A two-out solo home run off in the bottom of the 7th secured a 4-4 tie between Surprise and Mesa.
Drew Millas shifted back to behind the plate and drew three walks in as many plate appearances. He scored one run and had ten putouts (all strikeouts) on defense.
Jackson Cluff was the Sagauros’ No. 8 batter and went 1-for-3 with a double and an RBI (driving in Millas). He took part in three 4-6-3 double plays.
Evan Lee pitched the 6th inning for Surprise and worked around a hit batsman with a double play and two-out single. He walked none, struck out none, and threw 16 pitches (eight strikes) in the single frame he pitched.
Tonight is the Fall Stars game with the AFL West playing the AFL East at the Salt River Fields at Talking Stick.
THE 2021 ROCHESTER RED WINGS
The loss of the 2020 season also spared a second season of the Nats’ AAA affiliate being on the West Coast and often an afterthought. Alas, the return to the East Coast in 2021 was also a return to the old normal for Washington’s AAA teams: last place and flirting with the worst record in the league/level.
Thanks to the reduced travel, the Red Wings only played within their division, thus comparisons to the league averages ought to be difficult… but they’re not. Even when looking strictly at the six teams within the AAA Northeast (ugh, why do I get this feeling that MLB will keep these God-awful division/league names), Rochester was last or next-to-last in nearly every category except, surprisingly, HRs hit and allowed.
As you might imagine, some of this was because any player or pitcher who was any good made it to D.C. (plus Cody Wilson) due to the parent club’s usual run of injuries and/or misuse of the bullpen. But mostly it’s because the Nats continue to be content with populating the club with marginal MLFAs who can be moved on/off the 40-man with ease.
1. Keibert Ruiz, C – .308/.365/.577, 5HR, 7BB, 14RBI in 20 games (85PA); 0 errors, 7 assist, 5/21 CS/SBA in 19 games caught.
Full team statistics can be found here