) also got into the base stealing action, swiping one after reaching on a fielder's choice, his only time reaching base in four attempts. C Tony Wolters (PEJ) did all the work driving in runs for the Javelinas, plating three with a two-out double to center field for his only hit of the day. SS Francisco Lindor (PEJ) reached base three times on a pair of singles and a walk, coming around to score once and also striking out. CF Kes Carter (PEJ) had an identical day in one less plate appearance but also made a throwing error on Cal Towey's two-run double. LF Kyle Wren (PEJ) was also able to reach base two times with a single and a walk.

Mesa starting pitcher LHP Nate Smith (MSS) worked around a walk and a single to hurl three scoreless frames with two strike outs, earning the win. LHP Chris O'Grady (MSS) handled 1.2 innings of sterling work with no baserunners and a strike out. RHP Mark Sappington (MSS) worked a scoreless ninth, allowing a single and striking out one to get the save. RHP Dylan Baker (PEJ) took the loss in this one despite only making one long mistake to Matt Olson in two innings, also allowing a single and striking out one without issuing a free pass. RHP Grant Sides (PEJ) tossed a perfect frame, striking out two in the process while RHP Nate Hyatt (PEJ) and RHP Sam Tuivailala (PEJ) also threw scoreless innings.

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Salt River - Glendale

A rare pitcher's duel broke out at Camelback Ranch as the Rafters beat the Desert Dogs 2-1. A run scoring ground out to second base off the bat of 3B Rio Ruiz (SRR) brought home CF Byron Buxton (SRR) in the sixth inning wound up being the deciding event in the game as Salt River broke a 1-1 tie. Ruiz did not get a base hit in the game and struck out one. Buxton singled in four at bats while 1B Ryan Casteel (SRR) drove in one with a single and also walked, stuck out, and was picked off first base. LF Eddie Rosario (SRR) knocked a pair of singles, stole his third base, and scored the first run of the game. CF Tyrone Taylor (GDD) drove in one with two singles and a sacrifice while SS Tim Anderson (GDD) also singled twice, scored the only run, stole a base, and made a fielding error. C Shawn Zarraga (GDD) picked up two singles as well and struck out the other two times up.

Rafters starter  RHP Anthony DeSclafani (SRR) went three innings with one run allowed on three hits with a pair of punch outs and no walks. The following pitcher, RHP Christian Bergman (SRR) earned the win with two scoreless innings as he scattered a pair of singles and struck out one. RHP Jake Reed (SRR) got the save with a scoreless frame of his own, dancing around two singles and a walk with one strike out. LHP Wei Chung Wang (GDD) allowed a run on two hits in two innings with one punch out while RHP Chris Bassitt (GDD) took the loss with a similar two innings of work with one run and two hits allowed with three strike outs. LHP Ken Roberts (GDD) threw a pretty nondescript inning with one hit allowed, no walks and no strike outs. He did this by throwing what I call The Unicorn, a three pitch inning, with a double play mixed in.

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Surprise Stadium, home of the Surprise Saguaros and the home field for the Peoria Javelinas, has pitchf/x installed so we can see velocity readings for each pitcher.

Scottsdale -

Player	FB	CB	SL	CH	CUT
Rob Whalen	88-91	78-79	78-80	81-84	90
Caleb Cotham	91-93	-	85-88	-	87-88
Ethan Stewart*	88-92	80	80-83	-	83
Adrian Sampson	90-92	83	84-86	86-87	-
Tyler Rogers	-	72-74	-	81-84	-
Nefi Ogando	93-98	-	87-90	90	90

* denotes a left handed pitcher

Surprise -

Player	FB	CB	SL	CH	CUT
Lisalverto Bonilla	89-94	80-81	-	83-87	-
Matt Anderson	89-93	78-81	-	84-85	-
Burch Smith	91-94	75-79	-	-	-
Madison Younginer	89-92	78-80	-	79-83	91
Robby Scott*	86-88	73-74	-	80	-
Carlos Gonzalez	90-94	-	83-85	-	-
Ben Klimesh	92-94	-	83-85	83-85	-

Check out all the stats from yesterday's action in the link below along with the Probable Starters and Standings further down.

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Minor League Ball AFL Gameday

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Hitting Performance of the Day -

Matt Olson (1B - Mesa) 2/3, 2 HR (2), 2 RBI (2), 3 R, BB, K

Photo credit - Athletics Farm

Pitching Performance of the Day -

Ken Roberts (LHP - Salt River) 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R/ER, 0 BB, 0 K, 3 S, 0 B

Photo credit - Wiki

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Probable Starters

No games are played on Sunday's.

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Standings

East Division
Team	W	L	T	GB
Salt River	4	1	0	-
Scottsdale	3	2	0	1
Mesa	1	3	0	2.5

West Division
Team	W	L	T	GB
Surprise	3	2	0	-
Peoria	2	3	0	1
Glendale	1	3	0	1.5