Checking in with a few Pirates’ players and friend in Friday’s winter league play :
VENEZUELAN LEAGUE
Tigres de Aragua 9, Tiburones de La Guaira 4
SS Ronny Cedeno went 1-for-3 for Los Tigres in his winter league season debut. Los Tigres roared loudly in the first four innings, especially in the 5-run 3rd inning. After a lead-off double in the bottom of the 1st, Cedeno was hit by a pitch, and a single loaded the bases. CF Lastings Milledge grounded out, driving in the lead runner from third, and an RBI single brought in Cedeno. A walk and two singles, including one by Cedeno, added a run for Aragua in the bottom of the 2nd. The bottom of the 3rd began with a solo home run by Milledge. After the homer, a double, a single, and a walk loaded the bases again for Los Tigres. A triple swept in all three runners, and a sacrifice fly brought in the 5th run of the inning. Cedeno was again hit by a pitch in the inning. Los Tigres wrapped up their scoring with one more run in the 4th, coming on three singles. 1B Hector Gimenez went 0-for-5 for Aragua.
Navegantes del Magallanes 7, Caribes de Anzoategui 3
Four runs in the top of the 9th gave Los Navegantes the win. CF Gorkys Hernandez was in the lead-off spot in the batting order for Los Caribes. He began the bottom of the 1st inning with a walk, then moved to second on a bunt single and to third on a sacrifice bunt, and scored on a sacrifice fly. Former Pirate SS Argenis Diaz doubled and scored for Los Navegantes in the top of the 3rd, tying the score. Los Caribes came back with a solo home run in the bottom of that frame. Los Navegantes regained the lead in the 5th, with a walk and two singles, plus a throwing error. Los Caribes tied the score again in the bottom of the 7th, with two walks, a stolen base, and a wild pitch (by Tanner Scheppers). The score remained tied until the top of the 9th, when Diaz led off with a walk. He advanced to second base on a walk, then scored on an RBI double, breaking the tie. After an intentional walk, a 3-run homer gave Los Navegantes three insurance runs. Former Pirate farmhand Jean Machi pitched the final two innings and was the winning pitcher.
Aguilas del Zulia 4, Leones del Caracas 3
Los Aguilas scored all four of their runs in the top of the 3rd inning, then would not let Los Leones catch up. Los Aguilas’ rally began with a double by former Pirate C Carlos Maldonado. A single and a sacrifice fly brought in Maldonado, then another single and sacrifice fly sequence drove in the second run. A pair of doubles plated two more runs for Zulia. Caracas got onto the scoreboard with a run on three singles in the 1st. C Ramon Cabrera led off the bottom of the 5th with a single for Los Leones. Two more singles and an RBI ground out scored Cabrera and another runner. Jose Ascanio pitched a perfect top of the 5th for Los Leones.
more scores in the morning….
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