Kevin Kendall, Photo by Steve Sica of Mets Minors
The Peoria Javelinas preserve their perfect record, improving to 4-0 after defeating the Glendale Desert Dogs in walk-off fashion on Thursday afternoon by a score of 9-8. Box Score
The Javelinas are the only team in the Arizona Fall League to have won all of their games, although they have outscored their opponents by just six runs across their four victories.
Two Mets prospects featured in the starting lineup:
- SS Kevin Kendall: 2-for-4, HR (1), 2 RBI, 2 R, BB, SO
- 3B Luke Ritter: 0-for-3, RBI
One Mets prospect made a relief appearance:
- LHP Josh Walker: (W, 1-0), IP, 2 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 2 K
The Javelinas went down 1-0 in the second inning but took command of the game in the middle innings, jumping out to a 5-1 lead by the end of the seventh. Ritter drove in the Javelinas’ third run of the game with a sacrifice fly in the sixth inning. He is still looking for his first AFL hit.
The Desert Dogs came roaring back in the top of the eighth inning, scoring five runs off Javelinas reliever Jordan Guerrero to take a 6-5 lead. Kendall responded immediately, launching a two-run homer in the bottom of the eighth to reclaim a 7-6 lead for the Javelinas. Kendall has just one home run in 34 games for St. Lucie over the last two seasons, but he already has his first in the AFL and has hit .462 in his three starts for the Javelinas.
Josh Walker got the ball for the ninth inning in a save situation, and he did not look sharp. He gave up two runs in the inning and surrendered the Javelinas’ lead, allowing a go-ahead RBI single to Adam Hackenberg to put the Desert Dogs back up 8-7. He struck out two batters in the frame, but he also issued two walks.
Despite his rough outing, Walker found himself on the winning side of the decision after the Javelinas rallied for two runs in the bottom of the ninth. Drew Millas, who hit a two-run homer earlier in the game to get the Javelinas on the board, came through with a walk-off two-run single to cap off a stellar day at the plate.
The Javelinas will look for yet another win when they match up against the Surprise Saguaros on Friday afternoon at 3:35 p.m. ET.
