2014 Minor League Ball AFL Gameday, October 18th

Welcome back to the Minor League Ball Gameday, Arizona Fall League Edition. We have some great pitching match ups going on today but before we get to that, Mesa was led by Sean Ochinko to a 5-3 win as Salt River and Peoria finished knotted at three after playing 11 innings, and Glendale held on to a 6-5 victory over Scottsdale.

Check out all the stats from yesterday's action in the desert in the link below along with the Game Recaps, Velocity Reports, Performances of the Day, Probable Starters and Standings further down.

Game Recaps from Friday, October 17th

Mesa 5 - Surprise 3

For the second straight night, the Mesa offense put up a crooked number in the 8th inning to clinch a 5-3 victory over Western Division leader Surprise. A three-run home run off the bat of C Sean Ochinko (MSS) sealed the deal after Ochinko also doubled in two in the 6th inning, accounting for all the runs batted in for the Solar Sox. 1B Matt Olson (MSS) pulled off a feat he was unable to do during the entire regular season, and that was stealing two bases in one game after working two walks, scoring once. SS Daniel Robertson (MSS) had a perfect day at the dish, reaching base all four times up with a pair of walks and two singles while also making his first error of the fall on a bad throw. The Saguaros did show off some of the thump in their lineup with both corner infielders breaking out the boom stick. 1B DJ Peterson (SUR) hit a solo shot in the second off starting pitcher LHP Nate Smith (MSS) while 3B Seth Mejias-Brean did the same, going for back-to-back jacks. Mejias-Brean also walked and struck out. 2B Tony Renda (MSS) doubled for the Sox for his only hit in three attempts, and CF Boog Powell (MSS) stole a bag and was caught stealing after working a walk and slapping a single to left. 2B Jace Peterson (SUR) roped a triple to center, plating one for his only hit in four tries.

Even though LHP Nate Smith (MSS) ran into some issues with the long ball, the two home runs were the only hits he allowed in the game, also walking three, striking out one, uncorking a wild pitch, and not factoring in the decision. The win went to reliever RHP Blake McFarland (MSS) who worked two scoreless for the Sox, allowing a single hit with no walks and a strike out. RHP Trevor Gott (MSS) earned the save with a clean 9th inning, working around a single with a strike out and no free passes. The Saguaros were the recipients of a nice start from RHP Lisalverto Bonilla (SUR) as he went four scoreless, surrendering a single hit while walking three and striking out two. He did uncork a wild pitch, and induced five ground outs to zero fly outs. RHP Tayron Guerrero (SUR) took the loss after allowing a hit and a walk with two outs in the 8th inning before RHP Cody Kendall (SUR) was brought in to pitch to Ochinko who would take him yard. Guerrero finished the night with 1.2 innings of work with one hit and two walks allowed, two runs, and a strike out to go with a wild pitch. Kendall blew the save by allowing the homer, getting the next batter out with a fly to left.

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Glendale 6 - Scottsdale 5

The Glendale Desert Dogs jumped to an early lead, scoring four times in the second frame, and held off a late charge by the Scorpions to emerge victorious 6-5. C Kevan Smith (GDD) kicked off the scoring with a bases loaded triple to right to clear the sacks off the opposing starter with a DH Daniel Fields (GDD) RBI single to finish off the scoring. The triple was Smith's lone hit of the game while Fields would reach base two more times with a walk and a single, also striking out and was caught stealing. LF Scott Schebler (GDD) launched one into orbit later on, hitting a solo shot for his only hit while also walking once, striking out once and scoring twice. SS Darnell Sweeney (GDD) tallied a pair of singles in the game, driving in one while RF Steven Moya (GDD) stole his fourth bag of the Fall after he reached on a walk, later scoring. CF Roman Quinn (SCO) showed off his wheels as well, stealing his league-leading seventh base after singling in the first. C Elias Diaz (SCO) registered the only extra base hit with a double, also singling and driving in two. RF Aaron Judge (SCO) reached base three time with a pair of singles and a walk, scoring twice. 1B Josh Bell (SCO) drove in one with a pair of singles and made his second error muffing a catch.

LHP Wei-Chung Wang (GDD) earned the win working three innings while allowing a single run on four hits with out a walk or a strike out. He hit a batter and uncorked a wild pitch, also inducing five ground outs to no fly outs. Despite allowing a pair of runs on three hits and a walk, RHP Blake Smith (GDD) was credited with the save, striking out two. RHP Rob Whalen (SCO) took the ball for the Scorpions and was hammered through 1.2 innings, allowing four runs on three walks, two hits, and struck out two with a wild pitch. Whalen worked a pair of ground outs and a fly out while taking the loss.

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Salt River 3 - Peoria 3

Two extra frames couldn't decide the victor in Salt River as the Rafters and Javelinas ended up knotted at three. SS Austin Nola (SRR) had the game tying hit in the bottom of the 9th, hitting a single to center to drive in OF Andrew Aplin (SRR). Aplin was pinch running for DH Rio Ruiz (SRR) who had doubled to left with one out. Nola reached base three times in the contest, working a walk and singling twice. Ruiz also added a single to hit rally-starting double. LF Eddie Rosario (SRR) tallied three singles, stealing two bases with a strike out and a run scored. C Peter O'Brien (SRR) had an eventful day, walking twice with a double, a run scored, two punch outs, and two throwing errors. 1B Ryan Casteel (SRR) had a multi-hit game too, driving in two with a pair of singles. DH Raul Mondesi (PEJ) smacked a couple extra base knocks, hitting his second double and first triple of the Fall, scoring once and driving home one while also stealing a base. CF Jordan Smith (PEJ) drove home two for the Javs, knocking a double and a single while also going down with a K twice. RF Edward Salcedo (PEJ) and LF CJ McElroy (PEJ) each stole a bag, and C Justin O'Conner (PEJ) allowed a passed ball and picked a runner off at first base.

Its worth noting that the Rafters stole three bases off O'Conner, who is known to be one of the premier defensive backstop prospects in the game, throwing out 55% of attempted base thieves in 2014. Also worth noting, each successful swipe came off reliever RHP Chris Perry (PEJ).

RHP Dylan Baker (PEJ) squared off against RHP Anthony DeSclafani (SRR) to start with Baker lasting two innings, allowing a run on two hits, no walks, and a strike out. DeSclafani went four frames, striking out four with two runs allowed on two hits and a walk. RHP Brian Ellington (SRR) gave the Rafters two innings of scoreless work allowing no hits, a walk, and he struck out three. RHP Miguel Almonte (PEJ) also went two scoreless, working around a pair of hits with a strike out and no free passes.

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Velocity Reports

Surprise Stadium, home of the Surprise Saguaros and the home field for the Peoria Javelinas this year, has pitchf/x installed so we can see velocity readings for each pitcher. Unfortunately, neither team had a home game last night so the velocity reports will return tomorrow as Scottsdale "visits" Peoria.

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Minor League Ball AFL Gameday

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Hitting Performance of the Day

Sean Ochinko (C - Mesa) 2/4, 2B (3), HR (1), 5 RBI (7), R

Photo credit - Bryan Green

Pitching Performance of the Day

Lisalverto Bonilla (RHP - Surprise) 4 IP, 1 H, 0 R/ER, 3 BB, 2 K, 5:0 GO:FO

Photo credit - Bryan Green

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Probable Starters

Scottsdale @ Peoria - 3:35 PM EST

Tyler Glasnow (RHP - SCO) vs Kyle Zimmer (RHP - PEJ)

Salt River @ Mesa - 9:35 PM EST

Archie Bradley (RHP - SRR) vs Felipe Rivero (LHP - MSS)

Surprise @ Glendale - 9:35 PM EST

Stephen Landazuri (RHP - SUR) vs Zach Davies (RHP - GDD)

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Standings

East Division
Team	W	L	T	GB
Salt River	7	2	1	-
Scottsdale	5	5	0	2.5
Mesa	4	5	0	3

West Division
Team	W	L	T	GB
Surprise	5	5	0	-
Glendale	4	4	1	-
Peoria	2	6	2	2