Though Glendale's Arizona Fall League title pursuit came to an end Thursday, two Desert Dogs made sure they went out with a bang in its penultimate game.Indians outfield prospect Ka'ai Tom and Dodgers catcher Will Smith each went 2-for-4 with a home run Wednesday afternoon to lead Glendale to a
Though Glendale's Arizona Fall League title pursuit came to an end Thursday, two Desert Dogs made sure they went out with a bang in its penultimate game.
Indians outfield prospect Ka'ai Tom and Dodgers catcher Will Smith each went 2-for-4 with a home run Wednesday afternoon to lead Glendale to a 5-4 win over Salt River in Arizona Fall League action. The Desert Dogs finished second in the West Division.
Gameday box score
After Tom doubled to lead off the first inning and Charlie Tilson (White Sox) followed with a walk, Smith -- Los Angeles' No. 8 prospect -- put Glendale on the board when he took Salt River right-hander Jon Perrin (Brewers) deep to center for a three-run homer. The long ball was the 22-year-old right-handed slugger's second in 18 games. Smith is batting .371/.452/.565 with a 1.017 OPS that ranks fourth in the circuit.
"It definitely gives me confidence that I can compete at this level, and hopefully keep it rolling into Spring Training," he told MLB.com.
Tom added a blast -- also his second of the fall -- in the fifth, a solo shot off right-handed reliever Shane Broyles (Rockies). Along with the double, the 23-year-old outfielder has collected multiple hits in four of his last five games and sports a .275/.420/.500 line in 11 games for the Desert Dogs.
Top Pirates prospect Mitch Keller (4-0) picked up the victory after giving up two runs -- one earned -- on nine hits over four innings as the Glendale starter.
"[He] didn't have as great stuff as he usually does, but was able to keep them from scoring too much," Smith told MLB.com.
Arizona third baseman Jack Reinheimer went 3-for-3 with a triple, a walk and a run scored for Salt River in the loss.
In other AFL action:
Javelinas 4, Scorpions 1
Peoria punched its ticket to Saturday's Championship Game on the strength of a three-run second inning. Jonathan Davis (Blue Jays) singled three times, drove in a pair of runs and added a walk from the leadoff spot. San Diego's No. 3 prospectLuis Urías notched an RBI single in the second and fifth-ranked Seattle prospectBraden Bishop followed with a run-scoring triple. Right-hander Walker Lockett (Padres) allowed a run on two hits with six strikeouts over six innings for the win. Gameday box score
Solar Sox 5, Saguaros 2
Detroit prospect A.J. Simcox tallied two doubles and three RBIs to get Mesa into the Final. Astros No. 14 prospectFramber Valdez allowed two runs -- one earned -- on three hits and two walks with five strikeouts in four innings before Zac Houston (Tigers), Mark Ecker (Tigers) and Pedro Araujo (Cubs) combined for five perfect frames for the Solar Sox. Gameday box score
