Tag: Josh Harrison

Phoenix Desert Dogs� 12,� Mesa Solar Sox� 6

A 4-run 8th inning and 3 hits by 2B Ryan Flaherty (Cubs) were not nearly enough for the Solar Sox to catch up to the Desert Dogs in Arizona Fall League action this afternoon.

Phoenix hit up Solar Sox' starter Jake Muyco (Cubs) for 4 runs on 7 hits in the first 4 innings.� The Desert Dogs had a 2-run homer in the 2nd inning, and another 2-run blast in the 4th, both off the bat of RF Cory Harrilchak (Braves).� Steven Geltz (Angels) took over for Muyco to begin the 5th inning, but Geltz gave up a 3-run homer to C Kyle Skipworth (Marlins).

Chris Carpenter relieved Geltz, but three more singles, including one by Harrilchak, added the fourth run of the inning.� Skipworth followed Harrilchak's lead, adding another 3-run homer in the 6th inning, off Carpenter.� Carpenter was crazy wild in the 6th, walking three batters and throwing two wild pitches, one of which brought in a run before the homer.

Kyle Smit (Cubs) finished the 6th inning for Carpenter, then pitched a scoreless 7th inning.� Chris Kissock and Justin De Fratus (both Phillies) each pitched a scoreless inning to finish things up.

But the Solar Sox could not get things going.� C Tony Sanchez had the only bright spot for Mesa in the early innings, with his solo home run that led off the 3rd inning.� It was the only hit for the Solar Sox in the first 3 inning.� Flaherty singled to lead off the 4th and stole second base, but got no further.� He singled again in the 6th, following a single by 1B Josh Satin, but both were left on base, and 3B Josh Vitters singled in the 7th, but he was erased in a double play.

Finally in the 8th inning, the Solar Sox heated up a bit.� LF Tim Kennelly (Phillies) led off with a ground-rule double, and Satin followed with a double that glanced off the Phoenix third baseman's glove and into left field.� That plated Kennelly.� Flaherty walked, and with two outs, RF Andrew Lambo lined a double into center field, scoring Satin.� Vitters added a single, driving in Flaherty, and CF Kirk Nieuwenhuis (Mets) singled, bringing Lambo across the plate.� It was 4 runs for the inning, but it got the Solar Sox only as far as 12-5.

Kennelly led off the bottom of the 9th with his second double in two innings.� DH Josh Harrison walked and Flaherty's third hit of the game loaded the bases for the Solar Sox.� SS Jordy Mercer walked to force in a run, but a strikeout and a grounder force out ended the game with the bases still full.

As usual, the Arizona Fall League takes Sunday off, so the Solar Sox will be back on Monday.

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Peoria Javelinas� 6,� Mesa Solar Sox� 4

Josh Harrison has put his slow start in Arizona well behind him.� He continued his hitting tear with 3 more hits today (a double and two singles) with an RBI.� He now has 13 hits over his last 4 games (.684) and 16 in his last 7 games (.500).� The Solar Sox lost to the Javelinas today, but it wasn't because Harrison wasn't doing his part.

SS Jordy Mercer, who had 2 hits today, was the only Mesa batter to reach base in the first two innings, when he walked.� Justin Wilson, getting the start for the Solar Sox, worked around a single in the top of the 1st and around a fielding error in the 2nd inning, but kept Peoria from scoring in those innings.� Each team scored one run in the 3rd.� Javelina's Cord Phelps (Team USA and Cleveland Indians) singled and stole second base in the top of the 3rd, then scored on Nate Tenbrink's (Mariners) RBI single.� In the bottom of the inning, 3B Josh Vitters (Cubs) led off with a walk and stole second base.� DH Andrew Romine's (Angels) single moved Vitters to third, and he scored on 2B Jordany Valdespin's ground out.� Harrison doubled in the inning, but did not score.

Aaron Pribanic took over for Wilson to begin the 4th. Wilson had allowed just that one run on 3 hits, no walks, with 3 strikeouts.� Pribanic pitched 2 scoreless innings, allowing two singles in the 5th, but getting out of that jam with a double play.� Both Romine and Harrison singled in the 5th inning for Mesa, but both were left on base.� Mercer also singled in the 6th, and C Tony Sanchez walked, but both were left stranded.

But big trouble came in the top of the 6th, when BJ Rosenberg (Phillies) relieved Pribanic.� Rosenberg gave up a walk, then a 2-run homer.� Then with two outs, he gave up back-to-back solo homers to 1B Kody Clemens (Astros) and SS Matt Lawson (Mariners), and the Javelinas had a 5-1 lead.� Tyson Brummett (Phillies) pitched the 7th and kept the Javelinas from scoring.� Ryan Brasier (Angels) gave up another run in the 8th, on a double, a walk, and two wild pitches.� Robert Fish (Angels) pitched a 1-2-3 inning in the top of the 9th.

The Solar Sox went into the bottom of the 9th with a 6-1 lead, but they hadn't given up.� Romine led off with a ball to short, which was misplayed, allowing him to reach first safely.� Valdespin singled, and Romine made it to third.� Valdespin stole second, and when Harrison singled, Romine scored and Valdespin advanced to third.� CF Jeremy Moore's (Angels) sacrifice fly brought in Valdespin.� Singles by 1B Matt Rizzotti (Phillies) and Mercer drove in Harrison with the third run o fthe inning.� After a strikeout (out #2), Sanchez walked to load the bases.� Andrew Lambo came in to pinch-run for Sanchez, but Vitters grounded to short, and Lambo was forced out to end the game with the Solar Sox coming in a little short.

Sanchez walked twice but had no hits in 3 other at-bats (average .267).� Harrison went 3-for-5 (average at .360) and Mercer went 2-for-4 with a walk (average at .308).� Lambo is hitting .314, though he did not have an at-bat tonight.

Mesa Solar Sox� 7,� Scottsdale Scorpions� 6

Rematch:� Brian Leach vs. Bryce Harper --� strikeout.� Way to go, Brian.

The Scorpions jumped out to an early lead this afternoon in the Arizona Fall League, but the Solar Sox did not give up -- they chipped away at the lead for a come-from-behind win.� RF Andrew Lambo and 2B Josh Harrison combined for 4 hits, with Harrison's 3 hits further boosting his average to .333.

Mesa starter Robert Carson (Mets) zipped through the first inning, but ran into trouble in the 2nd, when the first four batters reached base safely:� a walk and three consecutive singles.� That brought in two runs and left runners on the corners.� Scorpions' RF Harper (Nationals) struck out. � The next batter lined out, and the Solar Sox tried to catch the runner from first off base, but he was safe at second, and the runner from third scored.� A single scored the runner from second, and a home run by CF Charles Blackmon (Rockies) brought in the 5th and 6th runs of the inning.� Carson was relieved by David Cales (Cubs), who ended the inning with a fly out.

The Solar Sox started their comeback in the bottom of the inning.� Harrison led off with a double, and he scored on LF Kirk Nieuwenhuis' triple.� Nieuwenhuis tried to tag up and score on a fly out, but he was thrown out at the plate.

Mesa took a big step forward in the 5th, when they began the inning with 4 straight hits. 1B Joshua Satin (Mets) singled, C Tim Kennelly (Phillies) and SS Andrew Romine (Angels) both doubled, and CF Brett Jackson (Cubs) also singled, and 3 runs came in.� Jackson stole second base, then scored on DH Matt Rizzotti's (Phillies) single.� Two strikeouts (one by Harrison) and Lambo's fly out ended the inning, but the Solar Sox had come within one run of the Scorpions, 6-5.

Cales pitched a scoreless 3rd inning for Mesa.� Chris Carpenter (Cubs) retired the side in order in the 4th, then got out of a jam (double and walk) with a timely double play in the 5th.

Brian Leach took the mound for the Solar Sox to begin the 6th.� He gave up a one-out bunt single, then Bryce Harper came to the plate.� Leach struck him out on three pitches -- foul, foul, and swinging strike.� A fly out ended the inning.

Kyle Smit (Cubs), Justin De Fratus (Phillies), and Chris Kissock (Phillies) each pitched a scoreless inning to finish it up for the Solar Sox.� De Fratus walked the only Scottsdale batter to reach base over those three innings.

The Solar Sox rallied again in the bottom of the 7th.� With two outs, Lambo and Harrison hit back-to-back doubles, driving in Lambo with the tying run.� Then Nieuwenhuis lined a single in to right field, and Harrison raced around from second base to score the winning run.

Leach has now pitched in 5 games for the Solar Sox, for a total of 5 innings.� He has given up 8 hits and 5 runs, but all of those runs have been unearned.� He has walked one batter and struck out three.

Mesa Solar Sox� 18,� Peoria Saguaros� 9

If you heard a lot of booming this afternoon, it might have come from the Solar Sox.� They posted a total of 22 hits on their way to 18 runs.� While the Saguaros recorded 15 hits, they managed only 9 runs.� Both teams also contributed to an error-fest:� 3 for the Solar Sox and 6 for the Saguaros.� 2B Josh Harrison and CF Jeremy Moore (Angels) led the way with 4 hits and 3 RBI each.� RF Andrew Lambo and SS Jordy Mercer each contributed 3 hits, and Lambo also had 4 RBI.

Harrison started the game off with a double into left field.� He advanced to third on a grounder, and scored on Lambo's single -- Lambo's first RBI.� Peoria responded with 2 runs in the bottom of the 1st, with a two singles, a double, and two of Mesa's errors:� a throwing error by Harrison and a throwing error on starter Josh Zeid (Phillies) on a pick-off attempt.� The Saguaros added two more in the 2nd inning, on a single, a triple, and an RBI ground out.� Saguaros� 4,� Solar Sox� 1.

The Solar Sox came back to take the lead in the top of the 3rd.� Harrison led off with a walk, and made it to second base on a passed ball.� Moore blasted a 2-run homer, to bring Mesa closer:� 4-3.� 3B Brandon Wood (Angels) tripled, and scored on Mercer's single to tie the game.� LF/1B Ryan Flaherty (Cubs) also singled, then a double by 1B/3B Josh Vitters (Cubs) drove in Mercer with the go-ahead run.� Solar Sox 5,� Saguaros 4.

Then the Solar Sox went crazy.� They sent 13 batters to the plate in the top of the 4th, scoring 8 runs.� Moore singled, and moved to second base on a throwing error on a pick-off attempt.� Lambo singled, driving in Moore for his second RBI in the game (1 run).� Lambo advanced to second base on the throw to the plate, then on to third on Mercer's ground out for the second out of the inning.� Flahery walked.� A fielding error let Lambo score (2), and put Vitters on base.� C Kai Gronauer (Mets) doubled, driving in both Flaherty and Vitters (3, 4).� The Saguaros changed pitchers, but it didn't help.� Valdespin singled, plating Gronauer (5).� Harrison doubled, and Valdespin came in (6).� Moore walked, and Wood singled to load the bases.� Lambo grounded to short, where a fielding error let Harrison and Moore both score (7,8).� The inning ended when Mercer grounded into a force out.� Solar Sox 13,� Saguaros 4.

And they weren't done.� The 5th inning began with back-to-back fielding errors, putting Flaherty and Vitters on base.� Gronauer walked to load the bases with no outs.� Harrison's sacrifice fly brought in Flaherty, and Moore's single brought in Vitters.� Solar Sox 15,� Saguaros 4.

Back-to-back singles by Valdespin and Harrison opened the 7th, and a passed ball put both of them into scoring position.� After two strikeouts, Lambo and Mercer hit another pair of back-to-back singles, with both runners scoring on Lambo's hit -- his 3rd and 4th RBI of the game.� Harrison capped off the game with a solo home run to lead off the top of the 9th inning.

Zeid pitched 4 innings and gave up those early 4 runs to Peoria.� He was relieved by Tyson Brummett (Phillies), who gave up a 2-run homer in the 5th inning.� Nicholas Carr (Mets) pitched a perfect bottom of the 6th.� Eric Niesen began the 7th, and gave up three consecutive singles, driving in one run.� After a pop out, a fielding error by Mercer loaded the bases.� Two more singles drove in two more runs.� Eddie McKiernan (Angels) finished the 7th inning for Niesen, then went on to pitch a scoreless 8th.� Steven Geltz (Angels) gave up a single and a double in the bottom of the 9th, but he got out of the jam without a run scoring.

Everyone's batting average was boosted today.� Harrison, who needed a lift, now has a .293 average and 5 RBI.� Lambo is up to .319 with 13 RBI.� Mercer is hitting .286 with 7 RBI.

Mesa Solar Sox� 7,� Surprise Rafters� 2

Mesa batters piled up 5 runs over the first two innings, while their pitchers held the Rafters to just 3 hits in the Arizona Fall League this evening.� RF Andrew Lambo and LF Josh Harrison combined for 5 hits, 4 of which were for extra bases.

Harrison got the Solar Sox jump-started with a lead-off double in the bottom of the 1st.� CF Brett Jackson (Cubs) followed with a double, scoring Harrison.� Lambo blasted a 2-run homer over the right field wall, to give the Solar Sox a 3-0 lead.� The Sox kept right on going in the 2nd inning, with singles by 2B Jordany Valdespin (Mets) and Harrison.� Both stole the next base, and both scored on 3B Brandon Wood's (Angels) double, and Mesa had a 5-0 lead.

Things were quiet over the middle innings, then Harrison tripled again in the 6th.� He was left on base, but the Solar Sox went on to score again in the 7th.� Wood singled and moved to second on a wild pitch.� Lambo doubled him in, then a wild pitch and an RBI single by 1B Ryan Flaherty (Cubs) plated Lambo.

Brad Holt (Mets) pitched 3 scoreless innings to start for the Solar Sox.� He gave up just one hit, and struck out 5 batters.� Six more pitchers took one inning each for the rest of the game.� Chris Carpenter (Cubs), Justin De Fratus (Phillies), and Steven Geltz (Angels) each pitched a perfect inning.� Kyle Smit (Cubs) and David Cales (also Cubs) each walked a batter but kept his inning scoreless.� Brian Leach pitched the 7th inning, the only inning in which the Rafters scored.� With one out, an error by Valdespin at second base put a runner on base.� After another out, a pair of doubles allowed 2 unearned runs to score.

Jordy Mercer also got into the game at shortstop, but was hitless in 4 at-bats.

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Peoria Saguaros� 6,� Mesa Solar Sox� 2

A tough first inning for starter Justin Wilson put the Solar Sox into an early hole in Arizona Fall League play this afternoon.� The Saguaros began the game with three straight hits.� The first batter of the game, 2B Eduardo Escobar (White Sox), took Wilson's first pitch over the left field wall for a solo home run.� The second batter, CF Dave Sappelt (Reds), doubled, and the third batter, LF Leslie Anderson (Rays), singled through the hole into right field moving Sappelt to third base.� Then Wilson caught a break, when C Devin Mesoraco (Reds) flied out to center field.� Mesa CF Jeremy Moore (Angels) made the unexpected catch, then quickly threw the ball back to the infield, relayed from 1B Josh Vitters (Cubs) to 3B Brandon Wood (Angels), who was able to double off Sappelt.� A strikeout ended the inning for Wilson.� Wilson had a better second inning, retiring the side in order, with another strikeout.

Tyson Brummett (Phillies) relieved Wilson to begin the 3rd inning.� He also gave up one run, on a pair of doubles.� SS Andrew Parrino glanced a grounder off the glove of 1B Vitters and into right field, then Anderson drove him in with another double.� Brummett also went on to retire the side in order in his second inning on the mound.

The Solar Sox threatened in both the 2nd and 3rd innings.� RF Andrew Lambo opened the 2nd inning with a double into left field, then advanced to third on a ground out.� C Tony Sanchez made it Pirates on the corners when he was hit by a pitch (not in the face), but both were left on base when 2B Josh Harrison popped out.� The Sox loaded the bases in the 3rd on walks to DH Jordany Valdespin (Mets) and Moore, then after a double steal, Wood walked.� But Lambo struck out and Vitters popped up to end the inning with all three runners stranded.

Finally, the Solar Sox got going in the 5th inning, taking advantage of two errors to tie the score. WIth two outs, Moore singled and stole second base.� A throwing error by C Mesoraco on the stolen base let Moore advance to third base.� Wood Doubled, driving in Moore easily.� A passed ball put Wood on third base.� When Lambo grounded to first and the Peoria 1B Chris Parmelee (Twins) made a throwing error, Wood also scored.

The tie did not last long.� Nicholas Carr (Mets) pitched a scoreless 5th, but gave up a 2-run homer to 3B Henry Wrigley (Rays) in the 6th.� Eric Niesen took over for the 7th, and he also surrendered 2 runs, on two singles and a 2-RBI double.� Eddie McKiernan (Angels) pitched his way out of a bases-loaded jam in the bottom of the 8th -- a single, two strikeouts, two walks, and a fly out.

The Solar Sox had lone singles in three of their last four innings:� by Sanchez in the 6th, by LF Ryan Flaherty (Cubs) in the 8th, and by SS Andrew Romine (Angels) in the 9th.� All three were left on base.

Josh Harrison was hitless in 4 at-bats (.161 average).� Lambo went 1-for-4 with a double (.263) and Sanchez went 1-for-3 (.318).

Scottsdale Scorpions� 6,� Mesa Solar Sox� 3

Washington National's 18-year-old outfielder Bryce Harper made his pro debut in the Arizona Fall League, and the Mesa Solar Sox got the short end of the deal.� Harper's first at-bat, against Mesa's Josh Zeid (Phillies) resulted in a sky-high pop-out to short.� Harper lined out to center field in the 4th, and grounded to third in the 6th, but it was in the 7th inning that he really hurt the Solar Sox.

The Solar Sox began the game with a run in the top of the 1st.� CF Jeremy Moore (Angels) doubled, but was thrown out trying to steal third base.� 3B Josh Vitters (Cubs) also doubled and RF Andrew Lambo brought him home with a single up the middle.� The Scorpions got the run back in the bottom of the inning, on a double, a fielding error by Lambo, and an RBI ground out.

Zeid kept the Scorpions scoreless for the next two innings, allowing only a double.� Kyle Smit (Cubs) got a timely double play, turned by SS Andrew Romine (Angels) and 2B Josh Harrison, to get out of a jam in the 4th.� In the 5th, Smit loaded the bases on two walks and a single, then walked in a run� He was relieved by Chris Carpenter (Cubs), who gave up an RBI single before getting the last two outs of the inning.� Scorpions 3, Solar Sox 1.

The Mesa bats were quiet over those innings too.� Josh Satin (Mets) singled in the 3rd and Vitters singled in the 4th, but neither could come around to score.� Satin walked to open the 6th, but was forced out when Romine grounded to short (though Romine might have avoided a double play.� Moore doubled, and Romine scrambled around from first base to score.� Scorpions 3, Solar Sox 2.� The Sox threatened in the 7th, when Harrison and C Tim Kennelly (Phillies) hit back-to-back two-out singles, but a ground out ended the inning with both still on base.

Brian Leach took the mound to begin the bottom of the 7th, with the Solar Sox just one run down.� But the trouble started right away, when 2B Steve Lombardozzi ((Nationals) reached base on a throwing error by Satin.� AJ Pollock (Diamondbacks) doubled, moving Lombardozzi to third base.� After a fly out, 1B Jordan Pacheco (Team USA and Rockies) grounded to third, where Josh Vitters quickly fired to the plate so that Kennelly could tag out Lombardozzi.� That left runners on the corners and two outs.� Then Leach gave up a single to LF Marc Krauss (D'backs), driving in Pollock.� A wild pitch put runners on second and third, and a walk loaded the bases.� That brought up Harper.� He smacked a ground-rule double off the left field wall, missing a grand slam by inches, bringing in two more runs.� Leach was not charged with the loss (Smit was), and the 3 runs he gave up were unearned because of the error that opened the inning.

The Solar Sox scored one more run in the top of the 8th.� They loaded the bases on a single by Moore, and walks to Vitters and Lambo.� DH Jordy Mercer brought in the run with a sacrifice fly.� Justin De Fratus (Team USA and Phillies) pitched a scoreless bottom of the 8th, working around a throwing error by Romine at shortstop.

Mercer was 0-for-3 with the sacrifice fly.� Lambo went 1-for-3 with the RBI and a walk, and Harrison was 1-for-4.

Mesa Solar Sox� 6,� Peoria Javelinas� 5

The Solar Sox and the Javelinas passed the lead back and forth this afternoon in Arizona Fall League play, but the Solar Sox were able to hold on in the bottom of the 9th to secure the win.

After both teams stranded two baserunners in the 1st inning, the Solar Sox were the first to dent the scoreboard in the 2nd.� 1B Ryan Flaherty (Cubs) led off with a walk, and LF Josh Harrison singled, moving Flaherty to third base.� A grounder to short by C Kai Gronauer let Flaherty score easily from third base.� The Javelinas responded with a run of their own in the bottom of the inning, tying the score on back-to-back doubles by 1B Koby Clemens (Astros, of course) and 2B Jason Kipnis (Cleveland Indians).

The 1-1 tie lasted until the bottom of the 5th.� Jake Muyco (Cubs) pitched 3 innings in his start for Mesa.� He had to work around baserunners again in the 3rd inning, finishing with one run on 4 hits and 2 walks, and escaped the 3rd with the help of his teammates.� RF Andrew Lambo's excellent throw in from the outfield cut down 3B Cord Phelps (Team USA and Cleveland) when he tried to stretch a single into a double, and Gronauer threw out another runner trying to steal third base.� Tyson Brummett retired the side in order in the 4th, but gave up a run in the 5th on a double, a ground out, and a fielding error by 2B Jordany Valdespin (Mets).

The Solar Sox answered that with 3 runs in the top of the 6th, as they batted around.� Lambo led off with a single through the hole into left field, then 3B Josh Vitters (Cubs) lined a single into left and Flaherty worked a walk to load the bases.� Harrison and Gronauer both struck out, but Valdespin brought in both Lambo and Vitters with a line drive into right field for a single.� DH Andrew Romine (Angels) also singled, plating Flaherty.� Romine stole second base and CF Jeremy Moore walked, but a new Javelina pitcher got SS Brandon Wood (Angels) to pop out to end the inning.� The Solar Sox had a 4-2 lead.

Which didn't last long.� Nicholas Carr (Mets) relieved Brummett to begin the bottom of the 6th, and he gave up a walk, a single, a walk, an RBI single, and a bases-loaded walk, bringing in two runs for the Javelinas, to tie the score at 4-4.

The 7th was quiet, as the Solar Sox went down in order, and David Cales (Cubs) relieved Carr and worked around a lead-off single to maintain the tie.� The Solar Sox broke the tie in the top of the 8th, when Harrison led off with a double lined into right field, and Gronauer followed with a triple also into right field, scoring Harrison.� They added an insurance run in the top of the 9th.� Wood reached base on missed-catch error by Clemens at first (of a grounder to third).� Lambo worked another walk.� Vitters blooped a single into right field, and Wood raced around from second to score.� Solar Sox leading, 6-4.

They needed the insurance in the bottom of the inning.� Cales had pitched another scoreless inning in the 8th.� 1B Flaherty made an error at first, but a double play got Cales out of that, then Cales worked around another single.� Eddie McKiernan (Angels) came on to pitch the bottom of the 9th for the Solar Sox.� Phelps greeted McKiernan with a triple into right field.� McKiernan struck out the next two batters, then ran the count full on LF Eric Thames.� Then McKiernan threw back-to-back wild pitches.� The first scored Phelps from third and was ball four for Thames.� The second wild pitch put Thames on second base.� Finally, McKiernan settled down and got Clemens to ground to third for the final out of the game.

Cales earned the win, and McKiernan was credited with the save.� Lambo went 1-for-3 with 2 walks.� Harrison boosted his batting average with two much-needed hits (single and double) in 5 at-bats (now hitting .174).� Lambo's average is .296.

Both the Venezuelan League and the Mexican Pacific League are off today.

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Peoria Javelinas� 4,� Mesa Solar Sox� 2

The Javelinas rallied for 2 runs in the top of the 10th, and the Solar Sox could not respond in this afternoon's Arizona Fall League action.

The Solar Sox had a 2-1 lead going into the top of the 9th.� Steven Geltz (Angels) had just taken the mound in relief for the Sox.� He got one out, then gave up a single to 3BLF Nate Tenbrink (Mariners).� The next batter, CF Jay Austin (Astros), grounded to first, but a fielding error by Mesa 1B Matt Rizzotti (Phillies) put Austin safely at first and sent Tenbrink to third.� Another grounder to first by 3B Matt Lawson (Mariners) let Tenbrink score the tying run (unearned).

The Solar Sox went down in order in the bottom of the 9th, including two strikeouts.� Rizzotti was one of the strikeouts, and he must have said the wrong words to the umpire, because he was ejected in the middle of the frame.

The 10th inning began with Robert Fish (Angels) on the mound for Mesa and Ryan Flaherty (Cubs) taking over for Rizzotti at first base.� Fish began the inning by giving up a single and hitting a batter with a pitch.� A double play, fielded by SS Jordy Mercer, who stepped on second and threw on to Flaherty at first, gave Fish two outs, but put the lead runner on third.� Fish could not take advantage of that good fortune, though.� He walked the next batter, then gave up an RBI single to SS Jose Iglesias (Red Sox), driving in the go-ahead run from third.� Another walk, to Tenbrink, loaded the bases, and a second run scored when Fish threw a wild pitch.� A ground out to first ended the inning.� Once again, the Solar Sox could not respond, going down in order in the bottom of the 10th.

Brad Holt (Mets) made the start for Mesa.� He pitched 3 innings, and allowed the Javelina's first run (also unearned) in the 3rd inning� Holt worked around a single and a walk in the 1st inning, and another single by Tenbrink in the 2nd.� (Tenbrink had 3 hits in the game.)� The run in the 3rd scored when Holt walked LF JB Shuck (Astros), then made a throwing error on a pick-off attempt, allowing Shuck to advance to third base.� A sacrifice fly drove in Shuck to give Peoria a 1-0 lead.

The Solar Sox had only two base runners over the first five innings -- CF Jeremy Moore (Angels) singled in the 1st inning and stole second base, then RF Kirk Nieuwenhuis (Mets) singed in the 5th, but was thrown out trying to steal second.

C Tony Sanchez finally got the Solar Sox' bats going in the 6th, when he led off with a single bounced off the Peoria third baseman's glove and into left field.� 2B Jordany Valdespin (Mets) followed with a double into right, putting Sanchez on third base.� LF Josh Harrison's sacrifice fly drove in Sanchez, and Moore's sacrifice fly brought in Valdespin.� The Solar Sox had a 2-1 lead.

But the Solar Sox couldn't keep the momentum going.� Rizzotti singled in the 7th and Valdespin singled in the 8th, but neither could come around to score.

Aaron Pribanic relieved the starter Holt for the 4th inning.� Pribanic pitched 2 scoreless innings, allowing only a walk in the 5th.� BJ Rosenberg (Phillies) also contributed 2 scoreless innings, giving up only a double to Tenbrink in the 7th.� Eric Niesen (Mets) pitched a scoreless 8th, though he had to work out of a jam that was not entirely his own fault.� He gave up a single, then had a runner reach on a fielding error by Mercer, then walked a batter, loading the bases with one out.� The next batter bounced right back to the mound, and Niesen flipped the ball back to Sanchez for the force out at the plate.� A fly out ended the inning, leaving the bases loaded.

Geltz was charged with the Blown Save, and Fish was charged with the loss.� Harrison went 0-for-3 with the sacrifice fly.� Mercer went 0-for-4, and Sanchez had the one hit and scored in 4 trips to the plate.

Mesa Solar Sox� 8,� Surprise Rafters� 7

It was a wild finish in Mesa this afternoon as the Solar Sox scored 3 runs in the bottom of the 11th inning to defeat the Surprise Rafters in Arizona Fall League play.� DH Jordy Mercer and RF Andrew Lambo each had� hits in the game, and they combined for 3 RBI.

Lambo got the Solar Sox going with a 2-run homer in the 2nd inning, bringing in 1B Matt Rizzotti (Phillies) who had walked.� The Rafters responded with 5 runs in the top of the 3rd.� With Ryan Brasier (Angels) on the mound for the Solar Sox, the first four Rafters reached base on four straight hits -- a single, an RBI triple, and a pair of RBI doubles.� Brasier got a ground out, then was relieved by David Cales (Cubs).� Cales gave up a triple to the first batter he faced, driving in the fourth run of the inning.� A fielder's choice to third base was not fielded fast enough to catch the runner from third before he crossed the plate, and Surprise had taken a 5-2 lead.� Cales finally ended the inning with a double play.

Mesa tried to get caught up in the 4th.� With one out, Rizzotti grounded a single up the middle, and Mercer followed with a double lined into center field.� That moved Rizzotti to third base.� Lambo bounced to third and this time the fielder's choice play worked -- Rizzotti was out at the plate.� Both te Rafters and the Solar Sox put two runners on base in the 5th, with a double and a walk for the Rafters and 2B Ryan Flaherty's (Cubs) single and SS Andrew Romine's (Angels) walk for the Sox.� CF Kirk Nieuwenhuis (Mets) walked in the 7th, but was erased in a double play.

LF Josh Harrison, in the outfield today, started the rally that tied the game in the 8th inning.� He led off with a double into left field, then went to third base when Romine reached on fielding error at shortstop.� Brandon Wood (Angels) and Rizzotti both singled, driving in Harrison and Romine.� Mercer grounded to second base for a force out, and it might have been a double play, but Mercer was safe at first and the tying run, Wood, scored.� Lambo also singled, moving Mercer up to second base, but the inning ended with the score still tied.

The Solar Sox pitchers were also holding the Rafters scoreless.� Nicholas Carr (Mets) took over for Cales and threw 2 scoreless innings, with one hit and one walk.� Tyson Brummett (Phillies) added two more scoreless frames with one hit.� Robert Fish (Angels) pitched a 1-2-3 inning in the 8th, with three ground outs to the shortstop Romine.� Steven Geltz (Angels) allowed only a single in two innings (the 9th and the 10th), and C Kai Gronauer (Mets) obligingly threw that base runner out trying to steal second base.

With the score still tied, the Solar Sox went down in order in the bottom of the 9th.� Mercer singled in the bottom of the 10th, but did not score.� Eric Niesen (Mets) took over for Geltz to begin the top of the 11th, and he got into trouble, aided by two errors.� With one out, Niesen hit RF Joey Butler (Rangers) with a pitch.� The next batter, SS Pete Kozma (Cardinals) grounded to second base, where Ryan Flaherty first made a fielding error then a throwing error, leaving runners on second and third.� A singled drove in Butler, and another unsuccessful fielder's choice play let Kozma score.� A double play got Niesen out of the inning, but the Rafters led 7-5.

The Solar Sox were not done, though.� Nieuwenhuis tried to bunt for a hit, but his first attempt went foul, and he was hit with the second pitch.� Gronauer walked, then Flaherty was able to drop down a sacrifice bunt, moving the runners to second and third.� Grounauer was replaced by pinch-runner Jordany Valdespin (Mets).� Harrison popped out for the second out of the inning. Romine walked to load the bases.� Then Brandon Wood was the hero of the game with a bases-clearing double lined into center field.� Romine raced around from first base to score the winning run on the walk-off double.

None of the Pirates' pitching prospects got into this game.

Mesa Solar Sox� 11,� Surprise Rafters� 6

The Mesa Solar Sox busted out with 9 runs in the 4th inning and posted a total of 19 hits in their Arizona Fall League win this afternoon.� SS Jordy Mercer, C Tony Sanchez, and 3B Josh Vitters (Cubs) had 3 hits each, and 2B Josh Harrison and RF Andrew Lambo contributed a hit apiece.

Each team scored one run in the 1st inning.� Mesa's LF/CF Jeremy Moore (Angels) singled and stole second base, then scored on 1B Matt Rizzotti's (Phillies) RBI single.� Tony Sanchez also singled in the inning, but was left on base.� The Rafters scored on a single, a wild pitch by starter Josh Zeid (Phillies) and an RBI single.

Things were quiet for the next two innings, other than a single by Vitters in the top of the 3rd.� The quiet ended in the top of the 4th, when 14 Solar Sox came to the plate.� Tony Sanchez started the fun with a single to second.� A fielding error by the Surprise first baseman allowed Andrew Lambo to reach first base.� CF Kirk Nieuwenhuis doubled, scoring both Sanchez and Lambo with the first two runs of the inning (1,2).� Jordy Mercer's double plated Nieuwenhuis (3), and Mercer advanced to third on a ground out.� After a line out and a change in pitchers, Moore and Vitters both doubled, driving in Mercer and Moore (4, 5).� Rizzotti walked, then Sanchez singled for the second time in the inning, to score Vitters (6).� A throwing error by the left fielder let Sanchez advance to second base and Rizzotti to third base.� Three more singles followed -- Lambo's brought in both Rizzotti and Sanchez (7, 8), Nieuwenhuis' moved Lambo to second base, and Mercer's scored Lambo (9).� A ground out finally ended the inning.

Zeid pitched 3 innings and allowed the one run in the 1st inning on two hits, and he struck out 3 batters.� BJ Rosenberg (Phillies) took over for Zied to begin the 4th.� He gave up a run on two doubles.� He also gave up three singles in the bottom of the 5th, bringing in one run.� A wild pitch and two walks loaded the bases.� Rosenberg was relieved by Aaron Pribanic, who threw a wild pitch to the first batter he faced, allowing another run to score.� Pribanic finished the inning with a strikeout, and the Solar Sox still led 10-4.� Pribanic came back out for the 6th inning, and another run scored on a single and a throwing error.

The Solar Sox continued to put runners on base.� Harrison and Vitters both singled in the 5th, but did not come around to score.� LF Ryan Flaherty (Cubs), who had entered the game as a defensive replacement, and Harrison both walked and Valdespin singled to load the bases in the 6th, but all three were left on base when Moore struck out.� Rizzotti also walked in the 7th, but was left on base.� He also singled in the 9th, but was eliminated in a double play.� The Solar Sox added one last run when Flaherty doubled to open the 8th inning.� He moved up to third base on a wild pitch.� Jordy Mercer drove him in with an RBI single, to increase the lead to 11 - 5.

Aaron Pribanic worked around a single in the 7th inning, but kept him from scoring.� Brian Leach came on to pitch the 8th, and he also worked around a single for a scoreless inning.� Surprise managed one last run in the bottom of the 9th.� With Eddie McKiernan (Angels) on the mound, a walk, a double, and a sacrifice fly drove in the run.� It was not nearly enough, though, and Mesa and Josh Zeid had the win.

Mesa Solar Sox� 8,� Phoenix Desert Dogs� 3

The Arizona Fall League kicked off today with a win for the Solar Sox.� The Pirates' farmhands hit well, but had a few problems on defense.

LF Andrew Lambo got the Solar Sox going in the 2nd inning when he lined a 2-out single into center field.� CF Kirk Nieuwenhuis (Mets) drove in Lambo with a double into center field, to give Mesa a 1-0 lead.� Then the Solar Sox busted out with 5 runs in the 4th inning, as they sent 11 batters to the plate.� 1B Matt Rizzotti (Phillies) greeted a new Phoenix pitcher with a single into left field.� Both C Tony Sanchez and Andrew Lambo added their own singles, and Lambo's scored Rizzotti.� Sanchez went to third and Lambo to second on the throw in to the plate.� A wild pitch let Sanchez score from third base and put Lambo on third.� Nieuwenhuis drove in Lambo with a single, and SS Jordy Mercer also singled, putting runners on the corners.� 2B Jordany Valdespin (Mets) grounded to short, but the only play was at first, so Nieuwenhuis scored and Mercer was safe at second.� DH Josh Harrison struck out -- only the second out of the inning.� 3B Brandon Wood (Angels) singled, plating Mercer.� Two more walks, to RF Jeremy Moore (Angels) and Rizzotti, loaded the bases, but Sanchez struck out to end the inning.

Bradley Holt (Mets) made the start for the Solar Sox.� He pitched 3 scoreless innings, allowing only one walk in the 1st inning and one single in the 3rd.� Solar Sox' RF John Mayberry (Phillies) injured his leg on that play -- possibly making a dive for the soft liner?� He had to leave the game, and was replaced by Jeremy Moore.

Tyson Brummett (Phillies) relieved Holt to begin the 4th inning, and he got two strikeouts, then gave up a single and a 2-run homer to RF Michael Taylor (A's).� Brummett gave up another run in the 5th, on a single, a stolen base, a passed ball by Tony Sanchez, and another single.� A fielding error by 3B Brandon Wood put a second runner on base, but Brummett was able to get out of the jam with a grounder to short, fielded by Mercer.� The Solar Sox still held the lead, 6-3.

Nick Carr (Mets) pitched two scoreless innings for the Sox.� He gave up only one hit, a single to Taylor in the 6th.� After a grounder force out at second, a throwing error by Mercer put a runner on second, but the runner was left on base.� Robert Fish (Angels) and Steven Geltz (Angels) each pitched a scoreless inning to wrap up the game for the Solar Sox, but the Sox bats were not done yet.

In the top of the 8th, Nieuwenhuis led off with a walk, and a single by Valdespin put runners on the corners.� Harrison lifted a sacrifice fly to bring in Nieuwenhuis for a 7-3 lead.� Jeremy Moore added the Solar Sox' final run in the top of the 9th with a solo home run.

Holt earned the win for Mesa.� Harrison went 0-for-4 with one RBI.� Sanchez was 1-for-5, and Mercer went 1-for-4.� Lambo led the Pirates' farmhands with a 2-for-5 afternoon and one RBI.� Brandon Wood had 3 hits for Mesa in the game.� Mercer had two throwing errors, and Sanchez had the passed ball.