Scorpions snap eight-game skid with Maron's single
Mets catcher drives in go-ahead run as Scottsdale tallies three in 10th
Batting with the potential game-winning run on third base and one out Monday, Scorpions catcher Cam Maron wanted to make sure he got the ball out of the infield. He did just that, pulling a single through the left side to drive in the go-ahead run in the 10th inning.
Scottsdale added a couple of insurance runs and held on to defeat Peoria, 7-4, at Surprise Stadium.
It took extra innings and heroics from Maron, the ninth batter in their lineup, but the Scorpions snapped their eight-game losing streak, which was the longest in the Arizona Fall League this year. Scottsdale hadn't won a game since Oct. 23, when it defeated Mesa, 2-1.
"Getting on the winning side is always good," Maron said. "It's secondary out here, but to me, it's important to help our pitchers be successful and it's good for team morale."
Left fielder Robby Hefflinger led off the 10th inning with a triple. Right-hander Mike Nesseth got Angel Villalona to pop out and then intentionally walked Kyle Kubitza, bringing up Maron.
Maron hasn't played above the Florida State League and was hitting just .182 going into Monday, but he rose to the occasion against Nesseth.
"I was looking for a pitch to drive," Maron said. "I tried to stay short and put it in play hard, and luckily something good happened."
Maron finished the game 2-for-4 with a run to go with his game-winning RBI. Second baseman Tommy La Stella, the Braves' No. 14 prospect, went 2-for-5 with two RBIs.
Peoria was led by second baseman Cory Spangenberg. He got the Javelinas on the scoreboard with a two-run home run in the third inning and finished the game a triple shy of the cycle. The Padres' No. 14 prospect went 3-for-5 and is hitting .357 with a .571 slugging percentage in the AFL.
The Javelinas scored their other two runs in the eighth inning. After a leadoff walk, first baseman Japhet Amador hit an RBI double. Three batters later, third baseman Cheslor Cuthbert, the Royals' No. 9 prospect, hit a sacrifice fly to tie the game.
Amador finished the day 2-for-4. Shortstop Chris Taylor, the Mariners' No. 5 prospect, added two hits and a stolen base.
But Peoria was never able to take the lead Monday and Scottsdale got a pair of clutch hits from unlikely sources that helped Scottsdale end its losing streak. Hefflinger entered the day hitting .185. Maron had also struggled at the plate in the AFL and hit just .235 with a .295 slugging percentage in 84 games at Class A Advanced St. Lucie this year, a decline from his last two years.
Maron is hoping to use the AFL to help him make up for his disappointing regular season.
"At first, I was surprised they asked me to come out here," Maron said. "I was humbled. But you have a lot of people out here looking at you. So hopefully I can make a good impression out here and turn around the season that I had."