Brian Goodwin leads Mesa past Salt River
With his offensive tools in tow, Brian Goodwin showed why he is the Nationals' top prospect.
Goodwin led the Mesa Solar Sox to a 5-4 victory over the Salt River Rafters, going 2-for-4 with three RBIs, a run and a stolen base in a rain-shortened game Monday at HoHoKam Park.
The Rafters scored first with three runs in the second, but Goodwin brought the Solar Sox within one on a two-run home run in the third, which scored Mat Muncy.
"I was ready to swing and I didn't miss it," Goodwin said.
Goodwin's third RBI of the night came on a ground out in the fifth to score Tyler Collins. Jorge Soler followed with a two-run double to give the Solar Sox the lead and eventually its 13th victory of the season.
After a single and a stolen base by Goodwin in the eighth, the second rain delay of the night turned into an early end to the game, leaving the top prospect stranded on second base.
"The skies just opened up," Goodwin said. "It came out of nowhere."
The Solar Sox pitcher, Matt Purke, who is tied for the team lead of earned runs given up, allowed the Rafters' first three runs before being relieved by Matt Loosen. Purke's record remains at 2-1 in the no decision.
"He battled," Godwin said of his starter. "He kept throwing strikes and showed a bunch of poise on the mound.
While Goodwin doesn't lead the team in any categories, he is consistently in the top five for several offensive statistics. But after a long year of baseball, he's not trying to make a push for the statistical leader; he just wants to stay focused.
"Just (have to) keep my intensity up and stay with the same approach," Goodwin said.
With the Arizona Fall League playoffs just two weeks away, Goodwin and the Solar Sox sit atop the East Division.
"It's kind of an unspoken thing, but everybody can feel it," Goodwin said. "We just show up and take it one day at a time."