ARIZONA FALL LEAGUE - Mesa Solar Sox Schedule

PHOENIX WINS CHAMPIONSHIP FOR THE 5TH YEAR IN A ROW

FINAL SCORE PHOENIX 10 - MESA 4

CHAMPIONSHIP GAME - PHOENIX WINS 10-4

Mesa Top 1st (0-0)

• Matt Young strikes out swinging.
  
• Jason Donald strikes out swinging.
  
• Logan Morrison grounds out to first baseman Josh Donaldson.
  

Phoenix Bottom 1st (0-0)

• Eric Young Jr. singles on a soft ground ball to center fielder Scott Cousins.
  
• With Steven Tolleson batting, Eric Young Jr. caught stealing 2nd base, catcher Tyler Flowers to second baseman Will Rhymes.
  
• Steven Tolleson grounds out, second baseman Will Rhymes to first baseman Jeff Larish.
  
• J. P. Arencibia called out on strikes.
  

Mesa Top 2nd (1-0)

• Jeff Larish singles on a soft ground ball to third baseman Danny Valencia.
  
• Tyler Flowers grounds into double play, third baseman Danny Valencia to second baseman Chris Nelson to first baseman Josh Donaldson. Jeff Larish out at 2nd.
  
• Scott Cousins walks.
  
• Casper Wells doubles (1) on a fly ball to center fielder Eric Young Jr. Scott Cousins scores. Casper Wells to 3rd. Fielding error by center fielder Eric Young Jr.
  
• Van Pope pops out to first baseman Josh Donaldson.
  

Phoenix Bottom 2nd (1-0)

• Michael McKenry strikes out on foul tip.
  
• Josh Donaldson strikes out swinging.
  
• Dustin Martin flies out to center fielder Scott Cousins.
  

Mesa Top 3rd (1-0)

• Will Rhymes flies out to center fielder Eric Young Jr.
  
• Matt Young singles on a sharp line drive to shortstop Steven Tolleson, deflected by second baseman Chris Nelson.
  
• Jason Donald grounds into double play, shortstop Steven Tolleson to second baseman Chris Nelson to first baseman Josh Donaldson. Matt Young out at 2nd.
  

Phoenix Bottom 3rd (1-0)

• Chris Nelson singles on a ground ball to shortstop Jason Donald.
  
• Danny Valencia grounds into a force out, shortstop Jason Donald to second baseman Will Rhymes. Chris Nelson out at 2nd. Danny Valencia to 1st.
  
• Evan Frey strikes out on foul tip.
  
• Eric Young Jr. walks. Danny Valencia to 2nd.
  
• Steven Tolleson called out on strikes.
  

Mesa Top 4th (3-0)

• Logan Morrison singles on a line drive to center fielder Eric Young Jr.
  
• Jeff Larish homers (1) on a fly ball to right field. Logan Morrison scores.
  
• Tyler Flowers flies out to center fielder Eric YoungJr.
  
• Scott Cousins singles on a ground ball to right fielder Evan Frey.
  
• Casper Wells singles on a line drive to left fielder Dustin Martin. Scott Cousins to 2nd.
  
• Coaching visit to mound.
  
• Van Pope called out on strikes.
  
• Will Rhymes flies out to center fielder Eric YoungJr.
  

Phoenix Bottom 4th (3-0)

• J. P. Arencibia strikes out swinging.
  
• Michael McKenry strikes out swinging. Passed ball by catcher Tyler Flowers. Michael McKenry to 1st.
  
• Josh Donaldson pops out to shortstop Jason Donald.
  
• Dustin Martin flies out to right fielder Casper Wells.
  

Mesa Top 5th (3-0)

• Matt Young strikes out swinging, catcher J. P. Arencibia to first baseman Josh Donaldson.
  
• Jason Donald singles on a line drive to center fielder Eric Young Jr.
  
• Logan Morrison walks. Jason Donald to 2nd.
  
• Jeff Larish grounds into a force out, second baseman Chris Nelson to shortstop Steven Tolleson. Jason Donald to 3rd. Logan Morrison out at 2nd. Jeff Larish to 1st.
  
• Coaching visit to mound.
  
• Pitcher Change: Rob Delaney replaces Jeff Manship.
  
• Tyler Flowers pops out to second baseman Chris Nelson.
  

Phoenix Bottom 5th (3-1)

• Chris Nelson grounds out, third baseman Van Pope to first baseman Jeff Larish.
  
• Danny Valencia triples (1) on a sharp line drive to center fielder Scott Cousins.
  
• Evan Frey grounds out, second baseman Will Rhymes to first baseman Jeff Larish. Danny Valencia scores.
  
• Eric Young Jr. strikes out swinging.
  

Mesa Top 6th (4-1)

• Scott Cousins flies out to center fielder Eric Young Jr.
  
• Casper Wells pops out to first baseman Josh Donaldson.
  
• Van Pope doubles (1) on a sharp line drive to left fielder Dustin Martin.
  
• Will Rhymes singles on a ground ball to center fielder Eric Young Jr. Van Pope scores.
  
• Matt Young lines out to third baseman Danny Valencia.
  

Phoenix Bottom 6th (4-6)

• Pitcher Change: Rudy Darrow replaces Tommy Hanson.
  
• Steven Tolleson grounds out to first baseman Jeff Larish.
  
• J. P. Arencibia hit by pitch.
  
• With Michael McKenry batting, passed ball by Tyler Flowers, J. P. Arencibia to 2nd.
  
• Coaching visit to mound.
  
• Michael McKenry reaches on fielding error by catcher Tyler Flowers.
  
• Josh Donaldson singles on a sharp ground ball to center fielder Scott Cousins. J. P. Arencibia scores. Michael McKenry to 2nd.
  
• Dustin Martin doubles (1) on a sharp ground ball to right fielder Casper Wells. Michael McKenry scores. Josh Donaldson to 3rd.
  
• Chris Nelson strikes out swinging.
  
• Danny Valencia singles on a sharp ground ball to left fielder Matt Young. Josh Donaldson scores. Dustin Martin scores. Danny Valencia to 2nd on the throw.
  
• Coaching visit to mound.
  
• Pitcher Change: Sergio Escalona replaces Rudy Darrow.
  
• Evan Frey singles on a sharp ground ball to center fielder Scott Cousins. Danny Valencia scores. Evan Frey to 2nd on the throw.
  
• Eric Young Jr. strikes out swinging.
  

Mesa Top 7th (4-6)

• Pitcher Change: Andrew Bailey replaces Rob Delaney.
  
• Jason Donald grounds out, shortstop Steven Tolleson to first baseman Josh Donaldson.
  
• Logan Morrison singles on a ground ball to center fielder Eric Young Jr.
  
• Jeff Larish flies out to center fielder Eric YoungJr.
  
• Tyler Flowers flies out to left fielder Dustin Martin in foul territory.
  

Phoenix Bottom 7th (4-10)

• Steven Tolleson walks.
  
• Coaching visit to mound.
  
• Pitcher Change: Tim Wood replaces Sergio Escalona.
  
• J. P. Arencibia flies out to center fielder Scott Cousins.
  
• With Michael McKenry batting, Steven Tolleson steals (1) 2nd base.
  
• Tim Wood intentionally walks Michael McKenry.
  
• Coaching visit to mound.
  
• Josh Donaldson homers (1) on a fly ball to left field. Steven Tolleson scores. Michael McKenry scores.
  
• Coaching visit to mound.
  
• Pitcher Change: Aaron Thompson replaces Tim Wood.
  
• Dustin Martin grounds out, shortstop Jason Donald to first baseman Jeff Larish.
  
• Chris Nelson doubles (1) on a ground ball to center fielder Scott Cousins.
  
• Aaron Thompson intentionally walks Danny Valencia.
  
• Evan Frey doubles (1) on a soft fly ball to left fielder Matt Young. Chris Nelson scores. Danny Valencia to 3rd.
  
• Aaron Thompson intentionally walks Eric Young Jr.
  
• Coaching visit to mound.
  
• Pitcher Change: Todd Doolittle replaces Aaron Thompson.
  
• Steven Tolleson strikes out swinging.
  

Mesa Top 8th (4-10)

• Scott Cousins pops out to shortstop Steven Tolleson.
  
• Casper Wells strikes out swinging.
  
• Van Pope strikes out swinging, catcher J. Arencibia to first baseman Josh Donaldson.
  

Phoenix Bottom 8th (4-10)

• Defensive switch from left field to center field for Matt Young.
  
• Defensive Substitution: Jeremy Slayden replaces center fielder Scott Cousins, batting 6th, playing left field.
  
• Pitcher Change: Esmailin Caridad replaces Todd Doolittle.
  
• J. P. Arencibia flies out to center fielder Matt Young.
  
• Michael McKenry flies out to left fielder Jeremy Slayden.
  
• Josh Donaldson singles on a soft line drive to left fielder Jeremy Slayden.
  
• Dustin Martin strikes out swinging.
  

Mesa Top 9th (4-10)

• Pitcher Change: Andrew Carignan replaces Andrew Bailey.
  
• Will Rhymes grounds out, pitcher Andrew Carignan to first baseman Josh Donaldson.
  
• Matt Young strikes out swinging.
  
• Jason Donald singles on a ground ball to right fielder Evan Frey.
  
• With Logan Morrison batting, passed ball by J. P. Arencibia, Jason Donald to 2nd.
  
• Logan Morrison grounds out softly, first baseman Josh Donaldson to pitcher Andrew Carignan.
  

That was a quick season...

11/22/08 8:19 PM EST

Box >

Desert Dogs' AFL reign continues
Donaldson homers, drives in four as Phoenix tops Mesa

By Jonathan Mayo / MLB.com

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Call it the coincidental dynasty.

Despite facing the best pitcher in the Arizona Fall League, despite having to keep the league's top offense at bay, despite not having their cleanup hitter in the lineup, the Phoenix Desert Dogs still managed to beat the Mesa Solar Sox, 10-4, on Saturday to capture their fifth straight championship in front of 1,881 sun-drenched fans at Scottsdale Stadium.

"Anytime you play for something that's Major League Baseball backed, you play for one thing, a championship and a gold ring," jubilant Phoenix manager Stan Cliburn said. "This team has been first-class from day one, they've had team chemistry from day one. They are from five different organizations, but they're one team and today they're the champions."

On paper heading into the game, it seemed like it might be an uphill battle for Phoenix's drive for five, a remarkable feat considering the ever-changing personnel and organizations providing players each fall.

The first obstacle was the 6-foot-6 right-hander who took the mound for Mesa. Braves prospect Tommy Hanson has been by far the most dominant pitcher in the AFL this season -- perhaps in any season -- and managing any offense against him would be easier said than done.

The heralded hurler performed as scripted, going five innings while allowing a run on three hits with eight strikeouts.

Already the winner of the circuit's pitching Triple Crown and potentially the first pitcher to take home league MVP honors (announced at the Winter Meetings), Hanson didn't give up his lone run until the fifth, when he already had a three-run lead. For the AFL season -- including the championship game and Rising Stars Showcase -- Hanson pitched 36 2/3 innings, allowing only 13 hits and 10 walks while striking out 64. He finished the campaign with a combined 0.74 ERA.

Phoenix starter Jeff Manship of the Twins matched Hanson to start, allowing one run through the first three frames on a Casper Wells double that plated Scott Cousins. But he ran into trouble in the fourth, when Logan Morrison led off with a single and Jeff Larish clubbed a two-run homer to right to give the Solar Sox a 3-0 lead.

Hanson gave up his lone run of the day in the fifth -- an Evan Frey RBI groundout following Danny Valencia's triple -- but Mesa got it right back in the sixth, when Van Pope doubled and scored on Will Rhymes' single to center.

The Desert Dogs never got to Hanson, but his pitch count did. He had thrown 76 pitches, including 54 for strikes, and even though this was a championship game, the Braves' top pitching prospect was not allowed to extend himself further. That turned out to be a huge break for the Desert Dogs, who put up nine runs in the sixth and seventh to put the game away.

"You have to tip your hat to that guy," Athletics first base prospect Josh Donaldson said of Hanson. "Just getting a hit off of him is a big accomplishment. We were hoping to get some runs off of him and we were fortunate to get one, but in the next inning, things seemed to open up for us."

It opened up, and then some, even without A's slugger Sean Doolittle, who was not in the lineup due to a previous commitment. Donaldson certainly helped pick up the slack for his missing organization-mate, collecting three hits and four RBIs. His single in the sixth scored J.P. Arencibia to shave the deficit to 4-2. Valencia singled home two more runs to give Phoenix its first lead of the game, chasing Tigers reliever Rudy Darrow.

In came Phillies lefty Sergio Escalona, who was greeted by Frey's RBI single as the Desert Dogs opened a 6-4 lead.

"Tommy Hanson is a great pitcher," Donaldson said. "When you see someone new after him, it makes the at-bats seem a little easier. It's not that the other guys are bad, but Hanson's that good."

Phoenix wasn't done feasting off those other guys, scoring four more in the seventh. Steve Tolleson and Mike McKenry walked before Marlins reliever Tim Wood left a two-strike pitch over the plate to Donaldson, who launched a three-run blast far beyond the left-field fence to give Phoenix a five-run lead.

"I knew I hit it well," Donaldson said. "They said it traveled pretty far. I got a good pitch to hit and barreled up. I had a two-strike approach and was just trying to shorten my swing."

From there, it was A's relievers shutting the door, perhaps fitting since Oakland has been the one constant organization during this five-year title run.

Andrew Bailey tossed a scoreless seventh and eighth and Andrew Carignan, the AFL leader in saves, finished it off in the ninth, getting Morrison to ground out to Donaldson to end the AFL season the same way it had the previous four years: with the Desert Dogs celebrating a championship.

"It was a joy to play with these guys," Donaldson added. "We really bonded."

Jonathan Mayo is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

Damnit.

We should won.

gdennis59 wrote:

Damnit.

We should won.

Yep, Mesa had a 5-3 record against Phoenix this year and beat them the last 4 out of 5 times! Darn!

11/25/08 2:45 PM EST
AFL season proves kind to Tigers
Larish, Wells among standouts in blue-chip prospect circuit

By Anthony Castrovince / MLB.com

The Arizona sun was kind to several Tigers prospects.

Play wrapped up in the Arizona Fall League last week. Seven players from the Tigers' system took part in the action with the Mesa Solar Sox.

First baseman Jeff Larish, who made his big league debut with the Tigers this past season, was sent to Arizona in part to get a feel for third base. The Tigers were pleased with the progress Larish made at the hot corner, and they also have to be pleased with what he did at the plate.

Larish tied for second in the AFL with 29 RBIs. He batted .331 with six homers and an OPS of .958 in 30 games. He batted .375 with runners in scoring position.

The 26-year-old Larish might begin 2009 in Triple-A Toledo, but he could quickly emerge as an option for the Tigers at third base.

Center fielder Casper Wells, coming off a season in which he was promoted from Class A West Michigan to Double-A Erie, was also an RBI and OPS machine for the Solar Sox. Wells played in 23 games and batted .321 with eight homers, 23 RBIs and a 1.129 OPS that ranked among the league leaders.

Wells, 24, was added to the Tigers' 40-man roster last week, so he will get his first taste of big league camp next spring.

Will Rhymes, a 5-foot-9 second baseman who has drawn comparisons to David Eckstein, played in 26 games for the Solar Sox and batted .287 with one homer and 10 RBIs.

On the mound, the Tigers got a strong showing from right-handed reliever Casey Fien, who did not walk a batter in 14 2/3 innings of work. That control helped him put up a 2-0 record with two saves and a 1.84 ERA in 12 appearances. He struck out 15 batters.

Right-hander Rudy Darrow only worked 12 1/3 innings in relief but managed to strike out 18 batters, walking five. He went 1-0 with a 2.92 ERA.

Having been added to the 40-man last week, right-hander Zach Simons obviously has the Tigers' attention after his acquisition in the early season trade that sent Jason Grilli to the Rockies. Simons had some control problems in the AFL. He went 0-1 with a 4.85 ERA in 12 appearances out of the 'pen, walking seven and striking out six in 13 innings.

Right-hander Luis Marte, the lone starter of the bunch, was knocked around early in the AFL season but settled in to allow just two earned runs over his last 13 1/3 innings. In all, the 22-year-old Marte, who was promoted to Double-A this season, went 2-1 with a 4.15 ERA in 17 1/3 innings over six starts.

Anthony Castrovince is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.