Riley races for cycle in Javelinas romp

In a star-studded Javelinas lineup, it might be tough to stand out, but Austin Riley found a way Thursday.
Atlanta's No. 10 prospect completed the cycle with a triple in the seventh inning and plated five runs as Peoria routed Mesa, 19-4, at Peoria Stadium. He became the first player to hit for the cycle in the Arizona Fall League since the Rays' Logan Morrison on Oct. 30, 2008.

"It felt good. Last week, I had a little bit of a nagging injury when my arm swelled up from a cut from some type of infection," Riley told MLB.com. "I had a rough day yesterday. I was 0-for-4 with a strikeout. Today was just a day that I needed and I felt good at the plate."
Gameday box score
Riley began the afternoon by rolling a single up the middle in the second inning. In the next frame, he clubbed a two-run homer over the wall in left field. After striking out in the fifth, he smacked an RBI double to center in the sixth.
The 2015 competitive balance pick got his chance to hit the milestone in the seventh. With two outs and runners on the corners, Riley worked the count to 1-1 against Solar Sox righty Miguel Romero (A's). On the third pitch, he lined a ball into right that brought in both runs and landed him on third base.
"That was my first one ever (on any level)," Riley told MLB.com. "Kind of cool. I got the ball and I get to keep that as a kind of a personal gift."

Riley raised his average to .346 in six games in the AFL. The 20-year-old infielder has a pair of homers, two doubles and nine RBIs. During the regular season, Riley batted .275 with with 20 homers and 74 RBIs over 129 games between Class A Advanced Carolina and Double-A Mississippi while earning Midseason All-Star honors in the Florida State League.
The cycle was the 19th recorded by a Minor Leaguer in 2017.
Blue Jays No. 8 prospectMax Pentecost fell a triple shy of the cycle for the Javelinas. He finished 4-for-6 with three RBIs and two runs scored. Atlanta's top prospect Ronald Acuña Jr. added three hits, four runs and an RBI while Franmil Reyes (Padres) drove in three.
"Acuna said to me, 'Why didn't you get a triple?' on my double. I was like 'I don't know. Just didn't think about it,'" Riley told MLB.com. "And then right when I got up to bat, someone in the stands was like, 'Hit a triple' and then it just kind of registered and I was fortunate enough to hit one."

San Diego righty Walker Lockett (1-1) allowed four runs -- two earned -- on five hits and two walks while striking out two over three innings.
Astros lefty Framber Valdez (1-1) gave up five runs -- all unearned -- on five hits and a walk while fanning three over three frames.
In other AFL action:
Desert Dogs 10, Saguaros 5
Pirates No. 9 prospect Kevin Kramer hit one of Glendale's three homers as part of a 2-for-4 day, with the other long balls coming from White Sox prospects Seby Zavala and Danny Mendick, each of whom plated three runs. Rays right-hander Burch Smith, who missed all of 2015 and 2016 due to Tommy John surgery, lowered his AFL ERA to 7.56 by allowing one hit and a walk while striking out six over four innings. Gameday box score
Scorpions 4, Rafters 4 (11 innings)
Kevin Kaczmarski (Mets) continued his impressive AFL campaign with a homer and a double for Scottsdale. The 25-year-old right fielder is hitting .417 through nine games. Ninth-ranked Mets prospectTomás Nido doubled, singled, walked twice and plated two runs while No. 24 David Thompson raised his average to .393 with a pair of singles and an RBI. Brewers No. 10 prospectLucas Erceg hit an RBI triple and Diamondbacks No. 19 prospect  Victor Reyes added an RBI single for Salt Lake. Gameday box score