D-backs prospects fuel Rafters' late comeback

November 6th, 2017

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- The Arizona Diamondbacks' Fall League contingent helped propel Salt River to a walk-off victory on Monday, as Michael Perez delivered the game-tying hit in the bottom of the ninth before laced one into the left-center-field gap to give the Rafters a 2-1 victory over Surprise.
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After being held scoreless over the game's first eight frames, the Rafters' offense sprung to life in their last at-bat en route to scoring a pair of two-out runs courtesy of three consecutive singles.
Brian Mundell worked a one-out walk to start Salt River's late rally before advancing to second base on Ryan Mountcastle's (Orioles' No. 3) two-strike single through the left side of the field.
Perez followed with a line-drive single to left-center field that plated Mundell and allowed Mountcastle to reach third base ahead of Reinheimer, who, after falling behind in the count, lined the game-winning hit into left field.
"I wasn't trying to do too much," said Reinheimer, who improved his Fall League average to .280 by going 1-for-2 with a walk on Monday. "Just get a pitch over the plate and put a good swing on it, and luckily I connected.
"I've felt pretty relaxed at the plate and I've been seeing the ball well," added the D-backs' No. 25 prospect, "so I just tried not to do too much and it worked out."

There had been little offense in the game until Salt River's big ninth inning. Much of that had to do with Surprise starter Tyler Davis, as he kept Salt River out of the hit column over four innings in his second Fall League start for the Saguaros.
The Rangers farmhand neither issued a walk nor recorded a strikeout in the performance, although he did generate six ground-ball outs while throwing 26 of his 43 pitches for strikes in the outing. The lone batter he allowed to reach base did so when the 24-year-old right-hander committed a throwing error in the second inning.
LaMonte Wade (Twins' No. 17) broke a scoreless tie in the top of the fourth inning when he connected on a booming home run to right field against Salt River starter Ryan Atkinson. The homer was Wade's second in the Fall League and left his bat at 109.3 mph and traveled a projected 408 feet, according to Statcast™.

Mundell (Rockies' No. 14) reached base twice for the Rafters as part of a 1-for-3 performance that included a ringing, 110.6-mph double off of the left-field wall in the bottom of the seventh inning. Salt River teammate and fellow Rockies farmhand Yonathan Daza showcased his plus speed by going home-to-first in 3.88 seconds on a bunt single during the previous frame.
For Surprise, Oscar Mercado (Cardinals' No. 18) ripped a pair of singles and stole a base to continue his impressive Fall League campaign. The 22-year-old center fielder is now batting .274 with five steals after Monday's multi-hit game, his third in his past eight contests.
Catcher Nick Dini (Royals) also notched a pair of hits for Surprise before finishing the game 2-for-3.