Last Friday there was but a single game played in the AFL. The Rising Stars Showcase is an all star game of sorts, but players are selected more for their performances over the course of the full minor league season than what they have accomplished in the Fall League thus far. Check out who made the cut here.

As expected, there was a marquee matchup of starting pitchers, Phil Hughes (NYY) and Tommy Hanson (ATL). Hanson blazed through his three innings, not allowing a hit and needing only 43 pitches. He walked two hitters in the first inning before striking out the side. Nobody else reached base and Hanson finished with seven strikeouts. Hughes has been up and down so far in Arizona, and this was a down night. He matched Hanson’s three innings, but allowed three hits, two walks, a hit batter, and four runs. Three runs were unearned, but that does not change the fact that Hughes did not pitch well. He allowed two home runs, threw only 54% of his pitches for strikes, and recorded only one ground ball out. The New York Post’s Joel Sherman spoke to a scout who was especially troubled by what he saw.

The pitchers backing up Hughes were largely effective. Brian Matusz (BAL) recorded two outs, a strikeout among them. Ryan Reid (TAM), Shane Lindsay (COL), Brent Leach (LAD), and Rob Delaney (MIN) had a shutout inning apiece. Relieving Hanson, Sean West (FLA) struck out the side in his inning, mixing in two walks as well. Cory VanAllen (WSH) and Bud Norris (HOU) were scoreless for an inning each. Alex Hinshaw (SF), Eddie Kunz (NYM) and Casey Fein (DET) combined to get four outs and let up six earned runs as the National team staged a successful late game comeback.

Toronto’s JP Arencibia has an eight game hitting streak in AFL play and went 2-2 with a home run. Arencibia and the Cleveland connection of Wes Hodges (1-3, 2 BB) and Beau Mills (2-3) got things going in the ninth inning before Drew Stubbs (CIN – OF) drew a bases loaded walk to end the game. Julio Borbon (TEX – OF) was the only player to have three hits, he had singles in all three at bats.

Chad Huffman (SDG – OF) and Josh Reddick (BOS – OF) were the hitters that took Phil Hughes out of the park. Reddick later added a double and a steal, and scored. Josh Thole (NYM – C) reached base twice and drove in a run. Casper Wells (DET – OF) walked, doubled, and scored in four plate appearances.