AFL Game 17 Recap: Yankees’ Prospects Score Half The Runs In Scottsdale’s 12-3 Win

The Scottsdale Scorpions (8-9) were able to snap their three game losing streak on Saturday afternoon as they dominated the Glendale Desert Dogs (7-8-1) 12-3. It was a big day for the Yankees’ prospects as all five hitters were in the lineup. Three of the Yankees’ players hit home runs in the game and four of them contributed a RBI in the win. Out of the 12 runs scored Aaron Judge, Greg Bird, Tyler Austin, Dante Bichette Jr., and Kyle Higashioka accounted for six RBI’s. From the beginning of the game, it was the Yankees’ prospects who set the tone early. 

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With two outs in the top of the first inning, designated hitter Aaron Judge got the scoring started with a solo shot to left field off of Glendale starter Matt Magill (Dodgers), his second home run of the Fall League. The 22-year-old went 2-for-4 in the win and is hitting .250 with two home runs and nine RBI’s in league play.

First baseman Greg Bird would follow Judge up with a home run of his own to right center to make it 2-0 Scottsdale. After Glendale got on the board with a sacrifice fly in the first, Bird would tack on another RBI with a sacrifice fly to left in the third inning. The 21-year-old first baseman now has five home runs, 14 RBI’s, and has a hit in 15 straight game after a 2-for-4 day.

Right fielder Tyler Austin would follow up that at-bat with a two-run homer to left center, his second of the Fall League. Austin is now hitting .277 during the AFL with two home runs and 10 RBI’s in 12 games.

With Scottsdale up 5-1, the Scorpions would tack on four more runs in the top of the fifth inning. The inning started with a Judge walk and singles by Bird and Austin. Then, second baseman Dan Gamache (Pirates) hit a RBI single to right field to score Judge and Bird to make it 7-1. Third baseman Dante Bichette Jr. would drive in a run on an error during the next at-bat to extend the lead to 8-1.

The final four runs of the game for Scottsdale were scored by shortstop Matt Reynolds (Mets). Reynolds had a sacrifice fly in the sixth inning and would hit a three-run homer to left center in the seventh to make it 12-2 at that point in the game.

While catcher Kyle Higashioka did not drive in a run during the Scorpions’ win, he still went 1-for-3 with a walk. All in all, the Yankees’ hitters combined for the aforementioned six RBI, as well as, six hits in 21 at-bats and seven runs scored.

Joely Rodriguez (Pirates) picked up the win for the Scorpions by throwing four innings of shutout ball and surrendering three hits and striking out three batters without walking one. Matt Magill took the loss for the Desert Dogs and gave up all five runs to the Yankees’ prospects in the first three innings.

With the teams having Sunday off, Scottsdale will be back in action on Monday afternoon at 12:35 PM MST against the Peoria Javelinas (5-10-2). Adam Morgan (Phillies) will get the start for the Scorpions against Aaron Northcraft (Braves) for the Javelinas.