Adam sharp in Javelinas' victory

Simply by following through on things, Jason Adam found himself in the win column for the first time this fall.

The Royals' No. 18 prospect allowed two hits and struck out three over five scoreless innings Friday afternoon as Peoria held on for a 5-4 Arizona Fall League triumph over Mesa.

Adam (1-1) looked to be in early trouble when Albert Almora (Cubs) hit a leadoff double. But the 22-year-old right-hander retired the next eight batters before Almora drew a two-out walk in the third. Adam got himself into a little hot water in his final inning, walking Wes Darvill (Cubs) and allowing a single to Tigers prospect Dixon Machado with two outs.

But the Kansas native finally solved Almora, getting the Cubs' No. 2 prospect to fly out to end the threat.

"It's a great lineup," Adam said, "but I felt like [catcher Cameron] Rupp was calling a great game and made it easy to stay on the same page with him. I executed pitches down in the zone, so they couldn't get squared up."

Adam had been winless in his first four AFL outings. In his last start on Oct. 26 against Salt River, the 2010 fifth-round pick was roughed up for six runs on seven hits over four frames. The difference between the starts, he said, was his mechanics.

"Last start, I wasn't getting through the ball and I was catching a lot more middle of the plate about thigh high," Adam explained. "That's not where I want to be. Today, I focused on getting extended through the ball.

"You always want to go into the next day with a win. It's a great feeling, especially with a couple days off. I'm not going to be able to throw for a couple days."

Despite a tough regular season, Adam is in Arizona looking to tweak, rather than overhaul, his stuff.

"I want to refine all my pitches," he said. "I write down all the stuff I'm working on so I can remember it. I'm working on getting through my slider and getting it more consistent. The changeup is an important pitch for me, too. I want to get more consistent with everything."

Dominic Leone (Mariners) gave up a hit and struck out one in the ninth to notch his league-leading fourth save for the Javelinas.

Cameron Perkins was 3-for-4 with three runs scored and an RBI, finishing a homer short of the cycle for Peoria. Rupp -- a fellow Phillies prospect -- had two hits, including a triple, and drove in a run.

In addition to his double and walk, Almora tripled in five plate appearances. Tigers No. 12 prospect Devon Travis homered and plated a pair of runs for the Solar Sox.