Pirates AFL Updates: Siani, Linarez Continue Unlikely Playoff Push

The Scottsdale Scorpions continued their stretch of torrid play on Monday, November 11, improving to 8-3 in their past 11 games after a miserable 5-11 start to the season thanks to the contributions of two Pirates prospects.

Sammy Siani got the start in left field but had a down game by his lofty standards, going 1-for-4 with a single off an 0-2 count and a strikeout.

Right-handed pitcher Valentin Linarez entered with two on and two out in the sixth and the tying run at the plate. Although he allowed a double steal, then issued a walk to load the bases, Linarez forced a swinging strikeout to end the threat. He stayed on for the seventh inning, working around a leadoff single (and command issues, as just 15 of 29 pitches found the strike zone) to put up another zero.

Scottsdale followed that up with an 11-2 win on Tuesday afternoon that got them back to .500. Once again, contributions from Pirates’ prospects were small but not insignificant, as Siani went 1-for-4 with a walk, a run and an RBI. Brandan Bidois pitched one inning and, like Linarez, managed to keep the Mesa Solar Sox off the board despite not having his best stuff.

Bidois allowed two singles with one out, then rebounded to escape the inning, striking out two batters.

Scottsdale will be back in action at 3:30pm EST Wednesday when they travel to face the Peoria Javelinas in the penultimate game of the Arizona Fall League regular season.