Fall/Winter League Roundup: Perales and Neely struggle; Garcia homers
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With the World Series now over there is still baseball to follow. It was a tough week for the Salt River Rafters in Arizona as the team dropped all six games it played. The season is nearing the end as the Fall Stars Game is scheduled for Sunday, while the playoffs will start on November 13. Every team makes the playoffs in the AFL, so the six-game losing skid does not take them out of contention.
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Arizona Fall League
In his lone start this week Luis Perales hit 100.9 mph and generated 11 whiffs, but he was tagged for five runs in 2 1/3 innings. He walked two and struck out five as his ERA rose to 9.58. Brandon Neely faced a similar fate in his relief appearance, allowing three runs in 1 2/3 innings with two walks and three strikeouts. The other Boston pitching prospects had a solid week in the offensive-friendly environment, led by Jojo Ingrassia (pictured) who fired three innings of one-run ball with a walk and two strikeouts. Jay Allmer posted two scoreless frames with a strikeout and a walk, and Isaac Stebens surrendered just an unearned run in 2 1/3 innings.
On offense, Johanfran Garcia showed a good eye at the plate to go with some pop. He went 2 for 11 with a home run, double, and five walks. He was the designated hitter once and the starting catcher three times, and runners were successful on all 11 stolen base attempts against him. It was a lighter week for Nelly Taylor who went 0 for 5 over two starts but did walk three times and steal two bases. Stanley Tucker went 1 for 12 with three walks and a steal while committing two errors.
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Dominican Professional Baseball League
After missing a little over a week, Ronaldo Hernandez returned to the lineup for Este. Over four games he went 3 for 12 with a double, three walks, and three strikeouts while stealing two bases. His OPS sits at .846 over 24 at-bats. Luis Guerrero picked up a win in his first outing of the week as he worked a scoreless inning for Escogido. In his next outing, he walked two but held Este scoreless in 2/3 of an inning.
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Venezuelan Professional Baseball League
After bouncing back with two hitless innings last time out, Eybersson Polanco struggled with his control in a loss to Anzoátegui. He went 2/3 of an inning and walked three while striking out two. He threw 30 pitches with only 12 going for strikes, but he managed to escape without allowing a run.
Photo Credit: Jojo Ingrassia by Kelly O'Connor