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On Wednesday afternoon, the Glendale Desert Dogs took on the Mesa Solar Sox at Hohokam Stadium in Mesa, Arizona.
Desert Dogs 10, Solar Sox 0
- Austin Gomber (SP): 6 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 7 Ks
- Ryan Sherriff (RP): 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K
- Rowan Wick (RP): 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K
- Carson Kelly (C): 1-4, 2B, BB, RBI, R
- Paul DeJong (2B): 1-4, BB, 2 RBIs
- Harrison Bader (RF): 1-5, RBI, 2 Ks, R
Behind another gem from Austin Gomber and a ten-run offensive eruption, the Desert Dogs took Wednesday’s matchup from the Solar Sox with ease, 10-0.
Gomber’s start on Wednesday was his final of the Arizona Fall League, and it was fitting that his last outing of the exhibition season and 2016 in general went as smoothly as it did, considering the year the 22-year-old lefty strung together. With six innings of shutout ball and seven punchouts to top off his AFL season, the Cardinals’ farmhand laid the foundation for his fifth win in six decisions across seven starts and ended the fall with a 2.14 ERA and 33:12 strikeout-to-walk ratio.
In the 2016 regular season, when he split time between the Double-A and Triple-A levels, Gomber managed a 2.69 ERA and 1.06 WHIP over 21 games and starts, during which he logged 127 innings. Pair that with his fine AFL performance, and it seems likely that Gomber will commence the 2017 campaign at the Triple-A level.
Other than outfielder Andrew Stevenson, shortstop Osvaldo Abreu, and pinch-hitter Zack Collins, all Desert Dogs batters drove in at least one run in the squad’s ten-run win, including Cardinals prospects Carson Kelly, Paul DeJong, and Harrison Bader, who combined to go 3-for-13 with four RBIs and two runs scored in Wednesday’s contest.
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On Thursday, the final games of the Arizona Fall League season will be played, and two teams -- one from the East division and one from the West -- will advance to Saturday’s championship game. At 16-15, the Desert Dogs are still in the running to possibly advance to Saturday’s game. Glendale will turn to Francis Martes of the Astros’ organization to keep their hopes alive against Rays hurler Brent Honeywell and the Peoria Javelinas.