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A grand slam by Phoenix infielder Donald Murphy (KC) broke a 2-2 tie in the eighth inning and won the 2004 Arizona Fall League Championship for the Phoenix Desert Dogs. Murphy entered as a defensive replacement the previous inning. Omar Quintanilla (OAK) was 3-for-3 with a walk for the Desert Dogs.

The two teams were evenly matched coming in. Both teams finished the regular season 21-15, and were 4-4 in head to head matchups. The game began with Scottsdale taking a 2-0 lead on solo home runs by Corey Myers (AZ) and Tommy Whiteman (HOU).

The first three Desert Dogs' hitters reached base in the third on their way to a game-tying two-run inning.

Phoenix loaded the bases with nobody out in the eighth inning. Donald Murphy (KC), in his first at bat of the game, hit a grand slam to give the Desert Dogs a four-run lead. Murphy was the first hitter that reliever Steve Schmoll (LA) faced.

The Championship for the Desert Dogs is their first in Arizona Fall League history.

Scorpions   011 000 000 2 4 1
Desert Dogs 002 000 04X 1 10 0

Scorpions- Schultz, Housman (3), Childress (3), Stetter (6), Diggins (8), Schmoll (8)
Desert Dogs- Obenchain, Bucktrot (3), Wilkerson (7), Street (8)
W- Street (2-0). L- Schmoll (1-1). S- None. Time: 2:08.

This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

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