UNITED STATES – Arizona native C.J. Retherford drilled a game-winning two-run homer in the bottom of the eighth inning and the Peoria Javelinas ended the Phoenix Desert Dogs five-year title reign in the Arizona Fall League (AFL) with a 5-4 victory in the 2009 championship game Saturday in front of 3,521 in Scottsdale Stadium.

Phoenix struck early off Peoria starter Anthony Varvaro. Mark Angle tripled to leadoff the opening frame and sprinted home on Danny Espinosa’s infield grounder to give the Dogs a quick one-run advantage.

The Javelinas answered back with a pair of scores in the second on an RBI fielder’s choice and a run-scoring infield hit by Dustin Ackley to grab a 2-1 lead. But the five-time defending AFL title-holder came charging back in the fourth.

Oakland A’s prospect Grant Desme, who was named this year’s MVP, delivered a one-out homer to knot the score. Nevin Ashley wnr deep for Phoenix later in the same inning for a 3-2 lead.

A run-scoring force-play groundball off the bat of Jordan Danks tied the game in the bottom of the fourth for Peoria. But the Desert Dogs answered back on an RBI single by Tampa Bay prospect Shawn O’Malley.

Tags: AFL