Salt River AFL Week 3 wrap-up: C. Kieboom and Barrera hot at plate

Salt River Rafters (9-7)
AFL Week Three (4-2)
First place, East Division

Oct. 22: Salt River 8, Surprise 5

Luis Reyes (1-1) continues his hot streak of pitching in the AFL as he earned his first win, going 4 2/3 innings, allowing three runs on seven hits with one walk and one strikeout. He surrendered two homers, but left the game with a 4-3 lead.

The game was a showcase of Nationals pitching prospects. Ben Braymer followed Reyes and allowed one run on two hits, notching four outs. Taylor Guilbeau then pitched one shutout frame, allowing no hits and walking one. Jordan Mills finished off the Nats pitching run with another shutout inning, allowing no hits, no walks and striking out one.

Shortstop Carter Kieboom went 0-for-3, but walked once and stole a base. Catcher Tres Barrera caught the Nats hurlers and went 1-for-4 with a strikeout.

Oct. 23: Salt River 7, Surprise 5

The Rafters completed the series home-and-home sweep on Tuesday. Daniel Johnson manned center field and went 0-for-3 with a walk and a strikeout. Jake Noll played third and went 0-for-4. Noll started a pair of 5-4-3 double plays.

Oct. 24: Salt River 10, Scottsdale 9

Kieboom played second base again and had his best offensive game of his AFL season, crushing his first homer, a two-run shot, and going 3-for-4. He has played second base once a week in each of his three weeks so far in Arizona. He aided in a pair of twin killings on defense. Kieboom also stole two bases.

Oct. 25: Scottsdale 6, Salt River 5

The Rafters suffered their first loss of the week Thursday. Johnson played right field and went 0-for-4 with a strikeout. Kieboom was back at third base and went 1-for-3 with two runs. He walked and struck out once. Noll was the designated hitter and contributed a key two-run single. Barrera had the best game, going 2-for-4 with three RBIs. He also nailed a runner at first base from his catching spot on defense.

Braymer tossed a shutout inning, striking out two without allowing a hit. Mills got knocked around, allowing four runs on two hits and recording one out with one wild pitch. Guilbeau (0-1) blew a save and got tagged with the loss, surrendering one run on two hits.

Oct 26: Salt River 9, Peoria 2

Noll played third base Friday and went 1-for-5 with a two-run double and a run scored.

Oct. 27: Peoria 11, Salt River 5

Kieboom returned to the lineup after sitting out two games, playing second base and shortstop. He went 3-for-4 with a run, a walk and one strikeout. This week, he raised his average 140 points to .270. Barrera went 1-for-3 with an RBI. He is now hitting .273. Johnson went 1-for-4 with a run scored but three strikeouts.

Reyes had a tough game, giving up six runs in 1 1/3 innings to fall to 1-2. He again surrendered two homers, one a three-run shot.

This week (all times 12:35 p.m. Mountain time, unless otherwise noted):

Monday: Mesa 6:35 p.m.
Tuesday: at Mesa
Wednesday: Glendale
Thursday: at Glendale
Friday: at Surprise
Saturday: Fall Stars Game 5:08 p.m. at Surprise Stadium
Sunday: Off-day