Miller, Gore face off in matchup of future aces

Peoria 7, Glendale 6
Thursday's action provided a glimpse into a burgeoning rivalry and what two NL West clubs hope is a preview of future aces. The Padres' MacKenzie Gore and the Dodgers' Bobby Miller squared off in Peoria, with Miller getting the upper hand, statistics-wise. Ranked 78th overall by MLB Pipeline, Miller allowed a run on two hits and a walk with three strikeouts across three for Glendale, giving him seven punchouts in seven AFL frames. No stranger to the strikeout pitch, the No. 4 Dodgers prospect fanned 70 while posting a 2.40 ERA over 56 1/3 innings across two levels in the regular season. Juan Yepez (STL 27) blasted a two-run homer, his fourth, giving him a circuit-best 16 RBIs. Organization mate Brendan Donovan (STL 18) doubled, singled and drove in a pair. Angels No. 5 prospect Jeremiah Jackson slugged his second Fall League homer and singled.

Juan Yepez shows off the easy power with his 4th Arizona Fall League homer.

The @Cardinals prospect is batting .350 and leading the AFL in total bases. pic.twitter.com/BePjtPzyYr

— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) October 28, 2021

For Peoria, Gore, MLB's No. 56 overall prospect, struck out five but was tagged for four runs (three earned) on seven hits, including a pair of home runs. San Diego's fourth-ranked prospect did not issue a walk for the first time in three starts. Offensively, the Javelinas were paced by Ji-Hwan Bae (PIT 22), who homered and finished with three hits, three RBIs and a stolen base. More »

MacKenzie Gore's final line in his third Arizona Fall League start:

5 IP
4 R
3 ER
7 H
0 BB
5 K pic.twitter.com/sTGAWEpiZ4

— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) October 28, 2021

Surprise 8, Salt River 7
In a game in which the teams combined for eight runs in the final inning, Donovan Casey's one-out double in the bottom of the ninth might have been the biggest hit of all. Washington's No. 18 prospect scored the tying run later in the frame to cap a two-hit, three-RBI performance in which he reached safely three times. Despite a .211 average, Casey sports an .806 OPS in 19 at-bats. Reigning AFL Hitter of the Week Austin Wells (NYY 6) drove in four runs. Asa Lacy (KC 3) was on point for Surprise, striking out five while allowing two hits and a pair of walks in three scoreless frames.

Brett Baty (NYM 2) went deep for the first time this fall, driving a two-run homer to right-center field to give the Rafters a short-lived lead in the ninth. Michael Toglia (COL 6) doubled, singled and walked to lift his batting line to .286/.372/.486 in 35 at-bats. More »

Brett Baty gives the Rafters the lead here in the ninth!!! His first blast of the fall was a no-doubter! 🚀🚀@Mets @MetsFarmReport @MLBPipeline pic.twitter.com/JIwrDFVqyR

— MLB's Arizona Fall League (@MLBazFallLeague) October 28, 2021

Scottsdale 11, Mesa 4
A strong AFL campaign got even better for Curtis Mead. The No. 14 Rays prospect kicked off the scoring with a two-run homer in the first and added a double and four RBIs to pace the Scorpions' offense. Mead went deep 15 times and amassed 55 extra-base hits and a.951 OPS across three Minor League levels in 2021. Patrick Bailey (SF 8) doubled as part of a three-hit, three-RBI game while Triston Casas (BOS 2) and Jeter Downs (BOS 5) combined for five walks, three runs scored, two hits, an RBI and a stolen base. Matt Wallner (MIN 14) ripped his fourth long ball and plated two runs.

Gabriel Moreno, Toronto's top prospect, laced a two-run single and JJ Bleday (MIA 5) stroked an RBI double for Mesa. More »

#Rays Curtis Mead with a run-scoring double, his second hit of the day. pic.twitter.com/Vxe6S5IfId

— William Boor (@wboor) October 28, 2021