photo: Tai Peete (Brian Walton/The Cardinal Nation)
Peoria won its AFL opener as Cardinals outfield prospect Tai Peete doubled, homered and scored twice. Michael Watson fanned two in a perfect relief inning.
Peoria Javelinas 7, Mesa Solar Sox 6
The Peoria Javelinas started the Arizona Fall League season with a win at home against the Mesa Solar Sox on Saturday. Two St. Louis Cardinals prospects played in the game: centerfielder Tai Peete and reliever Michael Watson.
In Peete’s first at-bat in the bottom of the first, the leadoff man struck out swinging. He did better his second time up, blasting a solo home run to center in the fourth inning. In the bottom of the sixth, the 21-year-old from Riverdale, GA, doubled and later scored. Peete ended his night by being called out on strikes in the bottom of the eighth. Overall, the center fielder went 2-for-4 with an RBI.
Watch it fly Tai
The Cardinals No. 17 prospect drills a solo homer 425 feet for Peoria’s first run of the 2026 Fall League season! pic.twitter.com/Y7Gf61Oh9B
— MLB's Arizona Fall League (@MLBazFallLeague) October 4, 2026
Watson appeared in the top of the eighth, as Peoria was down 6-5. In his one inning on the mound, he struck out two batters, while not allowing any runs or hits. The Javelinas walked off the win with two runs in the home ninth.
No other Cardinals prospects appeared in the matchup.
The Javelinas start off the season 1-0. They face Mesa in an away game on Sunday.
Sunday’s Game: at Mesa Solar Sox
– RHP Braxton Bragg vs LHP Grant Richardson
– First Pitch: 7:00 PM CT
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