Tribe's Chang notches another multi-hit game in AFL

GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Another multi-hit performance by Yu Chang in the Arizona Fall League powered Glendale's offense on Monday as the Desert Dogs outslugged Peoria, 9-5, at Cambelback Ranch to snap the Javelinas' six-game winning streak.
Chang, the Indians' No. 6 prospect, singled and doubled in his first two trips to the plate, both on line drives to left field, and later added a sacrifice fly to deep center field to finish 2-for-3 with an RBI and one run scored.
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The multi-hit game was Chang's sixth in his last 10 contests -- a stretch during which he's also hit safely in nine games.
"I'm just thinking about trying to hit the ball hard and through the middle and timing the pitcher. Those are my goals," said Chang, who owns a .358 average with three home runs and four doubles through 18 games in the Fall League.
"My timing is better [in the Fall League]," added the 23-year-old infielder, "and I'm just hitting the ball hard."
The Desert Dogs jumped out to an early lead in the second inning when Jared Walker pushed across a run on a sacrifice fly after Chang, Keibert Ruiz and Connor Marabell had each singled in order to open the frame. Cody Thomas, Glendale's nine-hole hitter, followed with an RBI double to left-center field, and Thairo Estrada plated two more runs with a two-out single to right field to cap a four-run frame.
Peoria threatened to score against Desert Dogs starter Chris Lee in the third by putting runners on first and third base via two singles, but the left-hander worked back from a 3-0 count against Keston Hiura to induce an inning-ending double play.
Glendale added to its lead with two more runs in the fourth inning, courtesy of a Steve Wilkerson sacrifice fly and an RBI single by White Sox No. 4 prospect Luis Robert.
Hiura, Milwaukee's top-ranked prospect, delivered a two-run single to center field with two outs in the fifth inning to put Peoria on the board while also atoning for his double play two innings earlier.
The Javelinas continued to chip away at Glendale's lead in the following frame, scoring once on an infield throwing after a pair of infield singles by Evan White and Cristian Pache, only to see the Desert Dogs respond with three runs in their next trip to the plate.
Steve Wilkerson plated a run with a single ahead of Robert, who laced an RBI double to left field. The next batter, Chang, turned around a fastball, driving it to the warning track in deep center field for a sacrifice fly.
"Triple-A pitchers throw a lot of sliders and changeups," noted Chang, who produced a .256/.330/.441 line with 13 home runs and 28 doubles in 127 games at Triple-A Columbus during the regular season.
"Here, it's more fastballs … and I can hit a fastball," he added, while fighting back a grin.
Hiura would add another run-scoring single in the seventh as part of a two-run frame, though it ultimately was all the offense Peoria would muster over the final three innings. The No. 30 overall prospect finished the game 2-for-4 with three RBIs, giving him an overall average of .352 to go along with an AFL-best 30 RBIs.
Robert, No. 44 on the Top 100, also collected multiple hits, going 2-for-4 with two RBIs. He's hitting .356 in the Fall League and has at least one hit in each of the 11 games in which he's played for the Desert Dogs.
Lee threw the ball well once again for Glendale, allowing two earned runs on six hits over five innings to earn the win. The Orioles prospect issued one walk with zero strikeouts but did record 10 of his 15 outs via ground balls. The victory was Lee's first in the Fall League, where he sports a 2.60 ERA through 17 1/3 innings (five starts).