2014 Minor League Ball AFL Gameday, October 8th

Opening Day is now in the books for the 23rd edition of the Arizona Fall League. Lets get straight to the highlights of the games.

Glendale handed Mesa a 9-3 loss with Jason Esposito and Nick Ramirez going yard for the Desert Dogs. Chris Bassitt was credited with the win while Felipe Rivero took the loss.

Scottsdale and Salt River squared off in the night cap with the Scorpions winning 7-4. Greg Bird had a monster performance with a pair of doubles and a home run for Scottsdale while Peter O'Brien sent one into the night for the Rafters. Julian Hilario earned the win while Archie Bradley took the loss and Nefi Ogando worked the save.

Peoria edged out Surprise with a late rally to win 5-4. Patrick Kivlehan went deep for Surprise while Stephen Landazuri took the loss, Brandon Cunniff was given the W, and Sam Tuivailala got the save. Surprise Stadium is rigged for pitchf/x so we can get some velocity readings for each player.

Saguaros starter Taijaun Walker sat 92-97 mph with his fastball, threw an 88-90 mph cutter, an 86-89 mph splitter, and a 71-76 mph curve. The opposing starter, Kyle Zimmer, was also 92-97 mph with his heater, was 84-85 with his slider, 85-88 mph with the cambio and a 77-81 mph curve.

Surprise

Player	FB	CB	CUT	SPLIT	SL	CH
Taijuan Walker	92-97	71-76	88-90	86-89	-	-
Sam Wolff	93-96	75-78	-	-	-	-
Burch Smith	90-95	77-78	-	-	-	78-82
Cody Kendall	88-91	-	88	-	-	-
Stephen Landazuri	89-93	80	87	-	85	87
Ryan Dennick	90-91	-	-	-	82-85	82-84

Peoria

Player	FB	CB	SL	CH
Kyle Zimmer	92-97	77-81	84-85	85-88
Nick Maronde	89-92	-	81	83-84
Matt Lollis	92-94	-	81	86
Brandon Cunniff	90-96	-	85	82-84
Chris Perry	86-90	75-76	-	80-82
Sam Tuivailala	94-96	78-83	-	-

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

Minor League Ball AFL Gameday

Hitting Performance of the Day -

Greg Bird - 3/5, HR, 2 2B, 4 RBI, 3 R, K

Photo credit  - Bryan Green

Pitching Performance of the Day -

Taijaun Walker - 4 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 5 K

Photo credit - Getty Images

*****

Probable Starters

Glendale Desert Dogs at Mesa Solar Sox - 2:35 PM EST POSTPONED

Surprise Saguaros at Peoria Javelinas - 2:35 PM EST

Keith Couch (RHP - SUR) vs Jaime Schultz (RHP - PEJ)

Salt River Rafters at Scottsdale Scorpions - 8:35 PM EST

Mark Appel (RHP - SRR) vs Joely Rodriguez (LHP - SCO)

*****

Standings

East Division
Team	W	L	T	GB
Scottsdale	1	0	0	-
Mesa	0	1	0	1
Salt River	0	1	0	1

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