Friday, November 9, 2007

Phoenix error gives Solar Sox 5-3 win

Steve Hammond


Phoenix 3 at Mesa 5

W: L. Holdzkom (1-0, 6.23); L: J. Chavez (1-2, 6.55); SV: J. Motte (1)
HR: PDD: C. Pennington (1). MSS: M. LaPorta (5).

The Mesa Solar Sox took 3 runs off Jesse Chavez (Pittsburgh) to overcome the Phoenix Desert Dogs in route to a 5-3 victory at Mesa HoHoKam Park. The game winning run was unearned, as Chicago Cubs' farmhand Josh Lansford reached on a fielding error by Phoenix shortstop Blake Davis (Baltimore).

Nyjer Morgan (Pittsburgh) greeted Mesa starter Steve Hammond (Milwaukee) with a single before Cliff Pennington (Oakland) blasted a ball over the left field wall to give the Dogs a 2 run lead. Ryan Sweeney (Chicago White Sox) would be called out on strikes before Jeff Baisley (Oakland) doubled. Matt Macri's (Minnesota) fly ball single to center field would plate Baisley after Andrew McCutchen (Pittsburgh) lined out. Trevor Plouffe (Minnesota) would ground out to end the inning.

Sam Fuld (Chicago Cubs) started off the bottom of the inning by hitting a double off former Miracle Ryan Mullins (Minnesota). Following a pair of ground outs, Matt LaPorta (Milwaukee) hit a home run to cut the Dog's lead to 1.

The game would stay that way with Hammond working 4 innings, allowing the 3 first inning runs off 4 hits and 2 walks while striking out 3. Mullins would work 4 innings as well, allowing the 2 runs on 4 hits and 1 walk while striking out 3.

Jake Arrieta (Baltimore) and Eddie Morlan (Minnesota) would each work a scoreless inning for the Dogs before Chevez got onto the mound.

Mitch Einertson (Houston) singled to start out, and was followed by a Lou Palimisano (Milwaukee) fly out. Langford then reached on Davis' error which moved Einertson to 3rd to Lansford to 2nd. Amaury Marti (St Louis) plated Einertson to tie the game, and a Tommy Manzella (Houston) single brought Lansford home for the game winning run. Fuld singled to load the bases and then Chavez walked Jarrett Hoffpauir (St Louis) to force Marti over the plate, giving Mesa an insurance marker.

The Dogs only got 2 hits off the Solar Sox relief team of Dave Johnson (Milwaukee), Lincoln Holdzkom (Boston), Josh Muecke (Houston) and Jason Mott (St. Louis).

Morlan allowed 1 hit and struck out 1 during his inning on the mound. Macri would finish up 2-for-4 at the plate with 1 RBI, Plouffe would be 0-for-1 being replaced by Davis in the bottom of the 2nd inning. Catcher Drew Butera (Minnesota) was 0-for-3 batting at the bottom of the order.

The two teams rematch at Phoenix Municipal Stadium on Friday at 12:35 PM, MST. Mesa now trails the Dogs by 3 games in the AFL East Division standings. The Dogs host the Peoria Saguaros on Saturday for a 12:35 game before taking Sunday off.

The Saguaros defeated Scottsdale 9-1 Thursday with former Clearwater Thresher Greg Golson (Philadelphia) going yard for Peoria. Philadelphia's Pat Overholt picked up the win, allowing 2 hits and striking out 3 in 4 innings.

Surprise continued their dominance in the West Division, defeating the Peoria Javelinas 5-2. Chris Lubanski (Kansas City) hit a blast off Colorado's Sean Thompson for the Rafters. Matt Harrison (Texas) allowed 1 hit and 2 walks while striking out 5 in four innings for his fifth win of the season.

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