AFL Update: Nov. 7, 2017
Kelvin Gutierrez drew a leadoff walk in the 4th and scored ahead of A.J. Simcox’s two-run HR that gave the Solar Sox a 2-1 lead en route to a 5-2 win over the Scorpions.
Kyle McGowin (pictured) won for third time in five starts with one run let in on a home run and five hits total over four innings. He walked none, struck out five, and threw 55 pitches, 37 for strikes.
Jimmy Cordero also pitched but saw his scoreless inning streak end at 8⅓ innings as he gave up a run in his second inning of work on two hits and a walk. He struck out four and earned a hold.
Gutierrez also drove in a run in the 7th with an RBI single. The Mesa DH finished with a line 1-for-2 with a run scored and two walks and is now 7-for-16 in the six games he’s played with six runs scored and five RBI.
And of course, there was that Victor Robles guy… he led off and played center field, where he made two putouts. He only went 1-for-5 but stayed upright and scored on a steal of third (pictured) that coincided with a wild pitch.
Mesa returns to action this afternoon as they host Peoria. The two teams are both in first place, by 1½ and 4 games respectively, with eight games left to play.
McGowin posted impressive K/9 numbers across AA and AAA this season, but the rest of his numbers were not good at all. I’m glad he seems to be showing some improvement in the AFL, but I can’t see much logic in adding him to the 40-man at this stage. I don’t think there will be much risk of losing him in the Rule 5 draft.
His K/BB can’t even be calculated in the AFL so far, as he’s not walked a batter yet in 19 IP. 26/0. That’s impressive!
But yeah, there’s no chance a team takes McGowin. He posted a mid 6.00 ERA, with a nearly equally unimpressive 4 seasons before that. There’ll always be better options available to teams that really need help in the Rule 5.
Loving these AFL Updates, but the pictures are amazing! Thank you, Lee for your beautiful camerawork!
Thank you for the acknowledgement erocks33!~