Phoenix Desert Dogs (3-3)
News: According to today's AFL notes, top Rays prospect Wes Bankston, who left the game last Friday during Phoenix's 11-8 loss, apparently will be out for the remainder of the month-long AFL season with what is being called a "severe ankle sprain". The sprain apparently occurred on a play at second base, and while the phrase "sprain" does not sound too serious, it is probably just best to play it safe with Bankston towards the tail end of a full baseball season, during which he has already missed a long period of time due to injury. Still, it is disappointing to see Bankston go down so early in the AFL year. I was looking forward to seeing him do well, and end the season on a high note, with an eye towards making the club next year out of spring training. Alas, it looks like that will not happen. Just a bad year all around for Wes; we've just got to hope he will rebound next year. In the interim, no replacement has been named for Bankston on the D-Dogs' roster.
Last Game: D-Dogs 14, Peo Saguaros 6
-Phoenix nearly equaled their run output of the first five games in nine innings of baseball on Monday, scoring nine in the first three innings to coast to a 14-6 win over the Peoria Saguaros. Phoenix scored five runs in the top of the second, sandwiched in between two two-run innings, and later added on five more to coast to victory. Ben Zobrist had two hits, including a double, a walk, and two RBI for the D-Dogs, while Fernando Perez and a hit, walk, stolen base, and RBI, while scoring twice. Travis Buck and Chip Cannon collected three hits in addition for Phoenix, while Ryan Klosterman and Cody Strait collected two. On the mound, Rays prospects fared slightly worse, surrendering four of the Saguaros' six runs. Jeff Niemann surrendered two over 3.2 innings over work, while Jeremy Flanagan also surrendered two over just one inning of work. It wasn't all bad however; Brian Henderson pitched a scoreless inning for Phoenix. The D-Dogs evened up their season record at 3-3 with the win, and look to jump above .500 at home today with a win over the same Peo Saguaros team at home.
How Our Guys Did
SS Ben Zobrist: 2-3, 2B (3), 2 RBI (3,4), BB
CF Fernando Perez: 1-4, 2 RS, RBI (2), BB, SB (1)
SP Jeff Niemann: 3.2 IP, 66 pitches, 17 TBF, 5 H, 2 R (ER), 1 BB, 4 K, 6:1 G/F
RP Brian Henderson: 1 IP, 16 pitches, 5 TBF, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K, 2:0 G/F
RP Jeremy Flanagan: 1 IP, 15 pitches, 6 TBF, 3 H, 2 R (ER), 0 BB, 0 K, 1:2 G/F
Today: vs Peo Saguaros, 4:05 ET
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