This year’s Arizona Fall League has come and gone, as the Salt River Rafters’ quest for an unlikely AFL title ended with a semifinal loss on Friday night. It was an up-and-down autumn for them and the Yankees’ contingent, who had some definite high points, but also some deep struggles. Starting with Sunday’s Fall Stars Game, here’s how it went down in the final week of the AFL. As a reminder, if you want a quick rundown on who was in the desert this month, check here.
November 8 (AFL Fall Stars Game):
Three Yankees participated in the Fall Stars Game on Sunday, which the NL won 7-4. Dax Kilby went 0-for-2 with two strikeouts, and Kyle West did the same. At least Chris Veach did his job, getting the last out of the fourth inning.
November 10 (Rafters 6, Javelinas 14): Returning from the pseudo-All-Star Break, Salt River got blasted by the team they’d eventually go on to play in the postseason. Kilby was removed in the fourth in what I can only describe as load management, given it happened to him again the following night and he’s DHing all week. Core Jackson went 1-for-4 with two RBIs, and West went 0-for-2 with two walks and two strikeouts. Eleven of the 14 runs were allowed by Mack Estrada and JT Etheridge, who both struggled, but converted catcher Antonio Gomez threw a scoreless inning.
November 11 (Rafters 12, Solar Sox 4): In their regular-season finale, the Rafters rallied from a fifth-inning deficit to blast the Solar Sox in a seven-inning game to finish the regular season at 14-15. Kilby again left early after a hitless day with a walk and two stolen bases. Jackson had one of his better games of the entire fall, going 2-for-3 with an RBI, two walks, two stolen bases, and three runs scored.
November 12 (AFL Quarterfinals, Rafters 5, Solar Sox 2): Thursday night marked the start of a three-day postseason, where Salt River defeated Mesa for the second consecutive day in the quarterfinals. Kilby went 1-for-3 with a walk, and West went 0-for-1 with three walks and two runs scored.
November 13 (AFL Semifinals, Rafters 5, Javelinas 6): That’s the end of the line, folks. The Rafters fell short in a back-and-forth affair and saw their season end on Friday night. Kilby took it on the chin, 0-for-5 with a pair of K’s, West went 0-for-4 with an RBI forceout, Jackson went 2-for-4 with a pair of hard-hit RBI singles, and Chris Veach tossed 2.1 shutout innings.
AFL final totals
Dax Kilby: 19-74 (.257), 2 HR, 8 RBI, 6 2B, 4 3B, 8 BB, 11 K, 8 SB
Core Jackson: 12-68 (.177), 2 HR, 9 RBI, 2B, 3B, 18 BB, 23 K, 17 SB
Kyle West: 18-76 (.237), 6 HR, 18 RBI, 2 2B, 9 BB, 26 K, 5 SB
JT Etheridge: 14.1 IP, 19 H, 15 R (14 ER), 12 BB, 17 K
Mack Estrada: 8 IP, 9 H, 7 R, 10 BB, 2 K
Chris Veach: 13 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 6 BB, 15 K
Anthony Mena: 11.2 IP, 9 H, 6 R (5 ER), 11 BB, 7 K
Antonio Gomez: 8.1 IP, 9 H, 7 R, 8 BB, 7 K
