AFL Update: Oct. 16, 2026
Salt River battled back from deficits of 4-0 and 5-1 to take leads of 8-7 and 9-8 before Mesa scorched them for five in the 10th to hand them a 14-9 loss.
Here’s how the five Nationals who appeared in the game did:
- Teo Banks got the start in right field and went 3-for-5 with a double and a stolen base to push his fall line to .400/.419/.452 in eight games.
- Jorgelys Mota also started but was injured (by expected weather?) in the top of the 1st and did not make a plate appearance.
- Jarlin Susana opened the game and torched for five runs on four hits and two walks over two and a 1/3rd inning, with an “assist” by the Yankees’ Mack Estrada with both inherited runners let in. He struck out one.
- R.J. Sales was the third reliever to appear but was also rung up (sorry, it was right there) for three runs on six hits and two walks over three and a 1/3rd, with the last run let in by his sucessor. He struck out four.
- Nolan Hughes handed over his beer and walked six of seven batters faced before the game was called with no outs in the top of the 10th (best guess: mercy rule for the AFL). His Fall line is now 30.38/19.33/6.35
The Rafters (6-4) remain home this afternoon to host the Javelinas (4-6).
What’s up with Mota? He’s only played 3 games so far and been subbed out in all 3. Almost every other player on the team has 20+ plate appearances, and Mota has 7…
Man, the pitching was dreadful yesterday. 14 runs allowed, 13 by Nats pitchers.
I’m glad to see Sales back, because it was a long time between outings, I was worried he might’ve picked up an injury.
Nolan Hughes had a 11.2 BB/9 and 6.78 ERA in college (in the weak A10 and Big East conferences to boot). Not sure how that merited a draft pick. But now he has a 16.8 BB/9 and a 5.96 ERA in a very short minor league career. Not surprising.