Peo Javelinas 10, Surprise 3 (box)
While there are still four teams vying for this season’s World Series Trophy, the Arizona Fall Leauge kicked off their season yesterday afternoon. Several members of the Cleveland Indians farm system will be taking part in the two-month league, and we’ll be doing our best to keep you updated on their progress.
The Indians’ prospects will be suiting up for the Surprise Rafters – and yes, that is the real team name. The guys that have the honor of playing for the rafters:
Stephen Head, 1B
Beau Mills, 1B
Josh Rodriguez, 2B/SS
Wes Hodges, 3B
Chuck Lofgren, LHP
Tony Sipp, LHP
Erik Stiller, RHP
Neil Wagner, RHP
Hodges suited up and hit third in yesterday’s game, though going 0-for-4 with the infamous GIDP. Rodriguez, fresh off of relatively disappointing season, hit ninth and went 1-for-3 to go along with a base on balls. Neil Wagner struck out one batter in a scoreless/hitless inning and a third.
A guy to keep an eye on within the Surprise Rafters include Baltimore’s Matt Wieters. The top prospect catcher started things off with a bang yesterday, going 1-for-3 with a triple, a walk and two runs scored. This kid is the reason why the Orioles won’t be trading for Kelly Shoppach any time soon. Perhaps there’s another way we could take Brian Roberts off of their hands, but it won’t be through dealing catchers.
The Rafters will square off one more time against Peo Javelinas before Thursday’s game against Scottsdale.
