Photo by Logan Barer, MMO

MLB vs Japan All-Star Series

Samurai Japan 5 – 3 MLB All-Stars

The MLB All-Stars were in control for most of this game holding a 3-1 lead into the ninth inning but Kirby Yates inability to put batters away, combined with the excellent execution of small ball tactics, led to the Samurai Japan team scoring four runs in the inning and winning it.

Rhys Hoskins scored the first run for the MLB team in the bottom of the second with his first home run of the series over the right field wall giving them a 1-0 lead. This score would hold until the seventh inning as Kenta Maeda, Matt Andriese, Daniel Norris, and Chris Martin combined for six innings of shutout baseball allowing only five hits, no walks, while striking out four.

In the bottom of the seventh inning, the MLB All-Stars would tack on an insurance run thanks to a RBI double by Juan Soto scoring Ronald Acuna from first base to give them a 2-0 advantage. Soto would give that run right back to the Samurai Japan team in the top of the eighth inning. With one out in the inning, right fielder Shogo Akiyama sent a soft liner the other way to left field that skipped past Soto when he made an ill-advised diving attempt to catch the ball. With Akiyama’s speed, he was able to circle around the bases for an inside the park home run before Soto could even get the ball back into the infield, cutting the lead down to 2-1.

In the bottom of the eighth inning, Amed Rosario got in on the action with a sharp line drive that JUST got over the third baseman’s glove and into short left field. With Rosario hustling out of the box he was able to stretch it into a lead-off double. He would advance to third base on a J.T. Realmuto line out to right field and then score on a sacrifice fly to left field by Carlos Santana giving the MLB team a 3-1 lead.

The top of the ninth is where things went south for the MLB team. A lead-off walk and a stolen base Kazuki Tanaka, followed by an RBI single Seiji Uebayashi cut the lead down to 3-2 and put Kirby Yates in a tough spot right away. Unfortunately, Yates could not get out of the jam as Japan’s small ball tactics would take this game over. A sac bunt moved Uebayashi over to second where he would score from on another RBI single, this time by Kosuke Tanaka to tie the game at 3-3. Tanaka would steal another base and moved on over to third due to a throwing error by Realmuto. He would score two batters later on a suicide squeeze play to give the Japan team the lead and eventually the game.

Arizona Fall League (AFL)

Peoria Javelinas 5 – 4 Salt River Rafters
Glendale Desert Dogs 4 – 2 Mesa Solar Sox
Scottsdale Scorpions 5 – 4 Surprise Saguaros

It’s been a rough fall season for Andres Gimenez and he was on his way to another “0-fer” night after going hit-less in his first four at-bats. In the bottom of the ninth inning though, with the bases loaded and the Scorpions down 4-3, Gimenez delivered a walk-off, two RBI double to win it for the Scorpions and keep their season alive.

Peter Alonso also drove in a run yesterday, his 19th of the season, in the top of the first inning with a hard hit line drive to left field with the bases loaded to give the Scorpions an early 1-0 lead.

We also got to see Desmond Lindsay make his first start since November 1st. He grounded out in the first inning, struck out in the bottom of the fourth inning, and walked in the seventh and ninth innings. He was also one of the runners that scored on Gimenez’s walk-off double.

The victory, combined with the fourth loss in a row for the Salt River Rafters, keeps the Scorpions elimination number at one and pulls them within two and a half games of first place. They face the Salt River team tomorrow afternoon at 3:35pm EST.

Mexican Pacific League (LMP)

No Games Scheduled

Venezuelan Winter League (LVBP)

Caribes de Anzoategui 5 – 2 Tigres de Aragua

Dominican Winter League (LIDOM)

No Games Scheduled

Roberto Clemente Puerto Rico League (LBPRC)

No Games Scheduled. The season will begin Nov. 15, 2018