Arizona Fall League pitching still can't solve Francisco Mejía.The Indians top prospect collected three hits, drove in a run and scored twice on Friday as the Glendale Desert Dogs topped the Peoria Javelinas, 7-2, at Peoria Stadium.
Arizona Fall League pitching still can't solve Francisco Mejía.
The Indians top prospect collected three hits, drove in a run and scored twice on Friday as the Glendale Desert Dogs topped the Peoria Javelinas, 7-2, at Peoria Stadium.
Mejia raised his average to a league-leading .396, 10 points better than Surprise's Nicky Lopez (Royals).
After reaching on an error in the first inning, the 22-year-old switch-hitter collected singles in the second and the fifth. He doubled to center field in the sixth before reaching on another error in the ninth.
Mejia also got the start at third base, where he's been working in the AFL to increase his defensive versatility, and did not commit an error. The position change has had little effect at the plate on the longtime catcher, who's hit safely in all 11 Fall League games with four multi-hit efforts. MLB.com's No. 13 overall prospect leads Glendale with 19 hits, 10 runs scored and 26 total bases and is tied for second with two homers and a triple.
Eighth-ranked Dodgers prospectWill Smith plated four runs with a double and single for the Desert Dogs, while No. 17 prospect DJ Peters clubbed a solo homer.
Glendale starter Brandon Waddell (1-0), the 23rd-ranked Pirates prospect, yielded one hit and struck out two in three scoreless innings to get the win.
Braves top prospectRonald Acuña Jr. swatted his fifth AFL homer for the Javelinas, a solo shot in the eighth. Blue Jays infielder Lourdes Gurriel (Blue Jays) also went deep for Peoria.
Braves No. 9 prospect Max Fried (3-1) suffered his first loss for the Javelinas after surrendering five runs -- four earned -- on five hits and two walks with two strikeouts in four innings.
In other AFL action:
Scorpions 3, Solar Sox 0
Mets right-hander Mickey Jannis allowed one hit and walked one while striking out five over five innings for Scottsdale, lowering his AFL ERA to 0.53. Reds third baseman Taylor Sparks singled twice and drove in two runs, while Yankees No. 23 prospect Billy McKinney singled, walked and plated a run for the Scorpions. Cubs No. 20 prospectAlec Mills (1-3) gave up a run on four hits and two walks while striking out four over four innings for Mesa. Gameday box score
Saguaros 4, Rafters 1
After Brewers No. 14 prospectMonte Harrison crushed a solo homer in the fifth inning for Salt River, the Saguaros responded with a three-run rally in the bottom half. Twins shortstop Sean Miller delivered a run-scoring single and Cardinals No. 18 prospectOscar Mercado added a two-run knock. Andrew Knizner, St. Louis' No. 27 prospect, tacked on another run for Surprise with an eighth-inning solo shot, his third AFL homer, and Cards No. 12 prospect Edmundo Sosa singled twice and scored a run. Gameday box score
