Arizona Fall League Championship Game: Retherford's home run ends Desert Dogs string of titles

The Peoria Javelinas celebrate after defeating the Phoenix
Desert Dogs 5-4 in the AFL title game. (Photo by Bill Mitchell)

For seven-plus innings it seemed like business as usual. It looked as though the Phoenix Desert Dogs were on their way to their sixth straight Arizona Fall League title. Peoria Javelinas second baseman C.J. Retherford had other plans. Retherford’s two-run homer in the bottom of the eighth lifted Peoria to a 5-4 win the AFL Championship Game at Scottsdale Stadium. Box

Retherford, a Chicago White Sox prospect, followed Jonathan Lucroy’s (Brewers) one-out single with a line drive homer to leftfield off of loser Josh Perrault (Orioles) to put the Javelinas in front. The former ArizonaState standout told MLB.com reporter Tom Singer that he was looking for “something straight, middle-in.” He got it and didn’t miss.

Robbie Weingardt (Tigers), who had come into the game in the top of the eighth, retired the side in order in the ninth to earn the victory. Weingart struck out Jemile Weeks (A’s) to end the game. It was Weingart’s fourth strikeout of the contest and the 15^th for Javelinas. Each team used six pitchers.

Mitch Talbot (Rays) got the start for Phoenix after Stephen Strauburg (Nationals) was scratched because of a left-knee dislocation suffered in a Desert Dogs workout earlier in the week. Talbot worked three innings and left the game with a 3-2 lead on the strenght of home runs by Grant Desme (A's) and Nevin Ashley (Rays) in the top of the fourth inning.

The lead was short-lived as the Javelinas tied the game in the bottom half of the inning. Jordan Danks (White Sox) hit an RBI force-out to score Retherford who had walked and moved to third on a sacrifice bunt and a throwing error.

The game stayed tied until the seventh when Shawn O’Malley (Rays) delivered an RBI single to give the Desert Dogs the lead and set the stage for Retherford’s heroics.

AFL Championship History
2008: Phoenix Desert Dogs 10, Mesa Solar Sox 4

2007: Phoenix Desert Dogs 7, Surprise Rafters 2

2006: Phoenix Desert Dogs 6, Grand Canyon Rafters 2

2005: Phoenix Desert Dogs 6, Surprise Scorpions 2

2004: Phoenix Desert Dogs, 6, Scottsdale Scorpions 2

2003: Mesa Solar Sox 7, Mesa Desert Dogs 2

2002: Peoria Javelinas 7, Scottsdale Scorpions 1

2001: Phoenix Desert Dogs 12, Grand Canyon Rafters 8

Three-Game Playoffs, 1992-2000
2000: Grand Canyon Rafters 2, Phoenix Desert Dogs 0;
Game One: Grand Canyon 6, Phoenix 5
Game Two: Grand Canyon 17, Phoenix 6

1999: Mesa Solar Sox 2, Maryvale Saguaros 0;
Game One: Mesa 9, Maryvale 5
Game Two: Mesa 12, Maryvale 4

1998: Sun Cities Solar Sox 2, Grand Canyon Rafters 0;
Game One: Sun Cities 7, Grand Canyon 4
Game Two: Sun Cities 6, Grand Canyon 4

1997: Peoria Javelinas 2, Grand Canyon Rafters 1;
Game One: Grand Canyon 8, Peoria 4
Game Two: Peoria 6, Grand Canyon 0
Game Three: Peoria 18, Grand Canyon 4

1996: Scottsdale Scorpions 2, Mesa Saguaros 0;
Game One: Scottsdale 2, Mesa 1
Game Two: Scottsdale 7, Mesa 6

1995: Mesa Saguaros 2, Sun Cities Solar Sox 1;
Game One: Sun Cities 13, Mesa 4
Game Two: Mesa 6, Sun Cities 4
Game Three: Mesa 7, Sun Cities 3

1994: Peoria Javelinas 2, Mesa Saguaros 0;
Game One: Peoria 5, Mesa 2
Game Two: Peoria 2, Mesa 0

1993: Tempe Rafters 2, Tucson Javelinas 1
Game One: Tucson 5, Tempe 3
Game Two: Tempe 2, Tucson 0
Game Three: Tempe 14, Tucson 0

1992: Sun Cities Solar Sox 2, Phoenix Saguaros 1
Game One: Phoenix 8, Sun Cities 1
Game Two: Sun Cities 2, Phoenix 0
Game Three: Sun Cities 7, Phoenix 5