Smith stays hot, spins four scoreless innings

Burch Smith has a lot of lost time to make up for, but he's doing just that in this year's Arizona Fall League.
The Rays right-hander tossed four scoreless innings for the third consecutive outing Tuesday as Surprise beat Glendale, 6-1, at Camelback Ranch. He struck out four and allowed two hits while walking none.

After missing most of the 2014 season and all of the 2015 and 2016 campaigns due to Tommy John surgery, Smith returned this season to go 5-3 with a 2.40 ERA across three levels, including six hitless innings for Class A Advanced Charlotte against Jupiter on Aug. 16.
"Honestly, I'm more than happy to just be participating again, because it was the worst three years of my life being hurt," Smith told MiLB.com then. "It might sound funny to say, but to take away the biggest love of your life -- competing and playing baseball -- and to not have that for so long, it's really not fun. I'm thrilled to be back playing again, regardless of where it is."
Smith has rebounded quite nicely in the Fall League after giving up seven earned runs over 4 1/3 innings in his first two starts. The 27-year-old right-hander tossed four one-hit, scoreless innings in his third and fourth outings on Oct. 26 and Nov. 1, respectively, before Tuesday's gem, though he did issue six free passes in his outing last week. He now owns a 3.86 ERA with 20 strikeouts and 10 walks over 16 1/3 innings during his time with Surprise.
Five players drove in a run for the Saguaros, including Royals No. 11 prospectNicky Lopez, who led off the game with a homer to kick off a four-run first and finished 2-for-5 with two runs scored. Fifth-ranked Dodgers prospectYusniel Díaz went 2-for-4 and drove in the Desert Dogs' lone run of the afternoon in the bottom of the ninth.
In other AFL action:
Solar Sox 5, Javelinas 1
A's No. 14 prospectSheldon Neuse finished 2-for-4 with a double, two RBIs and a run scored for Mesa while Kody Eaves (Tigers) tripled, doubled and scored two runs. Tigers No. 28 prospectSpencer Turnbull started for the Solar Sox and allowed one run on two hits and a walk while fanning three to improve to 2-1 in the AFL. Braves No. 10 prospectAustin Riley swatted a solo homer for Peoria, moving him into a three way tie with fellow Atlanta farmhands Ronald Acuña Jr. and Austin Jackson for the AFL lead with five long balls each. Gameday box score
Rafters 3, Scorpions 2
Brewers No. 14 prospectMonte Harrison went 3-for-4 with a solo homer for Salt River to back Marlins right-hander James Needy (Marlins), who allowed two hits and a walk while striking out nine over four scoreless innings. Giants No. 3 prospectTyler Beede started for Scottsdale and yielded a run on four hits and a walk with five punchouts in five innings. Mets No. 24 prospectDavid Thompson tripled and drove in a run for the Scorpions. Gameday box score