In the AFL all-star game, called the Rising Stars Game, the West scored five runs in the first inning and cruised to an 11-2 victory over the East.

The stars of the game were Nick Franklin (Seattle), who had a single, two doubles, and a home run, scoring three times and driving in four, and Joe Terdoslavich (Atlanta), who had a single, a double, and a home run and drove in three.  Wil Myers (Kansas City) had two singles and a double and Kevin Mattison (Florida) singled and doubled.  The win went to starter Danny Hultzen (Seattle), who struck out three in two shutout innings.

No one had more than one hit for the East.  Brian Dozier was 1-for-2 with a home run.  Gerrit Cole (Pittsburgh) surrendered five runs on four hits and a walk in just two-thirds of an inning to take the loss.

There are no games in the AFL today.  Mesa hosts Peoria tomorrow.

Mesa scored three in the eighth to turn a 10-9 deficit into a 12-10 victory in Mesa.

Brian Dozier had two doubles and a home run to lead the way.  He went 3-for-5, scored three times, and drove in two.  Brandon Short (White Sox) had two doubles and a single.  D. J. LaMaheiu (Cubs) and Joe Mahoney (Baltimore) each had two singles and a home run and each drove in three.  Chris Herrmann and Aaron Hicks were each 1-for-4, with Hicks hitting a double and driving in two.  Jake Petricka (White Sox) got the win in relief, giving up a run on three hits in two innings.  Andrew Cashner (Cubs) worked a scoreless ninth for his second save.

Salt River was led by Nolan Arenado (Colorado), who had three doubles and a single.  Jake Goebbert (Houston) had two singles and a double and Brian Cavazos-Galvez (Dodgers) had three hits.  The loss went to Parker Frazier (Colorado), who allowed all three eighth-inning runs on three hits in a third of an inning.

Today is the Rising Stars Game, in which Brian Dozier is the only Twin on the roster.  Mesa will be off Sunday and will host Peoria Monday.

Brian Dozier walked and scored on a double by Junior Lake (Cubs) in the bottom of the ninth to give Mesa an 8-7 victory over Phoenix.

The double was Lake's third hit of the game, as he also singled and tripled.  Tyler Saladino (White Sox) and Jarek Cunningham (Pittsburgh) each singled and doubled.  Dozier was 0-for-4 with a walk and a run.  Aaron Hicks was 1-for-3 with a walk, scoring once and driving in three.  Cole DeVries started and went three hitless innings, walking two and striking out two.  Brett Jacobson retired all five batters he faced, striking out two.  Jeff Inman (Pittsburgh) got the win despite allowing two runs on a hit and a walk in one inning.

Adeiny Hechavarria (Toronto) hit a home run for the Desert Dogs.  Preston Claiborne (Yankees) allowed the winning run in his second inning of work to take the loss.

Mesa hosts Salt River this afternoon.

For the second straight day, Mesa lost a game late, as the Desert Dogs scored four in the eighth to defeat the Solar Sox 11-8 in Phoenix.

Grant Green (Oakland) doubled, tripled, and homered, driving in three to lead the Desert Dogs.  Chad Huffman (Cleveland) singled, doubled, and hit a grand slam in the eighth, driving in five.  Brodie Greene (Cincinnati) had three hits.  Cory Burns (Cleveland) pitched a scoreless eighth to get the win, and Brad Boxberger (Cincinnati) worked a scoreless ninth for the save

For the Solar Sox, Brian Dozier, Brandon Short (White Sox), and Josh Vitters (Cubs) each singled and doubled.  For the game, Dozier was 2-for-5 with two runs.  Xavier Avery (Baltimore) also had two hits.  Chris Herrmann pinch-hit and was 0-for-1,  Bruce Pugh allowed two runs (one earned) on two hits and two walks with two strikeouts in 1.1 innings.  The loss went to Brandon Kloess (White Sox), who surrendered the eighth-inning grand slam, giving up three hits and a walk.

Mesa hosts Phoenix this afternoon.

Surprise scored two in the bottom of the ninth to knock off Mesa 7-5.

Kevin Mattison (Florida) and his awesome mustache hit a two-run homer to win the game.  Mattison also tripled and had three RBIs.  Christian Betancourt (Atlanta) had three hits including a home run, Tim Beckham (Tampa Bay) doubled and homered, and Joe Terdoslavich (Atlanta) also hit a home run.  Alejandro Ramos (Florida) worked 1.1 scoreless innings to get the win.

Robbie Grossman (Florida) led Mesa with three hits.  Joe Mahoney (Baltimore) singled and homered, and Xavier Avery (Baltimore) had two hits.  Chris Herrmann was 1-for-3 with a walk and a run.  Sean Gleason (Baltimore) allowed the two-run ninth-inning homer in his second inning of work.

Mesa is at Pheonix this afternoon.

Mesa scored two in the eighth to defeat Phoenix 3-1 in Phoenix.

Joe Mahoney (Baltimore) had two of the five Solar Sox hits.  Brian Dozier was 1-for-4 with a double, driving in two.  Aaron Hicks was 0-for-4.  Brett Jacobson got the win, working a scoreless seventh despite giving up a hit and two walks.  Dakota Watts got a two-inning save, allowing no baserunners.

The only Desert Dogs run came on a homer by Runnier Mustelier (Yankees).  The loss went to Dan Burawa (Yankees), who allowed two runs on two hits and a walk.

Mesa travels to Surprise this afternoon.

Where they stand:  Mesa is 11-12, second in the AFL East, four games behind Salt River.

Who's hot:  Chris Herrmann is hitting .370/.469/.593 in 27 at-bats.  Aaron Hicks is at .254/.359/.507 in 67 at-bats.  Cole DeVries is 2-0, 3.18, 1.00 WHIP with 1 walk and 11 strikeouts in 17 innings (5 starts).

Who's in the middle:  Brian Dozier is hitting .294/.346/.368 in 68 at-bats.

Who's cold:  Brett Jacobson is 0-2, 6.14, 1.64 WHIP with 5 walks and 6 strikeouts in 7.1 innings (7 appearances).  Bruce Pugh is 0-1, 8.38, 2.69 WHIP with 12 walks and 7 strikeouts in 9.2 innings (8 appearances).  Dakota Watts is 0-1, 8.68, 2.04 WHIP with 10 walks and 8 strikeouts in 9.1 innings (8 appearances).

The Solar Sox travel to Phoenix this afternoon.

Mesa scored two in the fifth to break a 5-5 tie on the way to an 8-5 win over Peoria in Mesa.

Josh Vitters (Cubs) had two singles and a homer to lead the Solar Sox.  Robbie Grossman (Pittsburgh) singled and doubled, Xavier Avery (Baltimore) had two hits, and Junior Lake (Cubs) hit a home run.  Aaron Hicks was 0-for-4.  Marcus Hatley (Cubs) worked 1.2 innings to get the win, giving up a run on a hit.  Brandon Kloess (White Sox) pitched a perfect ninth to get the save.

For the Javelinas, Juan Lagares (Mets) and Adam Moore (Seattle) each singled and doubled.  Zelous Wheeler (Milwaukee) had two hits.  The loss went to Erik Turgeon (Mets), who allowed two runs on two hits in 1.2 innings.

Mesa is off today.  The Solar Sox travel to Phoenix Monday.

TUESDAY

Surprise 8, Mesa 6 in Surprise (10 innings).  Chris Herrmann  was 2-for-4 with a home run and 3 RBIs.  Aaron Hicks was 1-for-4 and scored once.  Brian Dozier was 1-for-5.  Bruce Pugh allowed a run on two hits and a walk in one inning, striking out two.  Brett Jacobson took the loss, allowing two runs on a hit and a walk in a third of an inning.

WEDNESDAY

Mesa 10. Scottsdale 5 in Mesa.  Aaron Hicks was 2-for-3 with a home run (his third).  He also walked, scored twice, and drove in three.  No other Twins appeared in the game.

THURSDAY

Scottsdale 8, Mesa 7 in Scottsdale.  Aaron Hicks was 3-for-4 with two doubles.  He scored three times and drove in two.  Brian Dozier was 1-for-5 with an RBI.  Cole DeVries started and worked three innings, giving up three runs (one earned) on five hits.  Dakota Watts pitched a scoreless inning, allowing two walks.

FRIDAY

Mesa 10, Peoria 3 in Peoria.  Aaron Hicks was 2-for-4 with a walk, scoring twice and driving in two.  Brian Dozier was 2-for-5 with a walk, scoring once and driving in two.  Chris Herrmann was 1-for-4 with a walk and a run.  Brett Jacobson pitched a perfect inning with a strikeout.  Bruce Pugh allowed a run on a hit and three walks in 1.2 innings.

Mesa is 8-9, second in the AFL East, 4 games behind Salt River.  The Solar Sox have won four consecutive games and are 7-3 in their last ten games.

Who's hot:   Brian Dozier is hitting .327/.386/.429 in 49 at-bats.  Chris Herrmann is hitting .368/.478/.526 in 19 at-bats.  Cole DeVries is 2-0, 3.21, 0.86 WHIP in 14 innings.

Who's in the middle:  Aaron Hicks is hitting .200/.321/.467 in 45 at-bats.  Brett Jacobson is 0-1, 4.50, 1.83 WHIP in 6 innings.

Who's cold:  Bruce Pugh is 0-1, 9.00, 2.71 WHIP in 7 innings.  Dakota Watts is 0-1, 1 save, 7.36, 1.64 WHIP in 7.1 innings.