Demeritte’s home run powers Salt River in rout

MESA, Ariz — Travis Demeritte hit a two-run home run, tripled, scored three runs and drove in three to lead a Salt River Rafters offensive barrage in a 17-2 rout of the Mesa Solar Sox in Arizona Fall League action Monday at Sloan Park.

“It’s real easy to get up on a team like that and just coast through the game but we didn’t,” said Demeritte, the Braves’ No. 9 prospect. “We ended up tacking on some more, putting our foot on their throats and keeping it there and that’s what we try to do.”

Hitting in the leadoff position, Demeritte was a part of a Salt River lineup that pounded Mesa’s pitching staff for 20 hits including seven extra-base hits. All nine starters collected at least one hit, and seven Rafters had multiple hits.

• Gameday

D-backs No. 11 prospect Dawel Lugo had four hits in six plate appearances for Salt River and drove in two runs while scoring twice. Left fielder Dustin Peterson (Braves’ No. 18) and No. 62 overall prospect Brett Phillips (Brewers’ No. 7) both notched three hits, with the latter also scoring three runs and driving in three as the Rafters snapped Mesa’s four-game winning streak.

It was Demeritte who got things rolling. Coming into Monday’s Halloween matchup, the 22-year-old had slashed .250/.311/.375 in 13 games, with two doubles, one triple, one homer and four RBIs.

He added to …

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