Scottsdale blanks Phoenix

Anthony Swarzak

Phoenix 0 at Scottsdale 5

W: M. Prochaska (3-2, 6.55); L: A. Swarzak (1-1, 2.05)
HR: SCO: S. Santos (5), J. Jaso (3).

For a team that's going to the playoffs, Phoenix certainly didn't play like it on Tuesday. Despite 7 hits, the Desert Dogs could not get on the board, getting blanked 5-0 by the Scottsdale Scorpions.

Minnesota's Anthony Swarzak gave up 3 runs (2 earned) on 6 hits and 1 walk, striking out 3 over 5 innings.

The unearned run came in the 3rd, when Mike Carp (NY Mets) singled and moved to 2nd on Manny Burriss' (San Francisco) sac-bunt. A throwing error by catcher Raul Padron (Oakland) on a pick off attempt saw Carp to 3rd. He'd come in on Reid Brignac's (Tampa Bay) ground ball single.

In the 4th, with 2 outs, Nate Schierholtz (San Francisco) would single, then Swarzak would hang a pitch over the plate that Sergio Santos (Toronto) took deep over the left center field wall for his 5th home run of the AFL season. Swarzak would walk John Jaso (Tampa Bay) before getting Carp to fly out to end the inning.

Jaso would hit a single shot home run in the 7th off Jeff Gray (Oakland). Burris then drew a walk, and moved to second on Brignac's ground out before being plated by Wilkin Castillo's (Arizona) double to right.

The only time the Dogs really threatened was in the top of the 9th, when Andrew McCutchen (Pittsburgh) found his way to 3rd with 2 outs. But Matt Macri (Minnesota) would ground out, ending the game.

For Swarzak, it was his first loss of the AFL season. Macri, who has hit .275 on the season, was 0-for-4 at the plate.

Phoenix returns home to face the Peoria Javelinas on Wednesday for a 12:35 PM game.

The Javelina's crushed the Saguaros 17-5 Tuesday, picking up 6 runs in the 4th inning off triples by Kory Castro (Washington) and Dexter Fowler (Colorado) and 8 in the 5th with the same pair hitting doubles. Surprise again failed to lock up their playoff spot, falling 4-3 to the Mesa Solar Sox.

The Rafters lead the Javelina's by 1 with 2 regular AFL season games left to play.

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Twins trade: Minnesota made a deal with the Chicago Cubs to send a Player-to-be-named later to the Cubs in exchange for major league left fielder Craig Monroe. The 30-year-old Monroe hit 28 home runs for the Detroit Tigers in 2006 and five more in the post season as they reached the World Series. But the Tigers designated him for assignment in August after he batted .222 with 11 home runs and 55 RBI. After being traded to the Cubs, Monroe batted .204 with one home run in 23 games.

Dogs take revenge on Scorpions

Phoenix 6 at Scottsdale 5

W: A. Swarzak (1-0, 1.59); L: M. Prochaska (2-2, 8.47); SV: B. McCrory (5)
HR: PDD: N. Morgan (1). SCO: R. Patterson (2).

Minnesota's Anthony Swarzak pitched 4 innings of 3 hit baseball, allowing 1 unearned run and striking out 1 to help the Phoenix Desert Dogs back into the win column against the Scottsdale Scorpions on Wednesday.

The unearned run came when Manny Burriss (San Francisco) hit a soft ground ball to shortstop Blake Davis (Baltimore), who overthrew first and put the ball into the dugout. That allowed Burriss to advance to 2nd. Aaron Cunningham (Arizona) then singled out to left, and a fielding error by Njyer Morgan (Pittsburgh) allowed Burriss to score. With 1 out, Snider would steal second, but Swarzak got Caleb Stewart (NY Mets) to fly out and Mike Carp (NY Mets) to ground out to end the inning.

Morgan, at least, made up for his error in the 3rd. After Chris Getz (Chicago White Sox) and Raul Padron (Oakland) had singled their way onto base, Morgan hit an in-the-park home run to center field, giving the Dogs 3.

Phoenx added 2 more in the top of the 5th after Scorpions' starter Mike Prochaska (Tampa Bay) hit Morgan with a pitch, he'd then steal 2nd and with one out, came home on Ryan Sweeney's (Chicago White Sox) ground ball to center. That would do it for Prochaska, who was replaced by Nick DeBarr (Tampa Bay). Sweeney stole 2nd, and then scored on Jason Delaney's (Pittsburgh) line drive. Andrew McCutchen (Pittsburgh) would reach on a fielding attempt, and Matt Macri (Minnesota) would walk to load the bases, but Getz flew out and Padron ground out to end the inning.

Former Dunedin center fielder Ryan Patterson (Toronto) homered in the bottom of the fifth for Scottsdale off reliever David Haehnel (Baltimore).

Scottsdale make an effort to get back into the game in the 5th, with Adam Russell (Chicago White Sox) on the mound. Cunningham would walk to lead off, and Snider's grounder deflected off Macri to roll out into left field, moving him to 3rd. Stewart would strike out swinging, but Carp would reach on a force attempt that saw Cunningham score. Davis committed his second error of the game, when he missed the catch on the play. Sergio Santos (Toronto) then plated Snider before Patterson stuck out and Mike Nickeas (NY Mets) flew out to end the inning.

The Dogs threatened in the 8th when Donny Lucy (Chicago White Sox) made it to 3rd base, but Ricky Romero (Toronto) got Nolan Reimold (Baltimoer) to fly out to end retire the side. It wouldn't be until the 9th inning with Carlos Muniz (NY Mets) on the mound, that Sweeney would single his way onto first, then steal 2nd. Delaney moved him to 3rd on a fly out, and McCutchen and Macri would both walk to load the bases. Getz's force out plated Sweeney for what would prove the game winning run.

Scottsdale threatended in the 9th when Reid Brignac (Tampa Bay) doubled off Bob McCrory (Baltimore), moved to 3rd on Burriss' single to short and came home on a Cunningham sac-fly. But Snider and Stewart both hit into ground outs to end the game. The win puts SCottdale back 4.5 games in the East Divsion, they had made up some ground when they defeated the Dogs on Tuesday. Mesa remains in second place, 4 game back with 7 games left to play.

Phoenix takes on the Solar Sox at Mesa, Thursday at 7:05 PM, MST, and again on Friday at the Phoenix Municipal Stadium at 12:35 PM. Mesa fell to the AFL West Divsion leading Surprise Rafters Wednesday, 7-4. Mike Aubrey (Cleveland), Kila Kaaihue (Kansas City), Taylor Teagarden (Texas) and Brad Snider (Cleveland) all hit home runs for the Rafters. Sarasota native Tim Dillard (Milwaukee) gave up 2 in .2 innings worth of work.

Peoria Saguaros picked up a 6-2 win over the Peoria Javelina's Wednesday at the Peoria Sports Complex. Detroit's Scott Sizemore was 2-for-5 in the game with 1 run and 1 RBI, while Jeff Larish, who played for Lakeland in 2006, was 2-for-4 with 1 RBI. San Diego's Will Venable went yard for the Saguaros off Colorado's Ching Lung Lo.

The top teams in each division meet for the AFL Championship game on November 17th.

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Scorpions sting Dogs, 1-0

Nick Blackburn

Scottsdale 1 at Phoenix 0

W: E. Meek (1-0, 1.04); L: D. Davidson (0-1, 1.17); SV: B. Anderson (3)
HR: None.

Scottsdale pitching stung the PHoenix offense to sleep Tuesday as the Scorpions shut out the Dogs, 1-0.

Both teams were held to 7 hits each.

Nick Blackburn (Minnesota) started for the Desert Dogs and held the Scorpions to 4 hits, while striking out 3 over 4 innings. He dropped his ERA to 1.59 in the process.

However his performance was matched by Scorpion starter Adam Bostick (NY Mets), how allowed 5 hits and 2 walks while striking out 3 over 5 innings.

The game would stay scoreless until the 8th inning with neither team seemingly able to get past 2nd base. Phoenix catcher Donny Lucy (Chicago White Sox) made it to 3rd in the 5th inning after doubling off Bostick, but Cliff Pennington (Oakland) hit into a double play to end the inning.

With one out in the top of the 8th, Wilkin Castillo (Arizona) doubled off Pittsburgh's David Davidson. Manny Burriss (San Francisco) hit a soft fly ball to center that allowed Castillo enough time to get over the plate to give the Scorpions their sole run.

Lucy would end up stranded on 2nd in the bottom of the inning while Brian Anderson (San Francisco) allowed a single to Andrew McCutchen (Pittsburgh) in the 9th, but took out Jason Delaney (Pittsburgh), Jeff Baisley (Oakland) and Matt Macri (Minnesota) all on fly balls to end the contest.

Macri would go 0-for-4 in the contest. McCutchen was 3-for-4 and Lucy 2-for-3 with Chris Getz (Chicago White Sox) and Nyjer Morgan (Pittsburgh) getting the other 2 Dog hits.

The two teams rematch Wednesday at 7:05 PM in Scottsdale.

In other AFL action, the Surprise Rafters took a 5-2 victory over the Mesa Solar Sox. Michael Aubrey (Cleveland) was 3-for-4 with 1 run and 1 RBI for Surprise, and Elvis Andrus (Texas) and Sean Rodriguez (LA Angels) had 2 hits each in the game. Former Sarasoa Red Ben Jukich (Cincinnati) worked 4 innings for the Rafters, allowing 1 run on 3 hits and 2 walks while striking out 1.

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Blackburn named AFL Pitcher of the Week: Former Miracle Nick Blackburn made just one start during the week of Oct. 29 to Nov. 3, but it was a beauty. On Tuesday, the 25-year-old Minnesota Twins farmhand faced off against the Surprise Rafters and allowed just one hit over four shutout innings while striking out five. He earned the win in the contest, his third victory in as many appearances.

Blackburn's magnificent effort against Surprise was, in fact, no surprise, as the Oklahoma native has tossed 11 scoreless innings over his past three outings. Overall, he is 3-0 with a 2.08 ERA and 13 strikeouts in 13 innings pitched, and opponents are hitting a paltry .163 against him. Blackburn split the 2007 campaign between Double-A New Britain and Triple-A Rochester, and made his Major League debut with the Twins on Sept. 3. MLB.com

Baisley lead Dogs to late inning victory

Scottsdale 2 at Phoenix 3 (10 innings)

W: C. Hernandez (1-0, 0.00); L: C. Muniz (0-1, 3.00)
HR: None.

Jeff Baisley (Oakland) hit his 3rd double of the season out to left field to score Matt Macri (Minnesota), giving the Phoenix Desert Dogs a dramatic 3-2 win over the Scottsdale Scorpians Friday in Phoenix.

The win gives Phoenix a 12-8 record on the season, putting them 1 game ahead of Mesa in the East Division standings with just under a dozen games left to play.

Jeff Fiorentino (Baltimore) had singled to start out the bottom of the 10th, and moved to second on sac-bunt by Minnesota's Trevor Plouffe. Macri would reach on a field's choice which took Fiorentino out at 3rd. That set the stage for Baisley to bring in the game winning run.

Scottsdale lead the game early when Sergio Santos (Toronto) doubled in the 2nd inning off former Miracle Anthony Swarzak (Minnesota). Ground outs by Mike Carp (NY Mets) and Ryan Patterson (Toronto) were a costly way for the Scorpians to go, but did get the job done as Santos came over the plate for the early lead.

That would be on the only run Swarzak would give up, allowing 2 hits and striking out 2 in 3 innings worth of work. He was replaced by Ryan Mullins (Minnesota) who worked another 3 innings, allowing 1 hit and strking out 3.

Meanwhile Greg Smith (Arizona), Eddie Camacho (NY Mets) and Tampa's Nick DeBarr combined to limit the Dogs to only 4 hits over the first 7 innings.

Scottsdale would added to their lead, but not until the 8th inning. Oakland's Jeff Gray allowed a single to John Jaso (Tampa Bay) and a walk to Reid Brignac (Tampa Bay) before hitting Aaron Cunningham (Arizona) with a pitch to load the bases. This promped a pitching change which brought in Baltimore's Bob McCrory for the Dogs. A passed ball by catcher Raul Padron (oakland) allowed Jaso to score before McCrory could retire the side.

The Scorpians would go with Scott Munter (San Francisco) in the 8th. Fiorentino would reach on a fielding error by Santos and then would steal 2nd. Plouffe's ground ball deflected off Scottdale first baseman Carp, which proved to be enough to bring Santos in. Macri drew a walk. The Scorpians then changed pitchers, going with the New York Mets' Carlos Muniz. Baisley would fly out before Jason Delaney (Pittsburgh) singled to plate Plouffe and tie the game.

A fly out and a pair of ground outs ended Scottsdale's 9th inning bid, and while Muniz did allow a single to Padron, he'd get a pick off to first and faced only three Dogs batters in the inning.

Drew Butera (Minnesota) was inserted into the game to replace Padron in the 10th, but would not get a chance at the plate. The Dog's Chris Hernandez (Pittsburgh) allowed a single to Manny Burriss (San Francisco) in the top of the 10th, but Butera caught Burriss stealing 2nd, and a Reid Brignac (Tampa Bay) fly out ended the side to bring up Phoenix for their extra inning rally.

Plouffe would end up 1-for-2 at the plate with a pair of walks and 1 RBI, Macri, at 3rd base, was 0-for-4 with a walk and a run.

Phoenix hosts the Peoria Javelinas Saturday at 12:35 PM MST. The Javelina's lost Friday, 11-5 to the Peoria Saguaros. Detroit's Scott Sizemore would go 3-for-4 at the plate with 2 runs and 1 RBI for the Saguaros, while catcher Nick Hundley (San Diego) drove in 3.

The Javelina's trail West division leading Surprise by 1 game, while Saguaros sits 6 games back in that division. The Solar Sox fell to the Rafters 10-3 Friday.

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Desert Dogs slip past Scottsdale

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.

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Phoenix wins in Scottsdale, falls to Surprise

Phoenix 4 at Surpise 5

W: D. Austen (1-0, 0.00); L: B. Kilby (0-1, 7.71); SV: N. Hoelscher (1)
HR: PDD: J. Baisley (1). SUR: J. Mayberry 2 (3), C. Dickerson (1).

Ranger's prospect John Mayberry launched a two-run blast in the first, then snapped a 4-4 tie with a solo shot in the eighth to led the Surprise Rafters over the Phoenix Desert Dogs, 5-4, on Saturday afternoon. The 23-year-old outfielder had a career-high three homers and seven RBIs on April 26 with Class A Advanced Bakersfield and had a two-homer game on July 11 with Double-A Frisco.

Mayberry's first yarder came off former Miracle starter Nick Blackburn, who was making his Arizona Fall League debute. A ball deflected off Blackburn which allowed Chris Dickerson (Cincinnati) onto base on a line drive single. These was a delay as Blackburn was checked, but he was able to continue, giving up a single to German Duran (Texas). He would take Michael Aubrey (Cleveland) out on strikes before Mayberry stepped up the plate. Dickerson decided this was a good time to steal 3rd and made a run for it, but Phoenix catcher Donny Lucy (Chi White Sox) fired the ball to 3rd baseman Jeffrey Baisley (Oakland) to stop the runner. No one could stop Mayberry though, who's ball cleared the left center field wall. Blackburn would then take Chris Lubanski (Kansas City) out on strikes to end the inning.

In the bottom of the second, Miami, Fl, native Sean Rodriguez (LA Angels) greeted Blackburn with a double. Taylor Teagarden (Texas) ground out, but moved Rodriguez to 3rd. He'd come home on a Jose Duarte (Kansas City) sac-fly. Elvis Andrus (Texas), the brother of former Miracle oufielder Errol Andrus, struck out to end the inning and Blackburn's short stint on the mound.

That gives Blackburn, who has a good chance of landing a role on the Twins next season, a 13.50 ERA to open the short fall season.

Trevor Plouffe played at short again for the Desert Dogs, and was 1-for-3 at the plate. Plouffe singled in the top of the 2nd but was left stranded when Lucy flew out to retire the side.

Plouffe would fly out in the top of the 3rd, drew a walk off the rafter's Von Stertzbach (LA Angels) in the top of the 6th, and reached on a fielding error in the top of the 8th.

Rochester's Matt Macri was brought into the game in the bottom of the ninth, replacing Baltimore's Jeff Fiorentino in the line up as the Dog's tried to capitalize on Nolan Reimold's (Baltimore) Walk to tie the score, but Macri struck out swinging to end the game.

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Late Friday:

Scottsdale 5 at Phoenix 7

W: J. Johnson (1-0, 0.00); L: R. Romero (0-1, 13.50); SV: B. McCrory (2)
HR: SCO: E. Longoria (3). PDD: R. Padron (1).

Oakland's Raul Padron was 3-for-4 at the plate with 1 run, 2 RBI's and a home run to lead the Desert Dogs over the Scottsdale Scorpions, 7-5.

Twins prospect Trevor Plouffe was 1-for-2 with a walk off New York's Adam Bostick (Mets) in the 2nd inning, Plouffe's single came in the bottom of the 8th.

His best contribution came in the sixth, when his sac-bunt moved fellow Twins prospect Matt Macri to 3rd and Padron to 2nd. Macri would then score on Cliff Pennington's (Oakland) sac fly.

Macri was otherwise 0-for-3 at the plate with a pop out, a stike out, and ground out.

Eduardo Morlan pitched the top of the 6th inning, getting Mike Carp (NY Mets) and Sergio Santos (Toronto) to fly out, before allowing singles to John Jaso (Tampa Boy) and Nate Schierholtz (San Francisco). He would get Eugenio Velez (San Franscisco) to ground out though to end the inning.

The league takes Sunday off. Phoenix will take on the Peoria Saguaros, Monday at 7:05 M.S.T.

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Twins' Macri, Phoenix dominate Scottsdale

Phoenix 7 at Scottsdale 2

W: P. Bresnehan (1-0, 0.00); L: M. Scherzer (0-1, 18.00)
HR: PDD: M. Macri (1). SCO: E. Longoria (2).

It was Twins night for the Phoenix Desert Dogs, with former Miracle pitcher Ryan Mullins starting things off by pitching 2 innings of 1 hit baseball against the Scottsdale Scorpions. Mullins threw 26 pitches, 18 for strikes and struck 3 of the 7 batters he faced.

Mullins' first batter, Eugenio Velez (San Francisco), singled out to right and stole second. He made it to third on a Reid Brignac's (Tampa Bay) ground out, but Mullins then took Toronto's Travis Snider and Tampa Bay's Evan Longoria out on strikes to end the first inning.

Matt Macri lead the offense of the Dogs, going 3-for-5 at the plate with 2 runs and 3 RBIs. He went yard at the top of the fourth inning off Arizona's Max Scherzer after designated hitter Jason Delaney (Pittsburgh) had walked his way onto base. He then doubled in top of the 5th for Phoenix off Toronto's Jamie Vermilyea.

Macri joined the Twins organization from the Rockies in August in the deal for pitcher Ramon Ortiz.

Catcher Drew Butera was 1-for-4 at the plate with 2 RBIs while former Miracle Trevor Plouffe as 0-for-5 with 4 strike outs on the night.

The two teams rematch tonight at 7:05 PM MST, with Phoenix getting home field advantage.

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No score is currently available on the Tigre's de Araqua game in the Venezuelan Winter League. The Tigers face the Leones del Caracas today at 4:00 (Venezuelan local time).

It was my intention to try to make it to today's Instructional League game, however, I despite having an additional six months to work with, I've had three clients to felt the need to wait until the extreme last second to get their 2006 tax information into me. Monday is the deadline for individual extensions and I've got two slow pokes coming in today and one coming in Monday. However, if I don't see this info on my desk bright and early today I might leave and go to the game just be cruel.

Slowey named MILB AAA Pitcher of the Year: Former Miracle Kevin Slowey was named MILB's AAA Pitcher of the year Thursday. Slowey finished with a 10-5 record for the Rochester Red Wins and his 1.89 ERA was second only to Class A Augusta's Kevin Pucetas (1.86) in the Minors. The International League batted just .223 against the Winthrop product, who continued to post one of the most gaudy walk ratios this side of future Hall of Famer Greg Maddux. The right-hander struck out 107 and walked only 18 in 133 2/3 innings. In 353 2/3 career Minor League frames, Slowey boasts a 1.93 ERA, walking 48 and striking out 342. Fantasy players certainly would appreciate the future of a pitcher who had an 0.86 WHIP in the Minors.

Tampa Yankee's Ian Kennedy was named the overall Starting Pitcher of the year for 2007. Kennedy finished the Minor League season with a 12-3 mark, posted a 1.91 ERA and dominated at three different levels before taking his act to New York.