SALT RIVER, AZ – Top prospect Tyler Glasnow (PIT) made the Opening Day start, 2014 Tribe backstop Elias Diaz (PIT) scored a pair of runs and Greg Bird (NYY) drove in four to lead the Scottsdale Scorpions (1-0) to a 7-4 win over the Salt River Rafters (0-1) in the Arizona Fall League opener on Wednesday afternoon at Salt River Fields.

Bird went 3-for-4 with three extra-base knocks in the victory, doubling home Diaz and Brandon Nimmo (NYM) in both the first and fifth inning, before capping his effort with a solo homer in the seventh.

After cashing in on a Salt River miscue that extended the opening frame, Bird, who also scored three runs in the contest, took reliever Mitchell Lambson (HOU) deep to right to give Scottsdale a 7-3 lead.

Reigning Pirates Minor League Pitcher of the Year Glasnow debuted with just two outs over which he allowed one run, three walks and a strikeout on 29 pitches. He whiffed Peter O’Brein (ARI) on a 2-2 count to keep the opposing backstop off the bases for the lone occurrence on the afternoon.

Glasgow’s battery mate and fellow Pirates farmhand, Diaz, also helped limit the damage by cutting down Rio Ruiz (HOU) with a pin-point throw to third base in the first frame.

Julian Hilario (NYM) earned the win with two scoreless innings and Nefi Ogando (PHI) picked up the save with a perfect ninth.

Author’s Note:
This content was originally published on “The Inside Pitch” blog.