Renda, Kieboom shine in Mesa's latest AFL game

By Byron Kerr

Nationals

October 28, 2014, 7:50am

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The Mesa Solar Sox are hitting the ball very well in the Arizona Fall League after a somewhat slow start.

On Monday, a pair of Nationals prospects again made good contact, supplying all of the Solar Sox's RBIs in the game.

Second baseman Tony Renda celebrated his selection to Saturday's Fall Stars Game with a 2-for-5 performance that included a double and a run scored.

His run-scoring single in the top of the ninth tied the game at 3-3 and forced extra innings. He has raised his average to .224.

Catcher Spencer Kieboom out of Clemson contributed two hits and two RBIs, pulling his average up to .400. He had an RBI single and a sac fly RBI.

Unfortunately, Neil Holland blew the save opportunity, allowing three runs on four hits over two innings.

But Derek Self and Matt Grace rebounded with a combined three scoreless innings in relief.

Mesa and Salt River ended tied 3-3 after 11 innings.

The Solar Sox are 9-7-1, three games out of first place, and have won eight of their last 10 games. Mesa is leading the league with a .284 average, 100 runs, 168 hits (tied for first), 11 triples and 29 stolen bases (tied for first). They have struck out only 119 times, the least in league play.

Pedro Severino is batting .273, Felipe Rivero has a team-high 13 innings pitched and four starts, Self has a 0.90 ERA and Grace has eight strikeouts (second-most on the team).