Felipe Rivero with bounceback win for Mesa

By Byron Kerr

Nationals

November 05, 2014, 6:13am

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Left-hander Felipe Rivero has had some rough outings and had to fight through an injury during his first few weeks in of Arizona Fall League play, compiling a 1-4 record.

On Tuesday, he bounced back in a big way with five solid innings, allowing only one hit and one earned run in Mesa's 3-1 win over Salt River.

It was the longest outing of his six AFL starts this fall. It was also the fewest hits and runs the 23-year-old Venezuelan had allowed in a game for Mesa this season.

Mesa extra coach Patrick Anderson, the low Single-A Hagerstown manager, said Rivero was "throwing strikes with all three pitches. (He) gained confidence with every hitter, (a very) impressive outing."

Rivero struck out four batters and walked only one to improve to 2-4, lowering his ERA to 7.71. Rivero twirled 57 pitches, 38 for strikes.

His fellow Nationals prospects also provided some offense to help him to the win.

Second baseman Tony Renda went 1-for-4 with a walk and a run scored. He did strike out three times, and the frustration might have been the cause for getting ejected by the home plate umpire in the ninth.

Catcher Pedro Severino went 2-for-4 with a double. His average is now .303.

Mesa is 12-10-1 and now back to 3 1/2 games behind Salt River for first place in the division.