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AFL Recap: Two Shutout Innings for Taylor Hearn in Glendale Victory

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With a 4-1 record, the Glendale Desert Dogs had the best record during the first week of Arizona Fall League action. On Monday, they played their first of three night games during this season, with all three coming this week. They took on Mesa on this night and had both Kevin Kramer and Mitchell Tolman in the lineup. Taylor Hearn also came out of the bullpen in the 2-0 victory for Glendale.

Kevin Kramer batted eighth and played shortstop, where he had just one play all night. Mitchell Tolman was his double play partner and batted behind him in the order. Kramer reached on an error in the third inning. In the fifth, he singled to center field, then was thrown out attempting to steal. The opposing catcher had a great day behind the plate, going 3-for-3 throwing out runners. Kramer struck out in the eighth inning, leaving him 1-for-3 on the day.

After Kramer reached on an error in the third inning, Tolman grounded to shortstop, reaching on a fielder’s choice. He was then thrown out trying to steal. In the sixth inning, he grounded out to second base. Tolman doubled on a line drive to left field in the eighth inning. It was his third double of the season and his third hit in 13 at-bats. He went 1-for-3 on the day and handled three plays in the field.

Taylor Hearn came out for the fifth inning and retired the side on 11 pitches, with eight going for strikes. He gave up a lead-off double, then got three straight grounders to three different infielders to end the inning.

In the sixth inning, Hearn retired the side in order on 12 pitches, with nine going for strikes. He got a fly ball and two strikeouts, with one of them coming against Kyle Tucker, who is rated as the seventh best prospect in baseball and the second best in the AFL this season. That ended the night for Hearn. He pitched once last week and threw a shutout inning.

** Glendale plays at home against Scottsdale on Tuesday afternoon and Mitch Keller will be making his second start. He threw three shutout innings his first time out.

John Dreker
John Dreker
John started working at Pirates Prospects in 2009, but his connection to the Pittsburgh Pirates started exactly 100 years earlier when Dots Miller debuted for the 1909 World Series champions. John was born in Kearny, NJ, two blocks from the house where Dots Miller grew up. From that hometown hero connection came a love of Pirates history, as well as the sport of baseball. When he didn't make it as a lefty pitcher with an 80+ MPH fastball and a slider that needed work, John turned to covering the game, eventually focusing in on the prospects side, where his interest was pushed by the big league team being below .500 for so long. John has covered the minors in some form since the 2002 season, and leads the draft and international coverage on Pirates Prospects. He writes daily on Pittsburgh Baseball History, when he's not covering the entire system daily throughout the entire year on Pirates Prospects.

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