Phoenix win locks up AFL East Division

Peo Saguaros 2 at Phoenix 5

W: A. Russell (2-0, 2.40); L: J. Ellis (0-1, 6.10); SV: E. Morlan (1)
HR: None.

The Phoenix Desert Dogs held the Saguaros to 2 runs on 5 hits Saturday, taking a 5 game lead in the AFL East Division with four games left to play, securing their playoff berth.

The Saguaros got on the board first, taking a run off Jack Egbert (Chicago White Sox) in the 3rd inning. Nick Hundley (San Diego) walked with 1 out, moved to 3rd on Steve Sollmann's (Milwaukee) double and scored on a Greg Golson (Philadelphia) sac-fly.

Phoenix would wait until the 5th to get their offense rolling with Chris Getz (Chicago White Sox) and Cliff Pennington (Oakland) hitting back-to-back doubles off Zachary Hammes (LA Dodgers). Nyjer Morgan's single moved Pennington to 3rd, and he crossed the plate on Matt Macri's (Minnesota) ground out to give the Dogs a 2-1 lead.

The Saguaros would tie it up in the top of the 6th, with Xavier Paul (LA Dodgers) taking a walk off reliever David Haehnel (Baltimore) with 2 outs, then stealing 2nd. Scott Sizemore (Detroit) then drew a walk as well. Jeff Larish's (Detroit) line drive would put Paul over the plate, but Mike Costanzo (Philadelphia) would strike out to retire the side.

In the bottom of the seventh, Pennington drew a walk from Jonathan Ellis (San Diego), then stoled 2nd. Morgan then tripled to plate Pennington, then came home on Nolan Reimold's (Baltimore) sac-fly, to make it 4-2 Dogs.

They would add some extra insurance in the bottom of the 8th with Drew Butera (Minnesota) doubling, moving to 3rd on a Getz single and crossing the plate on Morgan's ground out.

Butera would finish the game 1-for-4. Macri would not record a hit in 4 at bats, but picked up 1 RBI on the ground out in the 5th.

Eddie Morlan picked up the save, working .1 inning, striking out Jai Miller (Florida) to end the contest.

The Dogs face Mesa and Scottsdale on the road Monday and Tuesday, host the Javelinas on Wednesday and finish up the regular season at Surprise on Thursday. All games are 12:35 PM MST.

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