Scorching Alford stays hot with three hits

In a six-year Minor League career full of ups and downs, Anthony Alford probably hopes his current run never ends.

Toronto's No. 3 prospect had two doubles and a single to raise his Minor League-leading average to .500 in Double-A New Hampshire's 1-0 loss to Trenton on Monday. The Fisher Cats managed just five hits against Domingo Germán and three relievers.
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Two of Alford's hits came with two outs. He was left stranded after a first-inning double to center field when Ryan McBroom grounded out to first.

The center fielder singled to left to lead off the fourth before stealing his fourth base in as many games. McBroom walked in what was a scoreless game at the time, but Emilio Guerrero grounded into a double play and Toronto's 14th-ranked prospect, Harold Ramirez, grounded out to first.

Alford lined a single to right in the eighth, but was stranded again when McBroom struck out.
A third-round pick in 2012 out of Ole Miss, where he also starred in football, Alford has two three-hit games among the six he recorded so far this season. The Columbia, Mississippi native has reached base in all nine contests to post a slash line of .500/.590/.656.
Alford's first 11 hits were singles, but three of his last five have gone for extra bases, including  two on Saturday. He's scored eight runs while driving in four.