Sweeney takes it from top for Desert Dogs

Darnell Sweeney says he'll do whatever the Dodgers ask of him. His marching orders right now are to thrive in the Arizona Fall League so he can go into the offseason with a little momentum. He picked up plenty of that Wednesday afternoon.

The Dodgers' No. 13 prospect went 4-for-5 with a home run, two doubles, four RBIs and two runs scored from the top of the lineup in Glendale's 10-1 romp over Peoria.

The switch-hitter opened the scoring with a two-run homer -- his first of the AFL season -- in the bottom of the third inning off Royals' No. 5 prospect Miguel Almonte. He stroked a double and scored during a five-run fifth and added another single to lead off the seventh.

"It does feel good to barrel some good pitches up and to hit the ball hard, hit the ball well," said Sweeney, who entered the day with eight hits in six games but with only one for extra bases. "I saw the ball well today, so I was just happy to have a good day like that."

He had a chance to complete a cycle in the eighth after Clint Coulter (Brewers) walked to load the bases. The 23-year-old slugger, who had five triples this past season at Double-A Chattanooga, sent the first pitch he saw to right field, which may have given him a chance at the elusive three-bagger had the bases not been so clogged. Instead, Sweeney "settled" for a two-run double.

"Everybody in the dugout was letting me know that I was a triple away, so I was going for it," he said. "But [manager Lance Parrish] held up the runner because he probably would've gotten thrown out at home. That's just the way the game goes sometimes."

While some position players in the AFL are there to make up for at-bats, Sweeney doesn't fit that category. The 2012 13th-rounder out of the University of Central Florida played 132 games in the regular season, all at the Double-A level. The 23-year-old slugger put up a solid .288/.387/.463 line with 14 homers, 34 doubles, 57 RBIs and 15 steals during that first sojourn to the Southern League.

Because of those numbers, Sweeney -- who plays mostly at second base but also has time at shortstop and center field under his belt -- should start next season at Triple-A Albuquerque and could be in line for a potential callup.

Right now, he has to continue to prove his offensive credentials against some of the Minors' best pitching talent, and that's not a task he takes lightly. Through his first seven games, he's 12-for-31 (.387) with three doubles, seven runs and six RBIs.

"I just want to continue [hitting]," said Sweeney. "I had a great year and I want to take it into Spring Training. Hopefully, I can make a 40-man roster or a big-league roster. I'd be a happy camper then."

Playing designated hitter for Glendale, top Dodgers prospect Corey Seager went 2-for-4 with a double, a walk, an RBI and a run scored for the Desert Dogs. Orioles utilityman Garabez Rosa went 3-for-4 with a solo homer.

No. 2 Tigers prospect Robbie Ray (1-0) picked up the win after allowing one run on three hits and two walks while striking out five in four innings.