The Surprise Rafters scored four runs in the bottom of the ninth inning to beat the Phoenix Desert Dogs, 7-4, in the regular-season finale for both teams in the Arizona Fall League.

After finishing with a 19-13 record in the regular season, Phoenix will take on the Peoria Javelinas for the AFL championship Saturday. The Desert Dogs won the AFL East Division, while the Javelinas captured the West Division with an 18-14 record.

Washington Nationals prospect Stephen Strasburg was originally scheduled to start Saturday's game for the Desert Dogs, but he has been scratched due to a sore knee, according to MLB.com.

It's unclear who will start in Strasburg's place at this time.

Phoenix Desert Dogs

Score: Surprise Rafters 7, Phoenix Desert Dogs 4 (Box score)

Recap: In today's game, Orioles minor league third baseman Josh Bell hit another double, collected an RBI on a sacrifice fly and scored a run for the Desert Dogs.

The 23-year-old infielder hit a double in his final five games of the regular season, smacking 10 total in 23 games in Arizona. Bell batted .319 with two home runs and 19 RBIs for Phoenix.

On the other hand, Orioles minor league center fielder Matt Angle continued to struggle for the Desert Dogs. The 24-year-old outfielder was 0-for-4 with a walk in today's game, dropping his batting average to .237 in 19 games in Arizona.

None of the other Orioles minor leaguers played in today's game.

Posted by Dean Jones Jr. at 10:39 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)
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For most of today's game, the Peoria Javelinas dominated the Phoenix Desert Dogs in the Arizona Fall League. The Desert Dogs, however, scored six runs with two outs in the bottom of the eighth for a 7-6 victory.

Both teams will meet again in the AFL championship game Saturday, which will be televised on the MLB Network at 2:30 p.m. ET. The Desert Dogs are 19-12 this season, while the Javelinas are 18-13.

Phoenix Desert Dogs

Score: Phoenix Desert Dogs 7, Peoria Javelinas 6 (Box score)

Recap: Designated hitter Matt Angle hit a two-run single that started the Desert Dogs' rally.

Orioles minor league third baseman Josh Bell was 1-for-4 with a double and a run scored in the eighth. The 23-year-old infielder leads Phoenix with nine doubles, which is also good enough for second in the AFL.

Relief pitcher Josh Perrault (1-1) allowed a two-run home run to Javelinas center fielder Trayvon Robinson, but he was still credited with the win after the Desert Dogs made their comeback.

Orioles minor league starting pitcher Ryohei Tanaka gave up one unearned run and three hits in four innings for Phoenix. The Japanese right-hander, who turned 27 today, walked one batter and struck out four, throwing 36 of his 53 pitches for strikes.

Posted by Dean Jones Jr. at 9:39 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
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The Phoenix Desert Dogs' five-game winning streak was snapped by the Scottsdale Scorpions, 5-4, in the Arizona Fall League today.

Despite the loss, the Desert Dogs will attempt to win their sixth consecutive league championship Saturday. With an 18-12 record this season, they clinched the AFL East Division title.

Phoenix Desert Dogs

Score: Scottsdale Scorpions 5, Phoenix Desert Dogs 4 (Box score)

Recap: Third baseman Josh Bell was 1-for-5 with a double in the Desert Dogs' loss to Scottsdale. He also grounded into a double play.

The 23-year-old infielder, who homered in yesterday's game, is batting .321 with two home runs and 18 RBIs in 21 games for the Desert Dogs. Bell also leads his team with eight doubles.

Phoenix right fielder Matt Angle was 0-for-4 with a walk and a run scored. In 18 games, Angle is hitting .254 with seven stolen bases and 17 runs scored. He is 4-for-35 (.114) in his past 10 games.

Orioles minor league relief pitcher Eddie Gamboa allowed one unearned run and two hits in one inning for Phoenix. The 24-year-old right-hander struck out one batter and threw 13 of his 22 pitches for strikes.

Posted by Dean Jones Jr. at 6:34 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
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The Phoenix Desert Dogs took control of the Arizona Fall League East Division with an 11-5 victory over the second-place Mesa Solar Sox tonight.

With the victory, the Desert Dogs (15-11) increased their lead to 2 1/2 games over the Solar Sox (12-13) in the division. Each team has six games remaining, including two head-to-head matchups.

A quick note before I forget -- I'm heading out of town for the weekend.

My goal is to keep posting the game recaps for the fall showcase, but there is no guarantee that I'll have Internet access. I apologize in advance if I'm unable to post.

Phoenix Desert Dogs

Score: Phoenix Desert Dogs 11, Mesa Solar Sox 5 (Box score)

Recap: Orioles minor league third baseman Josh Bell was 2-for-5 with three RBIs in the Desert Dogs' win.

Relief pitcher Josh Perrault tossed one scoreless inning for the Desert Dogs. The Orioles minor league right-hander struck out two batters and allowed one hit. Perrault threw 15 of his 18 pitches for strikes.

In nine games in Arizona, Perrault is 0-1 with a 2.08 ERA.

None of the other Orioles minor leaguers played in today's game.

Posted by Dean Jones Jr. at 11:53 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
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The Phoenix Desert Dogs pounded the Scottsdale Scorpions, 12-3, in the Arizona Fall League tonight to snap a three-game losing streak.

With seven games remaining in the regular season, the Desert Dogs are 14-11 and in first place in the AFL East Division. They hold a 1 1/2-game lead over the Mesa Solar Sox.

Phoenix Desert Dogs

Score: Phoenix Desert Dogs 12, Scottsdale Scorpions 3 (Box score)

Recap: Designated hitter Josh Bell was 2-for-5 with an RBI double in the Desert Dogs' victory.

Orioles minor league center fielder Matt Angle added a sacrifice fly, a single and two runs scored for Phoenix. Angle also picked up his seventh stolen base in Arizona.

First baseman Brandon Waring was 0-for-4 with a sacrifice fly for the Desert Dogs. In nine games during the fall showcase, Waring is batting .257 (9-for-35) with two home runs, nine RBIs and 13 strikeouts.

None of the other Orioles minor leaguers played in tonight's game.

I'm told that Brandon Snyder isn't in Arizona anymore, but there is no reason to panic. The Orioles just feel he has done enough this season. Snyder hit .354 with three home runs and 18 RBIs in 17 games.

Posted by Dean Jones Jr. at 12:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (4)
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With the holiday season approaching quickly, the Double-A Bowie Baysox are offering a special ticket package to fans for the 2010 season.

If you purchase a package, which is $79.95 plus $5.95 in shipping and handling, you'll receive six lower reserved tickets to be used for any game at Prince George's Stadium in 2010. In addition, the Baysox will also give a Brian Matusz bobblehead doll and your choice between a Baysox home replica hat or $15 worth of Baysox Bucks.

In eight starts for the Baysox in 2009, Matusz was 7-0 with a 1.55 ERA.

"Matusz was so good when he was here," Baysox director of marketing Brandan Kaiser said in a statement. "Our fans will really enjoy adding his bobblehead to their Baysox memorabilia collections."

In order for the packages to be delivered before the holidays, all packages will be shipped on Dec. 14. Fans can also choose to pick up their tickets at the Baysox box office between Dec. 15 and Dec. 23.

Check out the Baysox Web site for more information or to buy tickets. You can also make your purchases by calling the Baysox group sales department at (301) 464-4880.

Posted by Dean Jones Jr. at 10:15 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

Two early runs were more than enough for the Scottsdale Scorpions to send the Phoenix Desert Dogs to their third consecutive loss in the Arizona Fall League.

The Scorpions scored once in each of the first two innings and blanked Phoenix, 2-0.

With the loss, the Desert Dogs dropped to 13-11 this season, but they are still in first place in the AFL East Division. The Mesa Solar Sox (11-12), however, have five straight wins to pull within 1 1/2 games of Phoenix.

Phoenix Desert Dogs

Score: Scottsdale Scorpions 2, Phoenix Desert Dogs 0 (Box score)

Recap: Third baseman Josh Bell picked up one of the Desert Dogs' four hits in the loss. The 22-year-old infielder was 1-for-3 with a walk and a strikeout.

Orioles minor league relief pitchers Eddie Gamboa and Josh Perrault each tossed a scoreless inning.

Gamboa allowed one hit and threw 11 of his 12 pitches for strikes, while Perrault walked one batter and tossed eight of 14 pitches for strikes.

None of the other Orioles minor leaguers played in today's game.

Posted by Dean Jones Jr. at 11:32 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Winter leagues
        

The Phoenix Desert Dogs were edged by the Peoria Javelinas, 4-3, in the Arizona Fall League.

With their second consecutive defeat, the Desert Dogs' lead in the AFL East Division was shortened to 2 1/2 games over the Mesa Solar Sox. Phoenix is 13-10 this season, while Mesa is 10-12 and currently on a four-game winning streak.

Phoenix Desert Dogs

Score: Peoria Javelinas 4, Phoenix Desert Dogs 3 (Box score)

Recap: Only two Orioles minor leaguers played in today's game for Phoenix.

Desert Dogs designated hitter Brandon Snyder was 1-for-3 with a double, a walk and a run scored. In 17 games in Arizona, the 22-year-old infielder is batting .354 with three home runs and 18 RBIs. Snyder also has five doubles, one triple and 17 runs scored.

Snyder is tied for fifth in the league in RBIs, tied for third in runs scored and tied for ninth in hits (23).

Right fielder Matt Angle was 0-for-4 with a walk and a strikeout while batting in the leadoff spot for the Desert Dogs. The 24-year-old outfielder is 1-for-19 in his past five games. Angle is hitting .275 with five RBIs, 11 runs scored and six stolen bases in 12 games.

Posted by Dean Jones Jr. at 12:15 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
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The AFL East Division team scored seven runs in the top of the first inning of the Rising Stars Showcase in the Arizona Fall League, but it wasn't enough for the victory.

After chipping away at the lead, the West Division team scored two runs in the bottom of the eighth to take an 8-7 victory in the fourth annual matchup of top prospects.

Rising Stars Showcase

Score: AFL West 8, AFL East 7 (Box score)

Recap: Orioles minor league third baseman Josh Bell hit a sacrifice fly and also walked in the loss for the AFL East Division in the game.

First baseman Brandon Snyder played the entire game for the AFL East Division, and he was 1-for-4 with a walk and a strikeout.

Orioles minor league right-hander Brandon Erbe was selected for the East squad, but he didn't play.

Posted by Dean Jones Jr. at 12:35 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)
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The Phoenix Desert Dogs were doubled up by the Scottsdale Scorpions in an 8-4 loss during the Arizona Fall League today.

Despite the defeat, the Desert Dogs are 13-9 and still in first place in the AFL East Division.

Phoenix Desert Dogs

Score: Scottsdale Scorpions 8, Phoenix Desert Dogs 4 (Box score)

Recap: Third baseman Brandon Waring hit a solo home run to lead off the bottom of the fifth inning, but he also struck out twice in the Desert Dogs' loss.

Waring, who also committed a throwing error in the game, is hitting .290 with two home runs and nine RBIs in eight games for Phoenix this season.

Desert Dogs center fielder Matt Angle was 1-for-3 with a sacrifice fly. The 24-year-old outfielder also grounded into a double play and picked up an outfield assist.

Orioles minor league first baseman Brandon Snyder was 0-for-3 with a walk and a strikeout. Snyder's four-game hitting streak was snapped in the loss.

None of the other Orioles minor leaguers played in today's game.

Posted by Dean Jones Jr. at 10:04 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Winter leagues