The Saguaro pitchers weren’t a surprise to the Rafters, who paddled them for eight hits over seven innings in an 8-3 win. Tres Barrera, Jake Noll (pictured), and Daniel Johnson were in the starting lineup at C, 1B, and CF respectively. • Barrera went 0-for-3 with a run scored and sac-fly RBI. He committed an …
No Luis Reyes—maybe today, AFL’s not so good about probables—but two Nationals appeared in the Rafters’ 14-3 demolition of the Desert Dogs.
• Daniel Johnson (pictured) reached base four times and scored four times as he went 3-for-4 with three singles while playing left field. He also stole two bases and had two putouts.
• Carter Kieboom came back to earth with an 0-for-4 afternoon but played error-free at second base and turned a double play for the assist among his three putouts.
Salt River visits Surprise this afternoon to close out Week 4 of the AFL. Tomorrow is the Fall Stars Game, which will be televised. If you enjoy broadcasters reading off their media notes, it’ll be televised on the MLB Network and streamed on MLB.com.
Salt River rallied to tie it at 6-6 with a run in the 9th, then collapsed in the 10th as the Rafter relievers gave up six runs in a 12-6 loss to the Mesa Solar Sox.
Carter Kieboom (pictured) extended his hit streak to five games with a another three-hit game, as he singled twice, doubled once, and scored twice. Alas, he also committed two errors while playing second base, so Daniel Murphy returning for his favorite promotion at Nationals Park in 2019 may still be possible.
Tres Barrera also made the start at catcher and reached base twice with a double and a walk. He did not throw out the only baserunner who attempted to steal against the Rafters battery.
The loss dropped Salt River to 11-8 but they still lead the AFL East by two games. Luis Reyes is expected to make his fifth start this afternoon at Glendale.
After three-run call-and-answer in the 3rd, the Rafters piled on 11 runs in a 14-4 demolition of the Solar Sox yesterday afternoon. Three position players appeared in the game. Jake Noll was the starting DH and was 0-for-3 but hit two sacrifice flies. Daniel Johnson went 1-for-5 with an RBI. He had no defensive chances …
Salt River wasted no time getting back on the wat..er, winning track as they dropped five in the 1st, capped off by an Earl weaver special from Jake Noll (pictured above), and cruised to a 12-3 win over Mesa. Noll, who also singled in the 3rd, drove in four total to hit safely in his …
Luis Reyes reverted to his first-AFL-start form as he was lit up for six runs in the 2nd, which proved to be the difference in Salt River’s 11-6 loss to Peoria. Reyes coughed up two homers and six hits total while retiring four of 11 batters faced. He walked one and struck out none while …
Just one Nats farmhand got into yesterday’s AFL game, which Salt River won, 9-2. Jake Noll (pictured during warmups) batted third and played third base and pushed his batting average onto the Interstate (.120) with a two-run double while going 1-for-5 with a run scored. The win improved the Rafters to 9-6 and sole possession …
After just one player appeared in Wednesday’s game, six Nationals appeared in yesterday’s AFL contest, which the Rafters lost 6-5. Daniel Johnson led off and played right field but was 0-for-4 with a strikeout. He fielded both balls hit his way, making one putout. Carter Kieboom slid back over to short but reached based twice …
Just one National got into yesterday’s game in the AFL – which the Rafters won, 10-9 – but what a game Carter Kieboom had.
Kieboom, who started and played second base, played error-free ball and made three assists and two putouts, including the middle man on a ’round-the-horn twin-killing in the 4th and a 1-4-3 DP to end the game.
At the plate, he singled twice, scored twice, stole two bases, and smacked a two-run HR.
With the win, Salt River kept pace with Mesa with an 8-5 mark in the AFL East. They play tonight in Scottsdale, then finish out the week with games at and against Peoria.
Salt River broke open a 3-1 game with a three-run 4th and held off a steady comeback by Surprise for a 7-5 win yesterday afternoon.
Just two Nationals saw game action yesterday:
• Jake Noll played third and batted fifth but went 0-for-4 to lower his BA to .063 (1-for-16). He did help turn two double plays.
• Daniel Johnson manned centerfield and drew a walk but went 0-for-3 otherwise to drop to 2-for-26 (.077) for the Fall. He caught one of the three balls that did not fall in (or go over the wall) for Vlad Guerrero Jr.
With the win, the Rafters improved to 7-5. This afternoon they remain home and play the Scorpions.