The Glendale Desert Dogs played their third night game this week on Thursday night. It’s also their final night game of the season. They faced Salt River on the road, with Kevin Kramer and Logan Hill both in the lineup. This is the first game this season with PITCHf/x available, but no Pirates came on to pitch. The Desert Dogs went into the game with the best record (5-3) in the league, but lost their third contest in a row, dropping a 5-1 decision.
Kramer was at shortstop again, the only position he has played in the Arizona Fall League, and he batted second. He grounded out to second base in his first at-bat. Kramer singled on a line drive to left field to lead-off the fourth inning, then walked in the sixth. He flew out to right field in the eighth inning, leaving him 1-for-3 with a walk. Kramer is hitting .313 through five games. He handled six plays in the field, including two double plays.
Logan Hill batted third and played right field. He struck out looking in his first at-bat on a 94 MPH fastball that appeared to be well inside and off the plate. Hill popped out to second base in his second at-bat, though the out was recorded at second base, getting the faster Kevin Kramer off of the bases. Hill struck out swinging in the sixth on three pitches, all fastballs between 88-91 MPH. In the eighth, he doubled home a run to make it 5-1. Hill finished 1-for-4, leaving him with a .313 average through five games.
** Glendale has an afternoon game tomorrow, followed by the weekend off. Teams usually play in the AFL on Saturday, but this week is the Bowman Hitting Challenge. When Glendale returns to action next week, we will have live coverage from Monday through Thursday.