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2006 season October 16, 2006 It was a great day to see a ball game today. The sun was shining in Surprise where the Grand Canyon Rafters came from behind to beat the Scottsdale Scorpions in an offensive thriller at Surprise Stadium. Luke Hochevar (Royals - P) started the game for the Rafters, and the Royals number one pick ran into problems early on. After surrendering a lead off double to Giants prospect Kevin Frandsen (Giants - 2B), Hochevar gave up three straight hits before Vinny Rottino (Brewers - C) hit a groundball to Oriole farmhand Bryan Bass (Orioles - SS), who misplayed the ball for an error. After a visit to the mound by Kennie Steenstra, Hochevar struck out Terry Evans (Angels - OF), then balked Rottino to third (he had stolen second on the Evans strikeout). He finally got Bobby Wilson (Angels - C) to hit a sacrifice fly to center, and induced a ground out by Matt Brown (Angels - 3B) to end the inning. All told, Hochevar gave up five runs that first inning. The second inning was a bit better. Hochevar gave up only one run, an unearned one which he contributed to himself by making a throwing error which allowed David Cook (White Sox - OF) to reach first. Cook moved to second when Hochevar walked Frandsen. Both Cook and Frandsen stole the next base and, Cook scored when Hochevar uncorked a wild pitch. After starting the third by getting Rottino to ground out, Hochevar surrendered a single to Evans, who scored when Wilson smashed a double off the top of the left field wall. Hochevar's day mercifully ended when manager Stu Cole lifted him in favor of Royals hopeful Neal Musser (Royals - P). Hochevar's total line for the day was as dismal: seven runs, five of them earned. He gave up six hits, walked one and struck out two in 2.1 innings. Of the 51 pitches he threw, 31 were strikes. The Rafters continued to trail in the game until their half of the ninth, when they rallied to score four runs and win 9-8 to remain unbeaten this young AFL season. The Rafter attack was led by the Neil Walker (Pirates - C), who went 3-5 and had three RBIs. Matt Miller (Rockies - OF) had two hits and two RBIs. A very polished looking Jeff Fiorentino (Orioles - OF) went 2-4 and scored three runs. Fiorentino's two hits were nicely stroked doubles off the right field wall. Fio showed a lot of composure at the plate today and was on top of all the pitches he saw. He looked like he was fooled only one time. In the ninth inning it seemed he was looking for a 0-1 fastball from reliever Mike Schultz (Diamondbacks - P), who came in to close the game in the ninth. He tossed up a nice looking breaking ball which Fio fought off for strike two. After taking a ball, he drove a fastball into right for his second double of the game. The longest shot of the game was a Cook blast off Brian Finch (Orioles - P) in the top of the sixth. Cook drove a Finch fastball about 405 feet into dead center, the deepest part of the park. Kevin Richardson (Rangers - C) ended the game in walk off fashion when he smoked a hit into left field which, scoring pinch runner Anthony Webster (Rangers - OF), who made it to home ahead of Cooks throw. --- John
Kazlo All photos on the Arizona Fall League Report are credited to Bill Mitchell, unless noted otherwise, and are not to be used for any other purpose without express permission.
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