Solid Solis leaves with lead, gets AFL no-decision

Scottsdale left-hander Sammy Solis had a consistent outing Monday, staking the Scorpions to a 3-2 lead through five innings of an 8-4 setback at the Peoria Javelinas of Arizona Fall League play. Solis allowed only two runs, struck out three, scattering four hits with one walk. He threw 63 pitches, 44 for strikes. He did hit one batter and had a pickoff attempt that turned into an error, got a no-decision. Solis had a clean first, setting down the Javelinas 1-2-3. The second inning saw Peoria get an RBI double to score its first run. Solis allowed a single and the runner advanced on the pickoff attempt, but there was no further damage. He put down Peoria in order in the fourth, including a swinging strikeout of Ryan Jackson to end the frame. Back-to back singles and an RBI sacrifice fly scored Peoria's second run, but again Solis got the final hitter of the inning, Jedd Gyorko, on a called third strike. It was Solis' longest outing so far in the AFL this season. For the 6-foot-5, 230-lb., Solis, it was also a nice step forward after allowing eight runs in his previous two starts. George Washington product Patrick Lehman (0-3) blew the save by surrendering three runs in the next inning and Will Latimer gave up four runs to end the drama. Derek Norris had another outstanding night at the plate, going 2-for-2 with two RBIs, a double and a home run. He walked once and had a sacrifice fly. His average is now up to .333 and he has eight RBIs in the AFL play. Bryce Harper did not play, while Zach Walters went 0-for-4 as the designated hitter. Walters' average dropped to .179.