Surprise played their third game of the season on Thursday afternoon. After splitting the first two games, they went on the road to take on Glendale today. The lineup included Cole Tucker batting second, while Bryan Reynolds made his debut, batting sixth and playing left field. The Saguaros won 10-9 in ten innings.
After going 2-for-4 with a walk, stolen base and three runs scored in his first game on Tuesday, Tucker singled to second base in his first at-bat on Thursday. He flew out to left field in the third inning, then singled home a run in the fifth inning. Tucker picked up his second stolen base, then one batter later, he stole third base. In the sixth, he brought home a run on a sacrifice fly, though he just missed a grand slam by a few feet. He had another bases loaded chance in the seventh, but grounded out to second base to end the inning. For the third inning in a row, Tucker had a bases loaded chance and this time he walked for his third RBI. He grounded out in the tenth, leaving him 2-for-5 with a walk, two stolen bases and a sacrifice fly in the game.
Bryan Reynolds came up in a big spot in the first inning, batting with the bases loaded and two outs. He grounded out to second base to end the inning. Reynolds grounded out to second base again to start the fourth inning, then singled on a line drive to left field to begin the sixth. He scored three batters later to make it an 8-2 game in favor of Glendale. Reynolds led off again in the seventh and singled on a grounder through the left side. He grounded out back to the pitcher in the eighth, reaching on a force out, then scoring a run. Reynolds struck out looking in the ninth. That left him 2-for-6 with two runs scored in his debut.
Reynolds made an outstanding catch in the left center gap to rob a double in the seventh inning, then combined with Tucker for a 7-6-3 double play.
I mentioned the other day that you don’t see many substitutions in the AFL. Whoever is in the starting lineup, usually finishes the game. The one obvious situation that goes against that “rule” is when they need an injury replacement. Will Craig needed to come into the game in the eighth inning on defense after the first baseman was hit by a pitch in the top of the inning. He flew out to left field to end the top of the ninth. Craig scored a run in the tenth as the designated runner at second base to begin extra innings.
Surprise returns home tomorrow for a 3:35 PM EST start time. Glendale will be the opponent.
