November 12, 2009 at 6:34 AM
Iglesias, Solar Sox walk off with sixth straight win
Jose Iglesias's two-out walk-off single propelled the Mesa Solar Sox to victory over the Surprise Rafters, 9-8.Surprise jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead in the first inning on an Ike Davis (NYM) 2-RBI double, and tacked on two more in the top of the third on Davis's two-run home-run. Mesa would get on the board in the bottom half of the third when Iglesias led off the inning with a single and came around to score on Hank Conger's (LAA) sacrifice fly.
Iglesias again started a rally in the bottom of the fifth, as he led off the inning with a walk and promptly stole second base, scoring on Rene Tosoni's (MIN) RBI triple. David Cooper (TOR) knocked Tosoni in with an RBI double, Conger walked, and Ryan Kalish capped the scoring by hitting a three-run home-run. The five-run outburst gave the Solar Sox a 6-4 lead. Mesa would tack on two more runs in the bottom of the seventh as Josh Vitters (CHC) and Iglesias both laced RBI singles, making the score 8-4.
Dustin Richardson came in to pitch the top of the eighth but had a rough outing as Doug Hogan (TEX) hit a two-run home-run, one of three Rafter hits in the inning. An inning later, Brandon Laird's (NYY) two-run home-run knotted the score at 8-8 in the top of the ninth, but the Mesa Red Sox contingent was not about to let this game slip away. Kalish opened the bottom half of the inning with a walk, then Casey Kelly singled, moving Kalish into scoring position. Iglesias eventually hit a two-out single that scored Kalish with the winning run.
Iglesias was 4 for 4 with 2 runs scored, a double, and 2 RBI as the Mesa shortstop, and Kelly was 2 for 5 while playing third base. Kalish was 2 for 4 with 2 runs scored and 3 RBI. Richardson pitched 1.0 inning, allowing 3 hits (1 home run) and 2 runs, striking out 1 and walking 1, bring his ERA to 6.52. Mesa plays the division-leading Phoenix Desert Dogs tonight at 8:35 EST.
Player of the Night: Jose Iglesias, who was a thorn in the Rafters' side, going 4 for 4 with 2 runs scored, a double, 2 RBI, a stolen base, and a walk-off RBI single to give the Solar Sox the victory.
Dustin Richardson came in to pitch the top of the eighth but had a rough outing as Doug Hogan (TEX) hit a two-run home-run, one of three Rafter hits in the inning. An inning later, Brandon Laird's (NYY) two-run home-run knotted the score at 8-8 in the top of the ninth, but the Mesa Red Sox contingent was not about to let this game slip away. Kalish opened the bottom half of the inning with a walk, then Casey Kelly singled, moving Kalish into scoring position. Iglesias eventually hit a two-out single that scored Kalish with the winning run.
Iglesias was 4 for 4 with 2 runs scored, a double, and 2 RBI as the Mesa shortstop, and Kelly was 2 for 5 while playing third base. Kalish was 2 for 4 with 2 runs scored and 3 RBI. Richardson pitched 1.0 inning, allowing 3 hits (1 home run) and 2 runs, striking out 1 and walking 1, bring his ERA to 6.52. Mesa plays the division-leading Phoenix Desert Dogs tonight at 8:35 EST.
Player of the Night: Jose Iglesias, who was a thorn in the Rafters' side, going 4 for 4 with 2 runs scored, a double, 2 RBI, a stolen base, and a walk-off RBI single to give the Solar Sox the victory.