Cardinals Arizona Fall League Notebook: 10/16/17

photo: Oscar Mercado (Brian Walton/The Cardinal Nation)

Results from the Arizona Fall League game played Monday, October 16th.

Surprise 9 vs. Scottsdale 8      

Oscar Mercado’s big bottom of the ninth rallied Surprise (3-3) past Scottsdale, 9-8.  The third-place Saguaros trail Glendale by 1 ½ games in the West Division, pending the outcome of the Desert Dogs’ evening contest against East Division-leading Mesa.

Oscar Mercado (Springfield Cardinals)

The home team faced their last three outs while trailing the Scorpions 8-6.  A fly out to left whittled the outs down to two before shortstop Nicky Lopez (KC) worked a free pass.  St. Louis’ own Edmundo Sosa took one for the team, as his hit by pitch put two on with Mercado up next.  The center fielder cracked a sharp line drive double to left, bringing across both runners to tie the score at eight all.  Clean-up hitter Chris Paul (MIN) ended the game by lining a single up the middle, scoring Mercado for the walk-off.

The ninth was the second straight inning in which Mercado was productive.  He opened the eighth with a base-on-balls, advancing to second via a single by Paul and scoring ahead of Paul on a triple by designated hitter Kevin Padlo (TB).  Mercado’s double was his sole hit in three at bats plus the walk and he touched home twice with the aforementioned two RBI.

Fellow Cardinals farmhand Sosa’s struggles at the plate continue, as the second baseman went hitless in four at bats with two strikeouts to lower his average to .214. However, as noted above, the 21-year old was hit by a pitch and scored the tying run.  Defensively, Sosa took part in a seventh-inning double play, erasing a baserunner who would have subsequently scored.

Sandy Alcantara (USA TODAY Sports Images)

Andrew Knizner was the third and final Cardinals’ player in the Saguaros’ line-up, batting fifth and manning first base.  Knizner singled once in four at bats. In his first at bat, Knizner lined a single to right but was erased as Padlo hit into an inning-ending double play.  Defensively, he joined Sosa and Lopez in turning a vital double play.

Starter Sandy Alcantara rebounded from a sub-par Arizona Fall League debut on October 10th, tossing three strong frames.  The righty faced just one over the minimum, via a free pass.  Alcantara retired his first five batters via ground outs before the walk and then induced three more outs on the ground.  The 22-year-old finished his successful stint with a swinging K.

Southpaw Andrew Choplick (TX) picked up his first win with a one-two-three ninth, notching two strikeouts.  Yankees’ right-hander Andrew Schwaab (BS, 1) (L, 0-1) was unable to navigate the home half of the ninth successfully.

Tuesday’s game: at Peoria (4-2), 12:35 pm MST, David Ledbetter (0-0, 0.00) (TX)

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