Surprise gets great Wood in rout

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Surprise gets great Wood in rout
10/10/2005 7:35 PM ET
By Michael Echan / MLB.com

Even after what he has done this year, Angels prospect Brandon Wood still turns heads with his prodigious bat.
The 20-year-old shortstop who led the Minor Leagues with 43 home runs this season blasted four long balls as the Surprise Scorpions dismantled the Grand Canyon Rafters, 20-1, on Monday at Surprise Stadium.
The onslaught began during the bottom of the third inning with the Scorpions down 1-0, when Howie Kendrick (Angels) hit a three-run homer after leadoff singles by Michael Bourn (Phillies) and Josh Anderson (Astros). One out later, Wood delivered his first home run, a solo shot that cleared the left-field wall. Wood went yard again in the next inning, hitting a two-run shot, again to left, scoring Kendry Morales (Angels) to give Surprise a commanding 9-1 lead.
Wood has seven home runs in the fledgling Arizona Fall League season after homering in four of five games.
The game moved out of reach when the Scorpions hung up a seven spot in the following inning, highlighted by home runs from Wood and Billy Butler (Royals), doubles from Kendrick and Morales and a triple from Bourn.
Wood completed the rare feat in the eighth as he drove a one-out pitch from Travis Bowyer (Twins) to left center, increasing the Scorpions' lead to 20-1. He finished the game batting 5-for-6 and driving in six. Bourn, Surprise's ninth-place hitter, also had a near-perfect game as he went 4-for-5 with four RBIs.
Not to be forgotten amidst the offensive barrage, four Surprise pitchers combined for a superb three-hitter. Starter Scott Mathieson (Phillies) was strong through four innings, allowing a run on two hits while striking out seven. Astros prospect Aaron Williams (1-0) picked up the win with two perfect innings, striking out two. Ryan Cameron (Phillies) and Cory Doyne (Cardinals) combined for the final three innings.
Eric Duncan (Yankees) drove in the lone Rafters run with a two-out home run in the first, while Robert Andino (Marlins) and Bronson Sardinha (Yankees) collected the other two Grand Canyon hits. Mark Roberts (Rangers) (0-1) took the loss, allowing six runs -- four earned -- on seven hits and two walks with one strikeout.
This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs.