Photo by Jennifer Nieves, MMN
Arizona Fall League (AFL)
– Glendale Desert Dogs 7 – 8 Peoria Javelinas
– Salt River Rafters 10 – 8 Surprise Saguaros
– Mesa Solar Sox 3 – 2 Scottsdale Scorpions
- 1B Peter Alonso: 2-for-4, 2 RBI(2), K
- RHP Matt Blackham: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 1 K, Wild Pitch, SB Allowed
- RHP Steven Nogosek: 1.0 IP
- RHP Joe Zanghi: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 1 K
- RHP Gerson Bautista: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, Loss(0-1)
Opening Night for the Scottsdale Scorpions featured multiple Mets who had an impact on the game. In the bottom of the 3rd inning with two on and two out, 1B Peter Alonso took a pitch the other way to RF and delivered a run scoring single to give the Scorpions a 2-0 lead. Scorpions SP Forrest Whitley (Astros) and RP Luke Leftwich(Phillies) would give the two runs right back in the top of the 4th inning.
Matt Blackham would enter the game in the top of the 6th inning with the score still tied at 2-2 but struggled with his command. Of the seventeen pitches he threw, only seven were for strikes resulting in two walks and a base hit to load the bases with nobody out. Blackham was able to bear down though inducing a running scoring sacrifice fly followed by a strike ’em out/throw ’em out double play to limit the damage to a 3-2 deficit. Steven Nogosek would come in to relief Blackham in the top of the 7th inning and threw a perfect inning of work getting outs via a line out, ground out, and a fly out, to keep the score at 3-2.
Alonso would get another run scoring opportunity in the bottom of the 7th inning after the Scorpions loaded the bases with only one out. With the count at 2-0, Alonso jumped on a fastball from John Schreiber (Tigers) and hit a sharp grounder through the left side of the infield for another RBI single to tie the score at 3-3. With Blackham now bailed out, Joe Zanghi would enter the game in the top of the 8th inning to try and hold the score. He would allow a leadoff single but nothing else as he induced 2 fly outs and struck out one of the best HR hitters in the minors this season, 3B Bobby Dalbec (Red Sox).
The parade of Mets relievers would continue in the top of the 9th inning with Gerson Bautista replacing Zanghi. The inning started well for Bautista as he induced a line out and a ground out but, in typical Mets fashion, things got weird after that. The next batter, speedster Luis Barrera (Athletics), ripped a 3-2 pitch to the right field wall which caromed off the fence and passed the charging RF Austin Listi (Phillies). Barrera would completely round the bases for an inside-the-park HR to give the Solar Sox the 4-3 lead. The Scorpions would fail to score in the bottom half of the 9th, handing Bautista a tough luck loss.
Mexican Pacific League (LMP)
– No Games Scheduled. Season will begin October 12th, 2018
Venezuelan Winter League (LVBP)
– No Games Scheduled. Season will begin October 12th, 2018
Dominican Winter League (LIDOM)
– No Games Scheduled. Season will begin October 13th, 2018
Roberto Clemente Puerto Rican League (LIGAPR)
– No Games Scheduled. Season will begin November 15th, 2018
