Arizona Fall League & Dominican Winter League Recaps: 11/8

Arizona Fall League

Sorry we missed the update yesterday, but we are back today with updates from the last 2 games. Here are the stat lines:

Wednesday 11/6

• Robby Hefflinger – 0-4, 3 K, GIDP
• Kyle Kubitza – 1-3, run, 3B, BB, fielding error
• Elmer Reyes – 2-3, RBI, BB, K

Thursday 11/7

• Aaron Northcraft – 1 IP, 1 H, 3 ER, 3 BB, LOSS
• John Cornely – 2 IP, 1 H, 3 BB, 3 Ks
• Shae Simmons – 1 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 1 K

Tommy La Stella has missed the last two games with a lower back strain, but is expected to be back today.

As far as Robby Hefflinger is concerned, what else can we say about how bad this guy is struggling this AFL season. He went 0-4 last night, struck-out 3 times and grounded into a double play on the only time he put the ball in play. Heff is now hitting .180/.227/.295/.522 for the season.
Ouch! On the other hand, 3B prospect Kyle Kubitza continued his nice season going 1-3 with a triple and another walk. He did make his first fielding error of the AFL, but has had a really solid season at the plate with an on-base percentage over .400 and an OPS of .850.  Elmer Reyes also collected a pair of hits and drove in a run Wednesday.

Aaron Northcraft has been the Robby Hefflinger of pitchers so far in the AFL. He has been flat-out bad. He started his 6th game of the season yesterday and only lasted 1 inning.  He only gave up one hit, but unfortunately for him that hit came after he walked the first 3 batters of the game. Northcraft has posted an ERA of 9.00 on the season, giving up 14 earned runs in his 14 innings pitched. He has allowed 33 base-runners in those 14 innings. Yikes! John Cornely came in to relieve Hefflinger in the second inning and walked 3 batters of his own. Thankfully, it was over 2 innings and adding to that he struck 3 guys out and held the opposition scoreless in his 2 innings. Shae Simmons pitched another perfect inning, going 3 up and 3 down in the 7th, including a strikeout. Simmons has easily been the Braves best pitcher in AFL play. He has only allowed a single earned run in his 8 appearances and has struck out 11.

Scottsdale plays again tonight at 7:08 MST and tomorrow at 12:35 MST before an off day on Sunday.  We will be back on Monday to recap all the weekend action.

Dominican Winter League

Only one Brave saw action over the last 2 days in the DWL.  Here is the line:

Wednesday 11/6

• Wirfin Obispo – 1 IP, 1 BB, 2 K, HOLD(2)

Wirfin Obispo pitched a scoreless inning and earned his second HOLD on Wednesday. He walked one but collected 2 strikeouts.

Stay tuned for more updates as they come!