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Goodwin rules at Rising Stars Game

Nationals prospect homers, drives in two in 9-4 win over East
November 4, 2012
Billy Hamilton is used to being the one known for stealing. But Saturday night, he and the West team had the Arizona Fall League Rising Stars Game swiped from them.

The East side scored six times in the bottom of the fifth inning to take the prospect showcase, 9-4, in front of a record 5.713 at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick.

Nationals' No. 3 prospect Brian Goodwin homered, doubled and plated two from the top spot in the order to lead the victorious East side. He hit a leadoff homer off West starter Kyle Gibson (Twins) in the bottom of the first to kick off his squad's scoring.

"I'm trying to one-up him," Goodwin told MLB.com about Hamilton. "He does what he does. And he can do it all. I wanted to try to come up ahead of him. It's good, fun competition."

He did add, however, that there was more than just trying to beat his West counterpart.

"This was more fun than I thought it would be," said Goodwin, MLB.com's No. 67 prospect. "I met some new guys, we played the game we love and we came out with a win. What else are you playing for?"

Corey Dickerson (Rockies), David Adams (Yankees), Joc Pederson (Dodgers) and Ricky Oropesa (Giants) also brought in runs in the fifth.

Yankees prospect Mark Montgomery struck out all three batters he faced in a scoreless eighth to lead a group of seven East relievers who held their foes scoreless over the game's final four innings.

Hamilton -- the Reds' top prospect -- walked in his first at-bat, before stealing both second and third and coming around to score on Rymer Liriano's RBI double. The shortstop-turned-outfielder finished 1-for-3 with two walks and two runs scored.

"That's my game," Hamilton said. "I like to bring fun, a little excitement. I bring a lot of energy."

Padres' No. 1 prospect Liriano went 3-for-4 with two doubles, an RBI and a run scored in the loss.

Sam Dykstra is a contributor to MLB.com.