Fall League report: Yoan Lopez gets win in opener
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Diamondbacks pitching prospect Yoan Lopez pitches four innings and was credited with the victory for the Salt River Rafters on Tuesday's opening day of the Arizona Fall League season.
Lopez gave up four hits and two runs (one earned), walked three and struck out five in the Rafters' 5-3 win over the Scottsdale Scorpions.
Lopez, a heralded signee out of Cuba who signed for $8 million, was given an opportunity to compete for a spot in the starting rotation in spring training, then struggled mightily in his first season of American baseball. He made only nine starts for Class Double-A Mobile, going 1-6 with a 4.69 ERA. At age 22, he's still ranked as the Diamondbacks' No. 5 prospect by mlb.com.
Outfielder Daniel Palka, who hit 29 home runs this season for Class-A Visalia, went 1 for 4, and catcher Oscar Hernandez, who was on the major-league roster for most of the season, was 0 for 3 for Salt River.
