photo: Tai Peete (Brian Walton/The Cardinal Nation)
The Peoria Javelinas defeated the Scottsdale Scorpions on Monday. St. Louis Cardinals centerfield prospect Tai Peete went 3-for-4 including a double and home run plus a walk, a stolen base and three RBI. Sammy Hernandez went 2-for-5 and Nolan Sparks gave up a grand slam.
Peoria Javelinas 10, Scottsdale Scorpions 7
On Monday, the Javelinas beat the Scorpions in a high-scoring home contest. Three St. Louis Cardinals prospects appeared: center fielder Tai Peete, first baseman Sammy Hernandez and reliever Nolan Sparks.
Peete was the leadoff batter. In the bottom of the first, he blasted a home run that gave Peoria a 1-0 lead. In the third inning, the center fielder hit a single that sent home Justin DeCriscio, extending the lead to 3-0. The 21-year-old from Riverdale, GA, then stole second and advanced to third on a throwing error.
In his next two at-bats, Peete walked and grounded out to first base. In his last at-bat in the bottom of the ninth, he doubled, sending Ty Harvey home and extending the lead to 10-1. The center fielder finished the afternoon 3-for-4 including a double and home run, plus a walk, a stolen base, run scored and three RBI.
Peete raised his AFL batting average to .365 and his OPS is up to 1.190. The 21-year-old has 10 stolen bases.
Hernandez hit third in the Peoria lineup. In the bottom of the first, he flied out to right field. The first baseman singled in the third and fifth innings. In the latter inning, he scored on a Carlos Sanchez home run, extending the lead to 9-0.
In the bottom of the sixth, the 22-year-old from Puerto Rico flied out to left field. Hernandez ended his night by hitting a pop-up to third base in the eighth inning. He went 2-for-5 and scored a run.
Sparks took the mound with no outs in the ninth inning. Two runs were already in, making the score 10-3, and the bases were loaded. The righty gave up a grand slam to his first batter, making it 10-7. Afterward, Sparks secured two groundouts and struck out one to secure the Javelinas’ win.
Peoria is 10-8 in the AFL. Their next matchup is another home game, this time against the Surprise Saguaros.
Tuesday’s Game: vs. Surprise Saguaros
– RHP Felix Arronde vs. RHP Frank Elissalt (0-0, 6.00 ERA)
– First Pitch: 3:30 p.m. CST
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