Sunday, October 21, 2007

Desert Dogs slip past Scottsdale

Evan Longoria


Scottsdale 2 at Phoenix 3

W: B. McCrory (1-0, 1.93); L: E. Camacho (0-2, 4.50)
HR: PDD: N. Reimold (3).

Statistically, the Phoenix Desert Dogs do not have the best team batting average in the Arizona Fall League league. Their .247 puts them right above the Peoria Saguaros, fifth in the 6-team league. But you don't really need to get a lot of hits, when your pitching staff isn't giving away many.

Both Scottsdale and Phoenix put up 7 hits a piece Saturday night at Phoenix Municipal Stadium, but the Desert Dogs made at least one of theirs count more.

Former Miracle pitcher Anthony Swarzak (Minnesota) took the start for the Desert Dogs, allowing only 1 hit and striking out 2 in three innings. Scottsdale would take the early lead in the fourth.

Baltimore's David Haehnel struck out Wilkin Castillo (Arizona) to start the inning, but Evan Longoria (Tampa Bay) singled out to 3rd base and then advanced to second when Twins 3rd base prospect Matt Macri threw the ball into the dugout. He then moved over to third to visit with his benefactor, when Haechnel balked. Nate Schierholtz (San Francisco) would be taken out on strikes, but Sergio Santos (Toronto) drew a walk. A Travis Snider (Toronto) single to right field plated Longoria and a second walk to Aaron Cunningham (Arizona) loaded the bags. A Chris Nowak (Tampa) single to left put Santos over the plate, but the Dogs would be able to make the play at the plate when Pittsburgh's Nyjer Morgan threw the ball into Dog's catcher Donny Lucy (Chicago White Sox) to nab Snider as he tried to cross, and end the ining.

Pheonix would tie up the game in the bottom of the fifth, when Nolan Reimold (Baltimore) homered for his secon straight game. Chris Getz (Chicago White Sox) then drew a walk, and Jeff Baisley (Oakland) reached on a throwing error by Longoria. Ryan Sweeney's (Chicago White Sox) single to left was enough for Getz to speed around 3rd and make it home, before Macri would ground out to end the inning.

A double by Andrew McCutchen (Pittsburgh) off former St. Lucie pitcher Eddie Camacho (NY Mets) and a throwing error by Snider put winning run within reach of the home plate, but 2 walks and 2 strike outs made things interesting. It would be Getz's single off Evan Meek (Tampa Bay) that drove in McCutchen to end the game.

Bob McCroy (Baltimore) would benefit from Getz's late inning heroics by picking up the win. Macri would go 2-for-4 at the plate, but would not factor into the Dog's scoring.

Sunday is a day of rest for the Arizona Fall League, Phoenix remains at home on Monday, hosting the Mesa Solar Sox for a 7:05 PM MST game. Mesa trails the Dogs by 1 game in the AFL East Division. Scottsdale, who has only managed one win in the season, trails by 7 games.

Boxscore
Log
Wrap

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