MESA, AZ – The Scottsdale Scorpions (7-8) cruised to an early lead behind two solo homers plus a pair of hits from Pirates catcher Elias Diaz, but the Mesa Solar Sox (8-6) surged late to erase the lead and mount a 7-3 comeback on Thursday night at Cubs Park.

The Scorpions took advantage of opposing starter Nate Smith (LAA), taking him deep twice to hand the righty his second straight outing with two home runs.

Matt Reynolds (NYM) teed off to left on just the second pitch of the contest to give Scottsdale a 1-0 edge. Fellow New York state prospect Tyler Austin (NYY) followed suit in the third, connecting on the first offering of his at-bat for a one-out shot that marked the club’s 12th homer in 15 AFL games.

Diaz then took a more scenic route to Scottsdale’s third and final run in the fourth. The backstop coaxed a leadoff walk, advanced 90 feet on a one-base hit and came plateward on Daniel Carbonell’s (SF) RBI single to widen the lead to 3-0.

Scorpions starter Rob Whalen (NYM) was nicked for his lone run in four inning via a leadoff homer in the bottom of the fourth. He also combined with Diaz for a strike-’em-out, throw-’em-out when Chad Hinshaw (LAA) broke for second with Jon Berti (TOR) watching a called strike three for the first two outs of the third.

Mesa’s Boog Powell (OAK) singled in the tying run in the fifth and Kaleb Cowart’s (LAA) two-run triple gave the Solar Sox the lead after six.

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