Checking in with Pirates’ players and friends in winter league action….The Puero Rican League has the weekend off.
VENEZUELAN LEAGUE
Tiburones de La Guaira 8, Leones del Caracas 2
Six runs in the top of the 7th inning gave Los Tiburones the win. Armando Galarraga made the start for Los Leones, and allowed only one run on 3 hits in 5.2 innings. Galarraga got two outs and surrendered a walk in the 6th, then was relieved by Justin Thomas. Thomas retired the only batter he faced, ending the inning, then he was relieved to begin the 7th. Former Pirate farmhand Ronald Uviedo pitched the final inning for Los Caracas, and gave up a run on two hits.
Aguilas de Zulia 10, Tigres de Aragua 1
Los Aguilas scored 5 runs in the first inning then added another 2 in the 3rd and 3 in the 5th. Former Pirate C Carlos Maldonado contributed an RBI single in the 1st, then led off the 3rd with a single and came around to score. Los Tigres could not take advantage of 1B Hector Gimenez’s 3-for-4 game. The only run by Los Tigres came in the top of the 9th, when Gimenez singled for the third time, advanced to third on a double, and scored on a sacrifice fly. LF Jonel Pacheco singled in the 5th inning and walked in the 9th after Gimenez scored.
Caribes de Anzoategui 4, Bravos de Margarita 3
Los Caribes came from behind with a 2-RBI double in the 6th, then tied the score with one run in the 7th. CF Gorkys Hernandez led off the bottom of the 7th by reaching base on a fielding error. He advanced to second base on a ground out, then scored from second on an RBI single. The 3-3 tie lasted 4.5 innings, with both teams wasting scoring opportunities. In the 11th, Hernandez led off with a walk, then a single gave Los Caribes runners on the corners. Los Bravos brought Jhonathan Ramos on to pitch to just one batter — he got a pop out, then was relieved. A walk loaded the bases for Los Caribes, but all three runners were left stranded. Finally, in the bottom of the 12th, with one runner on first and two outs, Hernandez singled into left field. A wild pitch on strike three to the next batter loaded the bases, and an RBI single drove in the winning run.
DOMINICAN LEAGUE
Leones del Escogido 8, Tigres del Licey 2
Starling Marte contributed 2 hits and 2 RBI for Los Leones, who put up a total of 15 hits in the game. The two teams also combined for 7 errors — 3 by Los Leones and 4 by Los Tigres. Marte singled in the top of the 1st, moved to third on a throwing error, and then scored on a sacrifice fly for Los Leones’ first run. Marte lined a single into LF with two runners on base in the 4th, driving in one run. Marte’s sacrifice fly in the 6th brought a runner in from third for his second RBI in the game.
Estrellas del Oriente 2, Toros del Este 0
3B Diory Hernandez’s two singles were all the hits Los Toros had in the shutout. 1B Matt Hague and SS Pedro Ciriaco were both 0-for-3. C Dusty Brown was also 0-for-3, for Los Estrellas, who scored their runs in the 6th inning, on two walks and two singles and an RBI ground out.
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