AFL Update: Oct. 16, 2013
Sammy Solis won his second start while the Mesa Solar Sox won their fifth straight, taking a 7-4 matinee from the Scottsdale Scorpions.
Solis struck out eight of 15 batters faced while giving up a run on three hits and two walks over four innings. The lone run was a solo shot by Mets farmhand Cory Vaughn (son of Greg, not Mo). The 25-y.o. southpaw threw 68 pitches, 43 for strikes.
Matt Skole got the start at third base, where he fielded a popup in the 2nd and started an inning-ending 5-4-3 DP in the 7th. At the plate, the former Yellow Jacket batted cleanup and went 1-for-3 with a double and a run scored a run while taking a pair of walks.
Robert Benincasa (pictured) pitched the 7th inning and gave up a run on a leadoff walk and two singles before getting the aforementioned twin-killing groundball.
The win improves Mesa to 5-0-1 as the Solar Sox travel to Surprise this afternoon to take on Peoria. Matt Purke, who followed Solis in the Mesa rotation last week, is scheduled to start tomorrow night at home versus the Javelinas.
Everything coming out of Arizona is pretty positive these days. Striking out 8 out of 15 is as good as it gets for Solis.
Strikeout rates like that are pretty uncommon for a league like the AFL, that is consistently extremely hitter friendly. That’s really positive, especially because Solis has never been much of a strikeout guy. Over his career Solis has struck out about 20% of the batters he faced (compared to 53% last night). In addition, he’s keeping the ball on the ground, 8 groudouts vs 1 flyout across his two starts. It’s nice to see another pitcher bounce back from TJ.
Much like regular season- it’s all Bout reps , finding the
Best habits on the field .
Richie and Robert spell bullpen options down the near
Road
Souza reaching the majors will
Mean much JP Souza played @ Nats
Park