Purke was touched for two runs in the 1st and three in the 3rd, giving up eight hits and two walks total over his three innings of work. The former Horned Frog threw 60 pitches, just 35 for strikes while suffering his first loss of the fall season.
Robert Benincasa also pitched, but gave up back-to-back doubles with one out in the 8th and finished with one run allowed on two hits and one strikeout. It was the fourth time the 23-y.o. reliever has given up a run in seven AFL appearances.
Adrian Nieto was the sole Nationals position player to get in the game. He made 10 putouts, including a tag at the plate in the 3rd. Offensively, Nieto singled to lead off the 5th in the tripled in a run and scored on passed ball in the 8th. He finished at 2-for-4 for the game to push his average to .333 (8-for-24) for the fall.
The loss — Mesa’s third straight — cuts their lead over Salt River to just 1½ games in the AFL East. Next up: a pair of games (away, then home) against the Scorpions. For those wondering, Sammy Solis is not scheduled to pitch until next month.
The AFL also announced the rosters its eighth annual all-star game, renamed this season as the Fall Stars Game, which will be held this Saturday at Surprise Stadium, in… wait for it… Surprise, AZ. Brian Goodwin is the sole National on the AFL East roster.