Phoenix Desert Dogs defeat Scottsdale Scorpions 7-3

The Game: The Phoenix Desert Dogs took over sole possession of first place with a 7-3 win over the Scottsdale Scorpions on Saturday night at Phoenix Municipal Stadium.

Scottsdale took the lead early, striking for two runs in the first inning. Pedro Ciriaco led off the inning with a single to center. Ciriaco advanced to second on a steal and then to third on a single by Jose Tabata. Dominic Brown delivered a sac fly to score Ciriaco and put the Scorpions on the board. Then Brandon Allen struck an RBI double to right, scoring Tabata and giving the Scorpions a 2-0 lead.

The Desert Dogs rallied with two outs in the fifth inning to take the lead. Corey Brown and Brad Emaus got the rally started with back to back singles. Then AJ Jimenez delivered an RBI single to score Brown and advance Emaus to second. Matt Angle followed with an RBI single that scored Emaus. Danny Espinosa drew a walk to load the bases for Phoenix. Chris Marrero hit a single to left that scored Jimenez and Angle. Josh Bell then reached on an error to reload the bases for the Desert Dogs. Brandon Waring drew a bases loaded walk to push across the fifth run of the inning and give Phoenix a 5-2 lead.

Phoenix added two more runs in the seventh inning. Matt Angle and Danny Espinosa led off the inning with back to back singles. Angle then stole third base to put runners on the corners. Chris Marrero drew a walk to load the bases. Brandon Warning then followed with a two run double to score Angle and Espinosa, increasing the Desert Dogs lead to 7-2.

Scottsdale added another run to their tally in the eighth inning. Brandon Allen singled to left to put a runner onboard. Then Buster Posey hit an RBI double to right, scoring Allen. But they could not produce any more runs and the Desert Dogs held on to win 7-3.

Ryohei Tanaka picked up the win for Phoenix, his first of the fall. Cesar Valdez suffered the loss for Scottsdale.

Phoenix Desert Dogs Player of the Game: Matt Angle; 3 for 5 with an RBI, 2 runs scored and a stolen base.

Rays Organization Stats:
Heath Rollins; picked up his first hold of the fall, pitching 1 inning and allowing only 1 hit.
Matt Gorgen; pitched 1 no hit inning, striking out 2 of the 3 batters faced.

A Look Ahead: The Phoenix Desert Dogs and the rest of the Arizona Fall League are off on Sunday. Phoenix resumes play on Monday at Phoenix Municipal Stadium against the Mesa Solar Sox (4-7). Robert Ray (0-0, 3.00) will be on the mound for Phoenix facing Mike McCardell (0-0, 3.60) for Mesa.