GLENDALE, AZ – The Bucco’s cast of top prospects needed suit up for only one game to ensure a weekend split in Scottsdale’s (11-17) home-and-home series against Glendale (11-15), combining to pace a 1-0 shutout on Friday thanks to 5 1/3 combined scoreless innings from Joely Rodriguez and Angel Sanchez, and both the winning run in the eighth and game-saving play at the plate in the ninth by Elias Diaz.

The Desert Dogs responded 5-1 against a Pirates-less lineup on Saturday afternoon.

Rodriguez again dominated with his fellow Pittsburgh batterymate behind the dish, tossing four innings of four-hit ball to improve to eighth in the AFL with a 0.95 ERA on just two earned runs in 19 innings in six starts. The southpaw struck out four to record multi-whiff efforts in each of his six appearances and 19 total strikeouts.

Diaz, teaming up with fellow Pittsburgh farmhand Sanchez for the righty’s 1 1/3 unblemished frames, helped slam the door. The backstop cut down the potential tying run at second with one out in the eighth before completing the end of a 7-6-2 relay by applying the tag at the plate for the final out of the shutout.

Diaz also single and scored in the eighth for the game-winner.

On Saturday, Glendale starter Brooks Hall (MIL) led a combined one-run, four-hit effort with his four scoreless frames.

Author’s Note:
This content was originally published on the Indianapolis Indians’ official blog, “The Inside Pitch.”