Another day full of exciting Winter League Baseball out in Arizona:

The Peoria Saguaros (Atlanta Braves) edged the Mesa Solar Sox (Florida Marlins) breaking a 5 all tie in the ninth to win 6-5. Contributors in the Peoria victory included Freddie Freeman who went 2-4 with a homerun, a RBI, and 2 runs scored and Brandon Hicks, who went 0-1 with 3          

Freddie Freeman, Peoria Saguaros

walks. In the loss, the Mesa Solar Sox had Matt Dominguez go 0-4 with three strikeouts. Greg burns, 2-4, 1R; Garrett Parcell, 1 IP, 1 H, 1 BB; and Jay Buente, 1 IP, 2K, 0 ER, 0 BB, all helped to keep the Mesa Solar Sox close, but Jay Voss blew the save with 1 IP, 2 H, 1ER and 1 BB.          

Unfortunately for the Atlanta Braves, all the news was not good news. The Braves learned that Jason Heyward, a candidate to be in the starting outfield for the Braves in 2010, will miss the rest of the Arizona Fall League due to discomfort where his hamstring meets his gluteus muscles.

Stephen Strasburg, Phoenix Desert Dogs

The Phoenix Desert Dogs (Washington Nationals) got 4.1 strong innings from Stephen Strasburg, including 4 no-hit innings, to defeat the Surprise Rafters (New York Mets) 7-6. Strasburg’s final line was W, 4.1 IP, 1 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, and 5 K. Other Nationals contributing to the Desert Dogs victory included Josh Wilkie who pitched 1.2 innings in relief of Strasburg yielding 2 hits, no earned runs (1R), and striking out 2. Danny Espinosa went 2-4 with a double and a run scored. Chris Marrero was 1-4 on the afternoon with a run scored and Sean Rooney went 0-3 with a strikeout. The only New York Met to take the field for the Surprise Rafters was Ike Davis who went 0-4 with a walk.

Lastly, the Peoria Javelinas defeated the Scottsdale Scorpions (Philadelphia Phillies) by a final count of 10-9. Michael Cisco got the start for the Scorpions and did not pitch badly. He went 3 innings while giving up only 2 hits, 2 walks, striking out 2 and yielding no earned runs (2 R). Scott Mathieson appeared later in the game and pitched equally well, with a final line of 1.2 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, and 3 K. Domonic Brown went 2-5 in a losing effort.

In today’s action, the Surprise Rafters take on the Peoria Saguaros while the Phoenix Desert Dogs play the Peoria Javelinas. The Scottsdale Scorpions battle the Mesa Solar Sox.

The National League East has transplanted west in the sunshine of Arizona for the moment, except of course for the Philadelphia Phillies who are still alive in the playoffs. Here is a statistical recap of the players the National League East sent to the Arizona Fall League:

Phoenix Desert Dogs:
(featuring the Washington Nationals)                                                                                                      

Danny Espinosa, 2B: .200 AVG; 2 R; 4 RBI; 2 BB; 2 K; 1 SB
Chris Marrero, 1B: .429 AVG; 1 R; 1 2B; 1 HR; 2 RBI; 3 BB; 1 K
Stephen Strasburg, P: 1 W; 3.1 IP; 2 H; 1 BB; 2 K; 0 ER
Drew Storen, P: 2.0 IP; 4 H; 2 R; 0 ER; 0 BB; 2 K
Jeff Mandel, P: 1 IP; 1 H; 0 ER; 0 BB; 0 K
Josh Wilkie, P: 1 IP; 3 H; 4 R; 0 ER; 2 BB; 2 K
Sean Rooney: Has Not Played

Surprise Rafters:
(featuring the New York Mets)

Lucas Duda, OF: .400 AVG; 1 2B; 1 R; 2 RBI, 1 BB                                                                                       
Ruben Tejada, SS: .385 AVG; 1 2B; 5 R; 3 RBI; 1 BB; 3 K; 2 SB
Ike Davis, 1B: .357 AVG; 2 2B; 2 R; 8 RBI; 1 HR; 0 BB; 4 K
Reese Havens, SS: .000 AVG; 1 BB; 3 K
Josh Stinson, P: 2 IP; 2 H, 2 ER; 1 HR Allowed; 2 BB, 1 K
Scott Moviel, P: 1 W; 2 IP; 0 H; 0 ER; 1 HB; 3 BB; 0 K
Jenrry Mejia, P: 1.0 IP; 1 H; 3 ER; 3 BB; 1 K
Eric Niesen, P: 1 IP; 0 ER; 0 H; 0 BB; 0 K

Mesa Solar Sox
(featuring the Florida Marlins):

Mike Stanton, OF: .533 AVG; 2 R; 2 RBI; 1 HR; 2 BB; 6 K; 3 SB                                                          
Bryan Petersen, OF: .400 AVG; 3 R; 2 2B; 1 RBI; 1 HR; 0 BB; 1 K
Matt Dominguez, 3B: .154 AVG; 2 R; 0 RBI; 0 BB; 3 K
Greg Burns, OF: .000 AVG; 2 BB; 1 K
Andrew Miller, P: 2 IP; 1 H; 1 ER; 3 BB; 2 K
Jay Voss, P: 2 IP; 2 H; 3 ER; 1 HR Allowed; 2 BB; 3 K
Garrett Parcell, P: 1.2 IP; 5 H; 3 R; 0 ER; 0 BB; 3 K
Jay Buente, P: 1 IP; 2 H; 2 R; 1 ER; 0 BB; 0 K

Peoria Saguaros:
(featuring the Atlanta Braves):

Jason Heyward, RF: .286 AVG; 3 R; 3 2B; 1 RBI; 2 BB; 1 K; 2 SB
Brandon Hicks, SS: .231 AVG; 1 R; 0 BB; 3 K
Freddie Freeman, 1B: .143 AVG; 0 R; 0 RBI; 2 BB; 3 K                                                                                                     
Jeff Lyman, P: 0-1; 2.1 IP; 6 H; 6 ER; 2 HR Allowed; 4 BB; 2 K
Mike Minor, P: 2.0 IP; 1 H, 1 R; 0 ER; 2 BB: 0 K
Lee Hyde, P: 2.0 IP; 1 H; 0 R; 1 BB; 4 K

Scottsdale Scorpions
(featuring the Philadelphia Phillies):

Tuffy Gosewisch, C: .444 AVG; 0 R; 0 RBI; 0 BB; 3 K
Domonic Brown, OF: .300 AVG; 2 R; 3 2B; 4 RBI; 1 HR; 4 BB; 3 K
Steve Susdorf, OF: .077 AVG; 1 R; 1 RBI; 1 HR; 1 BB; 2 K
Troy Hanzawa, SS: .000 AVG; 1 R; 1 BB; 1 K
Edgar Garcia, P: 1-1; 4.0 IP; 4H; 4 R; 3 ER; 3 BB; 4 K                                                                                                 
Michael Cisco, P: 2 IP; 1 H; 0 ER; 2 BB; 3 K
Michael Schwimer, P: 2.0 IP; 3 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 1 K
Scott Mathieson, P: 2 IP; 0 H; 0 ER; 0 BB; 2 K