Arizona Fall League: Paul DeJong Struggles at Plate as Corey Littrell Logs Two Effective Frames

On Saturday, the Salt River Rafters and Glendale Desert Dogs squared off at Camelback Ranch in Glendale, Arizona, in the fifth game of the AFL for the hometown ‘Dogs.

Rafters 9, Desert Dogs 4

• Paul DeJong (DH): 0-4, K
• Corey Littrell (RP): 2 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 K (pitched the third and fourth innings)

With four runs in the first inning to serve as a sturdy cushion throughout the game, the Rafters were 9-4 winners over the Desert Dogs on Saturday.

Although the team collectively recorded fifteen hits, Salt River’s top offensive contributor on Saturday was center fielder JaCoby Jones of the Tigers’ organization. Jones, who posted a .407 slugging percentage across 99 games at the Double-A and Triple-A levels this year, went 2-for-3 with a double, home run, and he drove in three of his club’s nine runs.

Meanwhile, the Rafters’ pitching staff held the Desert Dogs off check all afternoon, as seven pitchers combined to allow four runs and whiff seven batters, including Cardinals infielder Paul DeJong, Glendale’s designated hitter on Saturday.

In relief of starter Chris Anderson, who was lit up for five earned runs in his two-inning outing to start the game, Corey Littrell allowed one earned run over two respectable innings. In 53 games this year between the Double-A and Triple-A levels, Littrell worked to a 3.90 ERA with 63 punchouts.

~

All Arizona Fall League teams are off on Sunday, but the action will pick right back up on Monday. The Desert Dogs will play host to the Peoria Javelinas. The game will begin at 1.35 p.m. CT. The starting pitching combination for the game has not been publicly announced at this time.