AFL Recap Week 5: Bullpen Dominates

Twins hitting prospects didn’t have much success on the week, but the bullpen again displayed some dominance. Read on to check out how they all did in week five of the 2015 Arizona Fall League season!

(links provided to each player’s overall stats by clicking their name)

Adam Brett Walker – 4 games, 3-14, 2 R’s, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 1 BB, 7 K’s.

Walker played in four games on the week, collecting one hit in three of the games, including a two-run home run in Wednesday’s 7-5 win. His blast got the Scorpions on the board and closed the lead to 3-2. He drew his only walk of the week in the fourth inning to load the bases, but all runners ended up stranded.

His RBI single in Monday’s 10-8 win over Salt River came in their five-run eighth inning to make the score 5-3. He came around to score the tying run and the game went extra innings before Scottsdale came out on top. He also struck out three times on the day.

In Thursday’s 2-1 loss, Walker singled to lead off the third inning, but was erased on a Stuart Turner double play ball. He struck out two more times.

On Friday Walker was held in check with an 0-3 day that included two more strikeouts, and was in the on-deck circle with the score 2-1 when a double-play ended the game.

Stuart Turner – 2 games, 0-8, 1 RBI, 2 K’s.

Turner again started two games at catcher during the week, but didn’t make much noise as he was held hitless.

One of the times he did put the ball in play however, he picked up an RBI as he reached base on a throwing error.

In Monday’s game, Turner allowed two steals, but cut another runner down on Thursday.

Mitch Garver – 3 games, 1-9, 1 R, 3 K’s.

Garver made the start at catcher in three games this week, and didn’t have much success at the plate either.

His only hit on the week came in Tuesday’s 5-4 win, when he led off the three-run fifth inning with a single. He then came around to score from second on an infield single that was deflected by the pitcher.

Garver cut down the only runner to attempt a steal on him during the week in Tuesday’s win.

Nick Burdi – 2 games, 2 IP, 0 R’s, 0 H’s, 0 BB’s, 2 K’s, 0.00 ERA.

Burdi made two appearances on the week, and continued his AFL dominance, though both of those appearances came in losing efforts.

On Thursday Burdi pitched the ninth inning to finish the game, and set down in order the Surprise lineup that included Jurickson Profar and Gary Sanchez. He struck out one and got the latter two hitters to tap out to first base.

In Saturday’s 5-1 loss, Burdi pitched the eighth inning, again finishing the game for the Scorpions. He again set the hitters down in order, bookending this one-two-three inning with strikeouts.

Trevor Hildenberger – 2 games, 4.0 IP, 0 R’s, 3 H’s, 0 BB’s, 4 K’s, 0.00 ERA.

Hildenberger also saw action in two games on the week, going multiple innings in each appearance.

He was the first pitcher in relief after Taylor Roger’s start in Monday’s game, allowing three hits but no runs in two innings, helped by a runner who was caught attempting to stretch a single into a double. This resulted in a triple later in the inning resulting in no damage on the scoreboard. He struck out two.

He was again the first pitcher summoned after the Scorpions starter was done on Friday. He made quick work of his opponents, setting them down one-two-three in each of the sixth and seventh innings. He struck out two in the sixth on six pitches, and needed only one more for the third out.

Jake Reed – 2 games, 1 Win, 1 Save, 2.0 IP, 2 R’s (0 earned), 2 H’s, 0 BB’s, 2 K’s. 0.00 ERA.

Reed managed to keep his ERA at a perfect 0.00 on the AFL season thanks to his defense in Monday’s extra inning win.

He came on for the eleventh inning, and the leadoff man reached on an error. This runner and a second came around to score after Reed got the next two outs, resulting in each run being unearned. The walk-off home run from the Scorpions Sam Travis gave Reed his first AFL win.

In Wednesday’s 7-5 win against Glendale, Reed picked up his third AFL save with a one-two-three ninth inning, striking out the last hitter of the game to slam the door.

Taylor Rogers – 2 games started, 8.0 IP, 4 R’s (3 earned), 7 H’s, 4 BB’s, 7 K’s. 3.38 ERA.

Starts from Rogers bookended the week for the Scorpions, and he went four innings in each contest.

On Monday, after a Snapper-Mow-Em-Down first inning, Rogers got into trouble by walking the first two hitters of the second inning. A passed ball from Turner put a runner on third and a sac fly brought him home for the unearned run and an early 1-0 lead.

In the third inning, a walk and stolen base put a runner in scoring position, and a two-out single brought in the second run of the game for Salt River. Rogers allowed a single in the fourth inning, but struck out one and escaped with no further damage.

On Saturday, Rogers again started the game with a one-two-three first inning, and escaped a second and third threat after consecutive errors in the second inning. In the third, Mesa loaded the bases with two outs, but Rogers again got out of the jam with a ground ball to end the threat. They finally got to him in the fourth after he started the inning off with two strikeouts. A hit-by-pitch, single, and double to the next three hitters brought in two runs, but with the help of Garver’s heads up play, the third out was made at third base after the throw home on the double wasn’t in time.

QUICK HITS

-Nick Burdi is catching the eyes of a lot of people in the AFL. Check out this video of one his K’s on the week.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a4s7JnQDc9k&feature=youtu.be

Please feel free to ask questions and discuss the performances during the week!

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