The Surprise Saguaros came into Friday with a 2-1 record, after defeating Glendale in extra innings on Thursday. They played Glendale again today, this time in Surprise. Both Will Craig and Bryan Reynolds were in the lineup on Friday, with Reynolds as the DH batting fourth, and Craig playing his usual first base, while batting sixth.
Reynolds made his debut on Thursday and went 2-for-6 with two runs scored. In his first at-bat today, he grounded out to first base to end the first inning. Reynolds walked in the third inning, then walked again in the fifth. He reached base again in the seventh inning on a hit-by-pitch. He finished 0-for-1.
Craig came into the game with a .200 average (2-for-10), collecting a single and a home run in his first three games. He flew out to left field in his first at-bat on Friday. On defense, Craig started a 3-6-3 double play in the second inning. He led off the fourth inning with a line drive single to center field. In the sixth, Craig walked, then stole second base, his second steal of the AFL season. He popped out to first base with two men on base to end the seventh inning. Craig finished 1-for-3 with a walk and a steal
Geoff Hartlieb came on for the save and allowed a lead-off single. That was followed by a line out to left field, followed by a walk that brought the tying run to the plate. Another single loaded the bases with one out. Hartlieb picked up a big strikeout for the second out. A grounder to third base ended the game, with a 4-1 Surprise win. Hartlieb was sitting 97-98 MPH, hitting 99 on the last pitch of the strikeout.
The league has off this weekend for the Bowman Hitting Challenge. No word yet if any of the three Pirate hitters will take part in that event. The next game is Monday night, a 9:35 PM EST start in Scottsdale. It’s the second of four night games this AFL season.
