The Glendale Desert Dogs got absolutely clobbered 7-1 by the Salt River Rafters in Monday afternoon’s Arizona Fall League game, and honestly, the whole thing was pretty much decided in the first inning. Right-hander Brooks Auger, a Dodgers prospect making his third AFL start for Glendale, had a seriously rough opening frame. He gave up a triple and a single that brought in a run right away. Then, just three batters into the game, Kyle DeBarge smoked an inside-the-park home run, making it 3-0 in a flash. That Twins prospect is on a tear, batting .367 this Fall, and his first homer was a wild one.
Auger’s Gritty Recovery After a Shocking Start
Here’s where it gets interesting though, because Auger didn’t just fold. After that brutal start, he buckled down, striking out his next two hitters. He went on to retire nine of his next ten batters to push through three full innings. Yeah, he did allow a two-out walk and a stolen base in that chaotic first inning, but he stranded that runner at second base. Think about that recovery! Overall this fall, Auger has allowed five runs in his 6 2/3 innings, but the dude is flat-out dealing on the strikeout front, punching out 32.1 percent of the batters he’s faced. That’s a serious number, showing real upside even when things get rocky.
Charles Davalan Is Quietly Getting It Done
While Auger was battling on the mound, another Dodgers prospect, Charles Davalan, was quietly making some noise at the plate. Davalan walked in the fourth inning and scored Glendale’s only run of the game. Later, he singled in the eighth. This kid has been getting on base! He’s now reached base twice in three of his last four games and, despite getting off to a slow start, he’s rocking a .349 on-base percentage through nine games. Monday marked his eighth game at second base in the Arizona Fall League, with his only other start coming as the designated hitter.
The Desert Dogs have a chance to bounce back Tuesday at 1:30 p.m. PT when they take on Surprise. You know Auger and Davalan will be looking to keep developing and build on their performances, good and bad, from Monday. It’s all about that progress in the Fall League!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by True Blue LA.
Leave a Reply