Adams, Witherspoon power Scorpions' win
Yankees infield prospect drives in two, continues transition to third base
Adams, a third baseman in the Yankees system, finished 2-for-5 batting third for the Scorpions. Witherspoon, the Angels' top outfield prospect, led off the fourth inning with his first AFL home run before Adams doubled home Alex Monsalve (Indians) and Gift Ngoepe (Pirates) to give Scottsdale a 6-0 edge.
Batting .364, Adams has a hit in all six games this fall. He doubled and scored in the second after bouncing into a double play in his first at-bat.
"It's one of those things. You gotta go up there, trust your plan and work before the game and stick to a good approach. Good things will happen if you stay confident," he said. "I'm just looking for something good to hit and I got something to hit."
The early run support was a boost for Angels right-hander Bobby Cassevah, who allowed one hit over four innings while striking out three in his second scoreless outing for Scottsdale. Cassevah, who went 4-1 with a 5.79 ERA in the Minors while appearing in four Major League games this year, threw 32 of his 45 pitches for strikes and worked a 1-2-3 fourth to end his day.
Witherspoon had a slow start to his AFL campaign after struggling at Double-A Arkansas earlier this summer. His longball off reliever Clay Schrader (Orioles) was his first RBI of the fall.
Adams is looking to keep the momentum going after a strong season at Double-A Trenton in which he hit .308 with eight homers, 48 RBIs and 100 hits in 86 games. The Virginia product has eight hits in six games with Scottsdale and also knocked home a pair of runs in his last start Oct. 16.
"I feel like I have things to work on, that's why I'm here," he said. "I have to get better at things and be more consistent, just gonna keep working and good things will happen."
The infielder's biggest point of emphasis this AFL season is his transition from second base to third. He committed his first fielding error at the hot corner, where he played 23 games for Double-A Trenton, in the ninth.
Even with a few bumps, Adams doesn't mind the move, as long as it allows him to remain in the batting order.
"They came to me around end of July, said 'Hey, we're going to put you over here now,'" he said. "I didn't ask any questions. I think us hitters, we'll do anything to get our bat in the lineup. I don't mind it at all. I grew up playing shortstop so the angles over there are familiar. The balls are hit a little harder over there."
Orioles' No. 3 prospect Jonathan Schoop hit his first homer of the fall for the Solar Sox with a solo blast off Matt Packer in the bottom of the fifth.