Mesa and Glendale end up tied at 8-8 after 11 innings in AFL opener

By Byron Kerr

Nationals

October 09, 2013, 3:48am

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One of the main rules in the Arizona Fall League is the 11-inning rule. To avoid games that could go on and on all day or all night, the rule was set up to end games after 11 innings if they are tied. The statistics count, but the game is suspended. The first game of the season for the Mesa Solar Sox, who are partially stocked by the Nationals, ended in an 8-8 deadlock with Glendale Desert Dogs. Glendale scored a run in the bottom of the ninth to force extra innings. The most dramatic inning, however, came in the eighth when Mesa, trailing 7-3, plated five runs to rally for an 8-7 lead. Designated hitter Matt Skole cranked a two-run homer in the rally. Skole finished 2-for-4 with three RBIs, also adding an RBI single. Center fielder Brian Goodwin batted second and went 2-for-5. He got caught off first by former Nationals prospect Alex Meyer early in the game. Mesa used eight pitchers, but Richie Mirowski and Robert Benincasa did not get in the game. Mesa pounded out 14 hits, but committed three errors. The Solar Sox relinquished 3-0 and 8-7 leads. Glendale comes to Mesa for the Solar Sox's home opener today at 3:35 p.m., eastern time.