Astros Fall and Winter League Recaps

Dustin is taking the weekend off to deal with an emergency in his family so you are once again stuck with the second-string Astros action writer … but most everything last night was positive so that should relieve some of the sting.

Your Salt River Rafter Astros contingent was in action last night in Glendale, squeaking out a 2-1 victory despite having been outhit by the Desert Dogs 8-4 … and our own Rio Ruiz, once again batting third and hitting third, drove in one of those runs with a sixth inning ground out, but was oh-for four with a K for the evening.

Joe Sclafani, who as a Taxi Squad member was supposed to be active only on Wednesdays, not only played but was most certainly active while batting seventh and playing second base … though he went hitless in three appearances with a strikeout, Joe started three, and participated in four, double plays on the evening. I suspect we will be seeing a lot more of Joe in the next few weeks, particularly given the way the middle of the Salt River infield has scuffled to date … the game tonight was the first errorless contest this week for the Rafters.

Tyson Perez earned his first Hold of the fall with a scoreless, one-hit, eighth inning ... Tyson was the beneficiary of one of the Joe Sclafani-initiated double plays to erase that baserunner. The win on the road was the Rafters fourth in a row and they now lead the AFL East by a full game over the Scottsdale Scorpions.

The loss was the third in a row for the Glendale Desert Dogs (1-3) and dropped them into the cellar in the AFL West. Glendale was determined not to lose last night … they started Wei-Chung Wang, who had fourteen 2014 appearances with the Milwaukee Brewers, and used Chris Bassit, who had five starts for the Chicago White Sox this season, in relief in a futile effort to avoid the loss.

The Rafters (4-1) have tomorrow off before traveling across town to Scottsdale Stadium for a day game with the Scorpions (3-2) on Monday … Dustin hopes to be back for that contest.

Down south, in Caribbean Baseball Winter League action Carlos Perdomo tripled in his only plate appearance for the Bravos de Margarita as they fell to the Tiburones de La Guaira 8-3 … Carlos’ two-out, eighth inning, three-bagger drove in a run – this was his first plate appearance of Liga Venezuela Beisbol Profesional offseason play.

Triple-A backstop Carlos Perez found Caribes de Anzoategui pitching very much to his liking last night, pounding out a single, double and home run while driving in one and scoring two in the Leones del Caracas 7-6 victory … this was Carlos’ first game of the offseason as well.

Corpus Christi’s Leo Heras went one-for-four for the Charros de Jalisco with a home run, base-on-balls, two RBI and a strikeout in their 4-2 win over the Aguilas de Mexicali in Liga Mexicana del Pacifico action… and a former Astro farmhand and 2013 Arizona Fall League participant, Japhet Amador, who is also on the Jalisco squad and who still weighs over 300 pounds, went oh-for-three with a free pass and strikeout.

That wraps it up for Saturday’s action - enjoy today’s Major League playoff action.

~ Wallee Wright ~