Arizona Fall League (AFL)

Peoria Javelinas 9 – 10 Mesa Solar Sox
Surprise Saguaros 10 – 9 Glendale Desert Dogs
Scottsdale Scorpions 6 – 7 Salt River Rafters

• DH Peter Alonso: 2-for-4, 2 R, SB(2), BB, K
• PR/DH Andres Gimenez: 0-for-0, BB [Pinch ran for Alonso in the eight inning]
• C Ali Sanchez: 0-for-1 [Defensive substitution for Shed Long in the ninth inning]
• RHP Joseph Zanghi: 1.0 IP, 1 H
• RHP Gerson Bautista: 2.0 IP, 1 H, 1 BB, 2 K
• RHP Matt Blackham: 0.1 IP, 1 R, 2 BB, Loss (0-1)

Despite thirteen runs being scored, this was actually a relatively quiet game until the top of the fifth inning. With the Scorpions down 1-0, Peter Alonso got offense going with a single and proceeded to steal second base, his second of the fall season. First baseman Darick Hall (Phillies) followed up with a home run to right field to give the Scorpions a 2-1 lead.

The Rafters would take the lead back in the bottom of the sixth inning after back-to-back walks allowed by righty Trent Thornton (Astros). He was relieved by righty Erasmo Pinales (Astros) who allowed RBI singles to both first baseman Pavin Smith (Diamondbacks) and catcher Daulton Varsho (Diamondbacks) to give the Rafters a 3-2 lead.

Alonso would get the offense fired up again in the top of the seventh inning with a lead-off single to center field followed by a walk to Hall. The next batter, third baseman Abraham Toro-Hernandez (Astros), would drive in Alonso with a double to right center field to tie the game at 3-3. The Scorpions would then take the 4-3 lead on fielding error by righty Hector Lujan (Twins), scoring Hall, and would extend the lead to 5-3 on a fielder’s choice ground out by right fielder Heath Quinn (Giants).

Unfortunately, the Scorpions would give those three runs scored right back to the Rafters in the bottom of the seventh. Righty Chase Johnson (Giants) entered the game and immediately allowed a lead-off triple on his first pitch to Nationals top prospect Carter Kieboom. One batter later, Kieboom would come into score on a wild pitch to cut the Scorpions lead to 5-4. Johnson would strike out two of the next three batters but allowed a single in between them followed by a two-run homer off the bat of third baseman Drew Ellis (Diamondbacks) to give the Rafters a 6-5 lead.

Alonso would get another at-bat in the top of the eighth and reached base for the third time on a walk. Alonso advance to second base on a wild pitch and Andres Gimenez would pinch run for him with the team down one run with one out. The move did not work though as Hall would ground out and Hernandez would fly out to end the inning.

Righty Joseph Zanghi would be the first Mets reliever called on to keep the game close and successfully did so generating three weak contact outs while only allowing a slow dribbling lead-off single. The Scorpions would tie the game back up at 6-6 in the top of the ninth inning and would call on righty Gerson Bautista to hold the lead in the bottom half of the inning. Bautista got the first batter to fly out to left field and allowed a single but would erase it by generating an inning ending double play to get the game tied.

The game would go to extra innings which put into affect a special rule for the Arizona Fall League. At the beginning of each extra inning, the batter who made the last out would start the inning at second base. The Scorpions could not take advantage of the rule as second baseman C.J. Hinjosa (Giants) would fly out into a double play that saw left fielder Taylor Trammell (Reds) thrown out trying to advance to third base. Gimenez tried to keep the inning going by drawing a walk to reach first base but Hall would ground out to end the inning.

Bautista would stay in the game for the bottom of the tenth inning and immediately got himself in hot water by throwing a wild pitch which allowed the extra inning runner to advance to third base. He would bear down though striking out two of the next three batters and inducing an inning-ending groundout to get out of the jam.

After another unsuccessful attempt to score a run in the top of the eleventh, righty Matt Blackham was called on to keep the game tied. Blackham would walk the first batter, after a lengthy ten pitch AB that saw five pitches fouled off, and found himself in hot water after a foul out to deep right field off the bat of Kieboom allowed the extra innings runner to advance to third base. Blackham would intentionally walk the next batter to set up the double play situation and successfully got the ground ball he needed, but, the Scorpions were unable to turn the double play and the run would score on the fielder’s choice out at second base.

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