Cubs Minor League News: Owen Ayers’ 3-run blast powers Solar Sox into AFL semifinals |
Dustin Riese
· · 10 hours ago
SCOTTSDALE - There is nothing quite like postseason baseball as the Arizona Fall League Playoffs got underway on Wednesday afternoon in Scottsdale. Fresh off two consecutive wins to end the regular season, the Mesa Solar Sox came into the postseason as the No.3 seed, as their mind shifted into the traditional win-or-go-home mode.
Knowing what was at stake, the Solar Sox had an opportunity to deliver a message right from the jump as they took on the defending Arizona Fall League champs in No. 6 seed Salt River Rafters. This is the point in the season where pitching tends to be optional, as the ball tends to fly out of the yard in bunches. That wasn't the case on Wednesday as one swing was the difference in this one as the Solar Sox blanked the Rafters 3-0 to advance to the next round of the postseason. All three of the Solar Sox runs came on one swing, and it came from Cubs catcher Owen Ayers, who continues to make a lasting impression in the Desert. Entering the fifth with the score knotted 0-0, Ayers waited back on a breaking ball and proceeded to launch it 426 feet into the right center field grass to break the scoreless tie and had the Solar Sox in front 3-0. That was his only hit in four trips to the plate, but when you can deliver a big hit in the clutch like that, those other three plate appearances will be forgotten. Shooting for the sun 🚀☀️ What can't be forgotten is the continued struggles of Cole Mathis, as his season-ending slump continued to rear its ugly head on Wednesday. Once seen as one of the four best hitters in the Fall League, Mathis is simply scratching for hits at this point in the season, and following a 0-3 showing with two punchouts, he leaves this game with more questions than answers. It has reached the point where many are wondering if putting him in this league, coming off Tommy John surgery, was too much to ask of him this season, as he is burning out physically at the worst time. While those were the only two Cubs hitters to see action on the afternoon, you also had one of their four pitchers make an appearance on the mound, and he did so in dominating fashion. After putting together one of the best seasons for a Cubs pitching prospect since the Caleb Kilian days, Luis Martinez-Gomez stole the show on the mound as he picked up the win following three strong innings of relief. Martinez-Gomez went through a brief rough patch this season, but has since pitched his way out of that rough patch as he allowed just one hit across his three innings, walking none and striking out three as the Solar Sox live to see another day, 3-0. Breaking out the boxing gloves 🥊 @Cubs prospect Luis Martinez-Gomez pitches 3 scoreless innings while striking out 3 for the Solar Sox. pic.twitter.com/oLsJCuYhUS
2024 @Cubs draft pick out of Marshall University, Owen Ayers, hits a 426-foot 3-run blast to give the Solar Sox the lead. pic.twitter.com/0OSnoHDo5Z
