2005 Arizona Fall League Daily: Games Of October 13

Grand Canyon 8, Peoria 3

The Grand Canyon Rafters (4-4) moved to .500 with a win over the Peoria Javelinas (1-7) Thursday night. The game opened up in the bottom of the first after a three run home run by Garrett Jones (Twins).

The Rafters added to their lead with two runs in the bottom of the third on an RBI single by Jones and an RBI ground out by Kevin Mahar (Rangers). Denard Span (Twins) added an RBI double in the fourth, putting Grand Canyon up 7-1.

Peroia added two runs in the top of the seventh on RBI singles by Ryan Roberts (Blue Jays) and Tony Blanco (Nationals).

Righthander Nick Masset (Rangers) earned the win in relief, tossing two shutout innings. Peoria righthander Matt Peterson (Pirates) dropped to 0-2 in the loss. Peterson gave up six earned runs on three hits in just two innings of work.

Mesa 7, Surprise 5

Another game, another home run for Angels shortstop Brandon Wood.

Wood blasted his AFL-leading ninth homer and Royals righthander Brian Bass was perfect through four innings for Surprise, but Mesa rallied late for the victory on Thursday.

In the third inning, Wood blasted a 1-1 fastball from righthander Humberto Sanchez (Tigers) for a two-run shot, giving visiting Surprise a 3-0 lead. The 20-year-old has homered in six of his eight games this fall.

Bass also continued his stellar start in the AFL, retiring all 12 batters he faced, striking out one. Through seven innings, the sixth-round pick in 2000 has set down 21 of 22 batters and opponents are hitting just .045 against him.

The Solar Sox took advantage of the Scorpions' bullpen after Bass left, taking the lead in the seventh against Cardinals righthander Cory Doyne (0-1). After an RBI single by Kevin Frandsen, fellow Giants prospect Dan Ortmeier lifted a sacrifice fly to center to tie the game at 5-5. Matt Murton (Cubs) delivered the go-ahead run with a single to center.

Giants righthander Jeremy Accardo (1-1) picked up the win in relief, striking out one and allowing two hits in two scoreless innings. Lefthander John Koronka (Cubs) earned the save with a scoreless ninth.

Phoenix 12, Peoria Javelinas 4

Stephen Drew (Dimaondbacks) went 4-for-5 and righthander Jamie Shields (Devil Rays) hurled five sparkling innings on Thursday as the Phoenix Desert Dogs pulled away for a 12-4 victory over the Peoria Javelinas.

Drew, who was named the AFL Player of the Week on Tuesday, ripped three doubles and scored three runs. The Diamondbacks first-round pick in 2004 hiked his batting average to .538.

Shields (1-0), a 16th-rounder in 2000, allowed four hits while striking out three to lower his ERA to 1.00.

Wes Bankston (Devil Rays) broke a scoreless tie with a two-run double in the fourth. One inning later, Josh Burrus (Braves)--who went 3-for-6, hit a solo homer to put Phoenix on top, 3-0.

The Desert Dogs sent 12 batters to the plate in a seven-run ninth. Drew had an RBI double, while Jarred Ball (Diamondbacks) and Burrus delivered run-scoring singles. Matt Kemp (Dodgers) chipped in three of Phoenix's 18 hits.

Mariners righthander Clint Nageotte (0-1) suffered the loss, giving up two runs on five hits in four innings. He fanned two without issuing a walk.

Dan Uggla (Diamondbacks) led Peoria's offense, going 3-for-4 with a homer and two RBIs. Nick Markakis (Orioles) was 3-for-3 with a double. The first-place Desert Dogs improved to 6-2, while the Javelinas lost their third straight to fall to 4-4.

Devil Rays righthander Wade Townsend's AFL season ended after just two innings. Tampa bay announced yesterday that Townsend, the eighth overall pick in 2005 out of Rice, has a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his elbow. Townsend was flown back to Tampa, and will be examined by team doctors next week.