Minors NEWS

AFL: Peoria’s Pedro Viola Stifles Scottsdale Scorpions

Published by admin on October 29, 2008

USA - The Alumnus of the Day is B.J. Upton who played for the Mesa Solar Sox in 2003 representing the Tampa Bay Rays. Upton went 1-for- 3 last night with a stolen base and scored the run in the sixth inning off a Carlos Pena single to tie the game. Due to inclement weather, Game 5 of the World Series was suspended in the sixth inning, 2-2.

Yesterday’s Highlights

Peoria Javelinas 6, Scottsdale Scorpions 3
Javelinas 1B Rhyne Hughes (TB) was a home run short of the cycle and scored two runs to lead Peoria to victory … Peoria starter, RHP Pedro Viola (CIN), only allowed one run and two hits while striking out five over five innings … Scottsdale LF Chris Pettit (LAA) slapped two hits and drove in one of the Scorpions’ three runs.

WP: Viola (CIN) (2-0, 4.11), LP: Hughes (PIT) (0-1, 7.15), SV: Fisher (CIN) (3)

Peoria Saguaros 13, Mesa Solar Sox 2
Peoria Saguaros defeated the Solar Sox on the road for sole possession of first place in the American Division … the Saguaros scored eight runs in the second inning off four walks, 1 hit-by-pitch, 1 wild pitch, 1 error, 1 single, 2 doubles and 1 sacrifice fly … Bill Rhinehart doubled twice in the second inning … Brett Wallace (STL) hit a home run off Pat Overholt (PHI) in the fourth inning … Logan Morrison (FLA) went 2-for-4 with two singles.

WP: Harrell (CWS) (2-0, 6.52), LP: West (FLA) (1-1, 6.75)

Phoenix Desert Dogs 16, Surprise Rafters 7
Both teams combined for seven home runs yesterday in Surprise, including three by Mike McKenry (COL) … also homering ? Steve Tolleson (MIN), Sean Doolittle (OAK), Chad Tracy (TEX), and Matt Wieters (BAL) … McKenry collected an AFL season-high seven RBI … Tolleson went 3-for-4 with three runs scored … Jeff Manship (MIN) threw 5.0 innings, surrendering 4 hits, 2 runs, and 3 strikeouts.

WP: Manship (MIN) (1-1, 5.63), LP: Orenduff (LAD) (0-2, 8.10)

Around the Arizona Fall League

- The Arizona Fall League will hold the second annual Pat Tillman Foundation Benefit Night on Saturday, November 1 at Scottsdale Stadium.

Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Eric Byrnes and other special guests from the Phoenix sports community will participate in the event that will feature a sports memorabilia auction before and during the game. All proceeds from the sports memorabilia auction and one-half of the night’s gate receipts will be donated to the Pat Tillman Foundation.

- Former major league umpire, Rich Garcia was honored as the 2008 recipient of the Arizona Fall League’s Roland Hemond Award prior to the Rising Stars Game on Friday, October 24 at Surprise Stadium.

- Cleveland Indians manager Eric Wedge was inducted into the AFL Hall of Fame on Friday, October 17 at Scottsdale Stadium.

Player/Pitcher of the Week

Week One Saguaros ? IF Shawn Bowman (NYM) Javelinas ? RHP Phil Hughes (NYY)

Week Two Scorpions ? IF Drew Sutton (HOU) Solar Sox ? RHP Tommy Hanson (ATL)

Week Three Solar Sox ? C Tyler Flowers (ATL) Saguaros ? LHP Jason Vargas (NYM)

American Division

Mesa Solar Sox (11-6) ? Logan Morrison (FLA) has eight singles and one walk-off home run in last four games … Scott Cousins (FLA) and Morrison (FLA) both went 5-for-5 in a game during week three … … Tyler Flowers (ATL) hit four home runs in week three … Solar Sox had 82 hits in week three … four players have 10 hits on road games: Jason Donald (PHI), Tyler Flowers (ATL), Jeff Larish (DET), and Will Rhymes (DET) … John Raynor (FLA) hit for the cycle in week one.

Peoria Saguaros (12-5) ? Daniel Murphy (NYM) and Shane Robinson (STL) both have scored seven runs at home … Saguaros have at least one two-out RBI in every game except one (10/18) … 9-3 record in games under three hours … Saguaros pitching did not allow a home run in 10 games … three players with a four-hit game: Murphy (NYM), Cole Armstrong (CWS), and Sean Kazmar (SD) … Bobby Parnell (NYM) has not allowed a run or walk at home and has struck out seven in 5.0 innings.

Scottsdale Scorpions (5-12) ? Barret Browning (LAA) has yet to issue a walk and has struck out eight in 7.0 innings at home … Drew Sutton (HOU) had an extra-base hit in six consecutive games … team has one stolen base or more in all but three games (10/15, 10/18, 10/22) … Emmanuel Burriss (SF) and Kevin Fransden (SF) only Scorpions to have a four-hit game (10/16 and 10/20, respectively).

National Division

Peoria Javelinas (10-7) ? IF Rhyne Hughes (TB) has a .489 batting average with 3 triples, 1 home run, and 13 RBI while batting against right-handers … IF Chris Valaika (CIN) has yet to commit an error and leads all shortstops in fielding percentage (1.000) … 10/07: OF Austin Jackson (NYY) drove in a team-high four RBI … 10/18: IF Kevin Russo (NYY) went 5-for-5 … all five hits were singles … Russo has the Javelinas’ longest active hitting streak at eight games and tied IF Carlos Triunfel’s (SEA) streak (10/07-10/18) for the team-high … 10/16: All 18 players in starting lineup between Mesa and Peoria collect at least one hit.

Phoenix Desert Dogs (9-8) ? Since 10/11, OF Eric Young, Jr. (COL) has 20 hits with 15 runs during his AFL leading 12-game hitting streak … C J.P. Arencibia (TOR) is second in the AFL in throwing out base runners (.400) … IF Steve Tolleson (MIN) is fifth in the AFL with a .435 batting average … 12 of OF Sean Doolittle’s (OAK) 13 RBI have been against right-handed pitchers … 10/27: C Michael McKenry (COL) hits three home runs and drives in seven RBI … 10/21: Every player in the Desert Dogs starting lineup amassed at least one hit.

Surprise Rafters (4-13) ? RHP Rowdy Hardy (KC) is fifth in the AFL in strikeouts (12) … RHP Justin Orenduff (LAD) and RHP Willie Eyre (TEX) are in the top-five in innings pitched …. IF Wes Hodges (CLE) is batting .324 with 2 doubles, 4 home runs, and 12 RBI against right- handed pitchers … 10/14: IF Beau Mills (CLE) scores team-high three runs … two players have collected four hits in a game (C Matt Wieters (BAL) 10/09 and IF Ivan De Jesus, Jr. (LAD) 10/13).

Media Release: Arizona Fall League

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