AFL Game 12: Bird is the Word!

The Scottsdale Scorpions had been on an extended losing streak. They were 5-2 last week, but heading into Monday’s action, they were sitting at 5-6. The best way to put a four-game losing streak behind you is a little Greg Bird.

If the minor league baseball world was still unaware of who Greg Bird was after the 2014 season, they certainly know who he is now. The Yankees’ first baseman of the future struck first blood Monday night, belting his Arizona Fall League-leading fourth home run and driving in his also AFL-leading 11th RBI in the second inning. The Scorpions would never look back, winning 7-3. Scottsdale would rack up ten hits with everyone in the starting line-up getting one and Phillies’ center field prospect Roman Quinn tallying two. Aaron Judge would go 1-for-5 on the night, with an RBI as the only other Yankees’ prospect to see offensive action. 

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Joely Rodriguez, the Pirates elite pitching prospect, came out and threw his second consecutive scoreless start. Rodriguez would resister his second AFL win on the season, going four shutout innings while striking out five. Rodriguez and four other pitchers would combine for seven scoreless innings. The only blip was once again a Yankees’ pitcher. Caleb Cotham came on in the fifth and allowed all three Glendale Desert Dogs’ runs to cross.

The Scorpions take on the Desert Dogs for a little day-ball in the desert Tuesday. No pitcher has yet to be determined. First pitch is 3:35 PM EST.

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