Kevin Kendall, Photo by Ed Delany of MMO

The Peoria Javelinas kicked off their 2022 season with a victory on Monday afternoon, defeating the Glendale Desert Dogs by a score of 5-3.

Box Score

Two Mets prospects were featured in the starting lineup, but no pitchers made an appearance.

• 2B Kevin Kendall: 1-for-3, R, BB
• 3B Luke Ritter: 0-for-4, SO

Kendall was the Javelinas’ leadoff hitter and reached base twice, scoring the team’s first run of the game in what eventually turned into a decisive five-run ninth inning. Ritter was the team’s nine-hole hitter and went hitless in four at-bats.

There were no hits in the game until the bottom of the fifth inning when Javelinas reliever Cade Smith ran into trouble by walking the first two batters. Terrell Tatum drove in the first run for the Desert Dogs with an RBI single, and the following batter Alex Isola reached on an error by first baseman Robert Perez Jr., allowing a second run to score. Ritter was also charged with an error on the play for an errant throw.

The Javelinas were shut down on offense up until the ninth inning, where Kendall kicked off an explosive rally with a leadoff walk. The Javelinas finally got on the board on a Robert Hassell III sacrifice fly, driving in Kendall.

Alberto Rodriguez drove in the second run for the Javelinas with an RBI single. The final blow was dealt by Perez Jr., who launched a three-run homer to put the Javelinas up 5-3.

Ritter made the last out of the inning on a flyout, but the Javelinas took their first lead of the game into the bottom of the ninth. Juan Then was brought in for the save, working around a bases-loaded jam to secure an Opening Day victory.

The Mets have seven other prospects on the Javelinas roster who have yet to make their debut:

• Outfielders Brandon McIlwain and Stanley Consuegra (taxi squad)
• Right-handed pitchers Christian Scott, Franklin Sanchez, Grant Hartwig, Mike Vasil, and Troy Miller (taxi squad)
• Left-handed pitcher Josh Walker (a late addition to the roster)

The Javelinas play their next game on Tuesday night against the Surprise Saguaros, with first pitch scheduled for 9:35 p.m. ET.

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