Phoenix Desert Dogs win third straight, defeat Mesa 9-7

The Game: The Phoenix Desert Dog won their third game in a row by defeating the Mesa Solar Sox 9-7 on Friday at Phoenix Municipal Stadium.

Mesa took the lead early by posting a run to the board in the first inning. Bryan Peterson led off the game with a triple to centerfield. Peterson later scored on an RBI single by Rene Tosoni to give the Solar Sox a 1-0 lead.

The Desert Dogs battled back to take the lead in the bottom of the first inning. Jemile Weeks and Danny Espinosa drew walks to lead off the inning. Grant Desme then followed with a single to right to load the bases. The first run of the inning came on a passed ball that allowed Weeks to score. Josh Bell followed with an RBI single to left, scoring Espinosa. Nevin Ashley drove home the third run of the inning with a ground ball that scored Desme and gave Phoenix a 3-1 lead.

Mesa fought back to tie the game in the second inning. Ryan Kalish and Steve Singleton delivered back to back singles to lead off the inning. Casey Kelly followed with an RBI single to score Kalish. Bryan Peters singled home Singleton to tie the game at 3-3.

The tie did not last long as Phoenix regained the lead in the bottom of the second. Matt Angle led off the inning with a walk. Angle advanced to second on a wild pitch and then moved to third on a ground out by Darin Mastroianni. Jemile Weeks drove Angle home with a sac fly to give the Desert Dogs a 4-3 lead.

But Mesa was not finished as they fought back to take the lead back once again, this time striking for four runs in the inning. Chris Parmelee started things off with a single to center. Then Ryan Kalish delivered a single to third to put two runners on the bases for Mesa. They did not remain there long as the next batter, Steve Singleton, delivering a three run home run to clear the bases. Bryan Peterson followed with a triple to right and later scored on an RBI single by Jose Iglesias, giving Mesa a 7-4 lead.

Phoenix pulled a little closer in the bottom of the third inning. Josh Bell reached on a fielding error to put a runner on the bases. Nevin Ashley moved him into scoring position with a single to left. Brad Emaus followed with an RBI double to left that scored Bell and moved Phoenix to within two runs of the lead.

The Desert Dogs tied the game in the home half of the fourth inning. Corey Brown reached on an error with two outs to get things going. Grant Desme followed with a two run homer to tie the game 7-7.

The game remained tied until the bottom of the eighth inning when Phoenix struck for two more runs. Darin Mastroianni singled to third to put a runner on the bases. Jemile Weeks followed with a two run home run to give the Desert Dogs the lead. The bullpen shut the door in the ninth as Phoenix held on for the 9-7 win.

Justin Friend was the winning pitcher, improving to 3-1. Eddie Gamboa earned the save, his first of the season.

Phoenix Desert Dogs Player of the Game: Jemile Weeks; hit game winning home run and went 1 for 3 with a home run, 3 RBI’s, 2 runs scored and walk.

Rays Organization Stats:
Nevin Ashley; 2 for 4 with a double RBI and a run scored.

A Look Ahead: The Phoenix Desert Dogs (16-11) will take on the Peoria Saguaros (12-15) on Saturday at Phoenix Municipal Stadium. Stephen Strasburg (3-1, 5.28) will be on the mound against Steve Garrison (2-1, 4.11)