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AFL Update: Nov. 8, 2012

Matt Skole’s two-run homer in the 5th broke open a 4-3 game as Salt River ultimately spoiled Surprise, 8-3.

An inning later, the 23-year-old struck again with a two-run single for a total of four RBIs while going 2-for-4 to boost his line to .300/.410/.540 for the fall campaign. Defensively, he was error-free at first, handling all seven chances.

Brian Goodwin remains hitless since the Rising Stars games, but still scored a run and hit a sacrifice fly from the leadoff spot. He manned center field and caught three flyouts.

Jason Martinson spelled Anthony Rendon third base and hit safely for the fourth straight game. The fellow Texan doubled and scored a run, but also struck out twice.

Aaron Barrett pitched the eighth and pounded the strike zone (7-of-8) while setting down the side in order, lowering his ERA to an even 3.00.

The Rafters win combined with a Scorpions loss opens up a 1½-game lead in the AFL East for Salt River with seven games to play. The two teams rematch tonight with the Rafters playing host.

AFL Update: Nov. 7, 2012

Powered by Anthony Rendon’s 3-for-3 evening, the Salt River Rafters reclaimed first place in the AFL East with a 14-12 win over the Scottsdale Scorpions. Rendon singled, doubled twice, scored twice, stole a base, drew a walk, delivered a baby between innings and drove in four while batting seventh and playing third base. The outburst …

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Minor League Free Agents

Well, it’s that time of year in the minors when we find out which of the veterans have become free agents. Some of these guys will re-sign, some will retire, ans some will move on. Without further ado… CATCHERS AAA – James Skelton INFIELDERS AAA – Mark Teahen, Jarrett Hoffpauir, Manny Mayorson, Jim Negrych AA …

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AFL Update: Nov. 6, 2012

A seven-run 4th proved to be too much for Salt River to overcome as the Rafters dropped a 10-7 decision to the Javelinas. It was Salt River’s third straight loss, and AFL West-leading Peoria’s third straight win.

Three Nationals saw game action:

• Matt Skole batted third and played first base, going 0-for-4 with a walk while making seven putouts and two assists on defense.
• Anthony Rendon hit sixth and manned third base. He drew two walks and scored a run, but went hitless in two ABs to halt his hit streak of six games. He caught a foul pop in the 4th for his sole defensive chance.
• Paul Demny pitched a 1-2-3 fourth inning, needing just 11 pitches to retire three batters.

The loss drops the Rafters to 11-10, but with a loss by Scottsdale they remain a ½ game behind the Desert Dogs in the AFL East with nine games left to play.

Season Review: 2012 Harrisburg Senators

Going into the Eastern League All-Star Game, Harrisburg was 48-40 — good for second place in its division, having had an eight-game win streak broken with a 4-1 loss on July 9th. It would be nearly a month before the Senators won back-to-back games again. They went 16-38 in the second half, falling from second …

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AFL Update: Nov. 3, 2012

Matt Skole returned to the lineup and Anthony Rendon extended his hit streak, but a four-run rally in the second by Scottsdale put the game away early as the Scorpions sunk the Salt River Rafters, 9-2. Skole went 0-for-4 with a strikeout as the Salt River DH. As mentioned in the comments, he tweaked a …

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AFL Update: Nov. 2, 2012

Salt River’s unbeaten streak fell with a 5-2 loss to Phoenix yesterday afternoon.

Paul Demny got the start, his first of the fall, and went two scoreless innings. The 23-year-old allowed a hit, plunked a batter, walked none, and struck out two, though he struggled some with finding the plate (32 pitches, 17 for strikes).

Brian Goodwin’s hitless streak continued with another 0-for-4 game, as the Rafters’ leadoff man struck out twice and drew a walk. Playing left field, he snared a line drive in the top of the 9th for his sole putout.

Anthony Rendon batted seventh and played third. The 22-year-old went 1-for-3 with a walk, extending his hit streak to five games and his on-base streak to seven. Defensively, he had one assist.

With the loss, Salt River falls to 11-8 but remain in first place in the AFL East as the Rafters close out the week with a visit to second-place Scottsdale tonight.

AFL Update: Nov. 1, 2012

A one-out single and a balk in the last of the 9th enabled the Mesa Solar Sox to salvage a tie with the Salt River Rafters, 2-2 yesterday afternoon.

For the second straight game, just two Nationals minor-leaguers got into the game…

• Brian Goodwin led off and played centerfield but went hitless with an 0-for-4 mark, making a single putout on defense.

• Jason Martinson played third base and went 1-for-4 with a double and a run scored. The 24-year-old snagged a lineout in the 6th and threw out two runners at first on grounders in the 2nd and 5th innings.

The tie, the second of the fall for the Rafters, enabled Scottsdale to move with a ½ game of Salt River in the AFL East. The Rafters play host to the Desert Dogs this afternoon.

Rule 5 Pick Brad Meyers Returned

Multiple online sources are reporting that Brad Meyers, who was picked by the New York Yankees in the December 2011 Rule 5 draft, has been returned to the Washington Nationals and assigned to the Syracuse Chiefs.

Meyers was placed on the 15-day DL in early April with a strained labrum and transferred to the 60-Day DL in late May. Meyers made one appearance during the year, a disastrous eight runs given up to 14 batters faced on April 9th for High-A Tampa Yankees of the Florida State League.

The 27-year-old was originally drafted by the Washington Nationals in the 5th round of the 2007 First-Year Player Draft, rising as high as AAA with 95⅔ IP for the Syracuse Chiefs in 2011 but missed most of 2010 with foot and heel injuries.

Offline sources have reported that Meyers has undergone shoulder surgery, but I have not been able to confirm this with a reputable online source.