The fifth week of the Arizona Fall League is now in the books, as we’ve reached the All-Star Game in the southwest! As a reminder, the Yankees’ representatives this year for the Mesa Solar Sox (12-14) are Bryce Cunningham, Cade Smith, Brady Kirtner, Coby Morales, Hueston Morrill, Manuel Palencia, Adam Stone, and Enmanuel Tejeda. Here’s how they performed in their fifth week in the desert:
November 4th – Solar Sox 21, Scorpions 14
The Solar Sox began their week with an absolute slugfest, as they were
able to punch in a late touchdown to beat the Scorpions 21-14. Enmanuel Tejeda and Manuel Palencia were the Yankees’ representatives in the lineup, and they had their best game of the Fall. Tejeda absolutely exploded with five hits in six at-bats (four singles and a double), three RBI, two runs scored, and three stolen bases. Palencia picked up three hits of his own in five at-bats (two singles and a double), driving in one run and scoring three times. Cade Smith took the mound in relief in the third inning, pitching three complete innings and allowing two runs. He gave up four hits and a walk, and struck out three batters.
November 5th – Solar Sox 9, Desert Dogs 15
It was another high-scoring game on Wednesday, as the Solar Sox fell in defeat after the Desert Dogs took a 12-0 lead in the third inning. No Yankees prospects took an at-bat in the loss. Hueston Morrill pitched the ninth inning and navigated around a walk and a hit-by-pitch to keep the Desert Dogs off the board in his only inning of work.
November 6th – Solar Sox 3, Scorpions 7
Another loss for the Solar Sox on Thursday, as Bryce Cunningham once again disappointed by allowing four earned runs in a two-inning start. After a walk, hit-by-pitch, and wild pitch in the first inning, Nick Morabito drove in both runners with a single. Cunningham allowed two more runs in the second on a Sam Petersen double, a Kevin McGonigle triple, and a Max Anderson sac fly. He is now 0-4 in the AFL with a 10.38 ERA. Tejeda and Palencia were again in the lineup, and Coby Morales returned after a two-and-a-half-week absence. Morales singled in his first at-bat, stole second, and came around to score on a single by Tejeda, who went 2-for-3 in the loss. Palencia went 1-for-3 with two RBI, driving in two runners on a single in the fourth inning. Adam Stone struggled in relief, allowing three hits and two runs (one earned) while recording just one out. He was replaced by Brady Kirtner, who got four outs while conceding one hit, one unearned run, and two walks.
November 7th – Solar Sox 0, Javelinas 3
The Solar Sox were shut out in the last game before the break by a score of 3-0. Tejeda was the lone Yankee in the lineup, and he picked up one of just five hits for Mesa with a single. No Yankee prospects pitched in the loss.
November 9th – NL Fall Stars 4, AL Fall Stars 5
The AFL All-Star Game and Home Run Derby took place over the weekend. The AL Fall Stars were able to survive a late rally by the NL and narrowly win the game 5-4. Cade Smith was the only representative from the Yankees to play in the game, pitching a clean fourth inning and recording a hold in the win. No Yankees participated in the Home Run Derby, which the 6-foot-7 slugger Tony Blanco Jr. won while hitting his hardest homer of the night 122.9 MPH, which would set a new record for the Statcast era. AFL play resumed on Monday evening.
Here are the stats for the Yankees prospects in the Arizona Fall League:
Enmanuel Tejeda: 17-63, 4 2B, 1 HR, 13 R, 15 RBI, 13 BB, 15 SO, 13 SB
Coby Morales: 9-24, 1 HR, 2 2B, 7 RBI, 3 BB, 8 SO, 2 SB
Manuel Palencia: 10-43, 1 2B, 7 R, 1 HR, 7 RBI, 1 BB, 12 SO
Bryce Cunningham: (0-4) 13 IP, 20 H, 19 R (15 ER), 9 BB, 8 K
Brady Kirtner: (0-1, 1 SV) 7.1 IP, 14 H, 10 R (5 ER), 6 BB, 6 K
Adam Stone: 4.1 IP, 10 H, 8 R (7 ER), 3 BB, 3 K
Hueston Morrill: (1-0, 1 SV) 7.2 IP, 9 H, 3 ER, 4 BB, 2 K
Cade Smith: (1-0) 1.2 IP, 7 H, 3 ER, 2 BB, 14 K
