Rays trio leads way in AFL's regular-season finale

November 16th, 2017

MESA, Ariz. -- While the Surprise Saguaros finished last in the Arizona Fall League's West Division, they ended the season on a high note. Led by a trio of Rays prospects who combined for seven hits and seven RBIs, Surprise routed the East Division champion Mesa Solar Sox, 10-4.
Catcher Brett Sullivan went 3-for-5, scoring a run and driving in two. Third baseman Kevin Padlo had two hits in five at-bats, scoring once and knocking in a team-high three runs. Second baseman Brandon Lowe had two extra-base hits in four trips to the plate, providing one run and two RBIs.
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After Oakland right-hander Logan Shore opened the game by retiring the first seven Saguaros -- the last five on strikeouts -- Lowe drove a 2-2 pitch over the wall in right-center. The homer snapped a 1-for-14 slump.
"It was good, especially after I've been hitting some balls and they weren't falling," Lowe said. "The last day is a really positive note coming into the offseason."
Lowe also added a seventh-inning triple to record his second multihit game of the AFL season. He finished the fall batting .224/.348/.414 in 16 games. While those numbers weren't what he hoped for, he said he enjoyed the Fall League experience.
"Anytime that you can come in and get extra work against some of the best arms and some of the best players, it does nothing but get you better for the next year," Lowe said. "It kind of shows you what a full season would be like. You're playing during the World Series and stuff like that, it gets you adjusted to what's to come."
Lowe, 23, was a third-round pick out of Maryland in 2015. He broke the fibula in his left leg during his final college game, so he didn't make his pro debut until the following year. He won Florida State League MVP honors this season after batting .311/.403/.524 in 90 games and leading the Class A Advanced circuit in doubles (34) and slugging, then spent August in Double-A.
Besides the Rays standouts, Cardinals shortstop and Twins first baseman Chris Paul also had multihit games for Surprise (13-17). Tigers second baseman , Athletics shortstop and Tigers left fielder Cam Gibson had two hits each for the Solar Sox, with Eaves homering in the fourth inning off Rangers right-hander Tyler Davis.
Mesa (16-13-1) will play in Saturday's AFL championship game against the Peoria Javelinas (18-12). MLB Network and MLB.com will broadcast the game live at 3 p.m. ET.