Daily Archives: 9:35 pm

Pirates’ players and friends in Sunday’s winter league action:

VENZUELAN LEAGUE

Tiburones de La Guaira 7, Aguilas de Zulia 6

Los Tiburones jumped up and bit Los Aguilas with 6 runs in the bottom of the 9th to get the walk-off win. Zulia was sitting on a 6-1 lead going into the bottom of the 9th, and former Pirate Ronald Belisario had just pitched the top of the 9th (and so was the pitcher of record) for La Guaira. His teammates began the bottom of the 9th with two singles, and a throwing error on a pickoff attempt put both runners into scoring position. A sacrifice fly brought in one run, and a walk and another single loaded the bases with one out. Another former Pirate, Chris Hernandez came on in relief for Zulia. Hernandez was charged with a Blown Save and the loss when he allowed two singles, both bringing in a run, and then a 3-run double that gave La Guaira the win.

Tigres de Aragua 2, Navegantes del Magallanes 1

Aragua recorded 11 hits, but the only two that counted were the two solo homers by

SS Ronny Cedeno — on in the bottom of the 1st inning and the other in the 5th inning. C Raul Chavez and 1B Hector Gimenez each had a single for Aragua. Magallanes’ only run came on two doubles in the top of the 9th inning, and they had only two other hits besides those. DH Mike Ryan was hitless in 3 trips to the plate.

Caribes de Anzoategui 4, Bravos de Margarita 3

Margarita scored 3 runs in the bottom of the 1st inning, but could not score again. Los Caribes posted 4 unanswered runs in the late innings — one in the 6th, one in the 7th, and 2 in the 9th. CF Gorkys Hernandez went 0-for-3 for Los Caribes.

Cardenales de Lara 5, Leones del Caracas 0

Caracas was held to just 4 hits in this shut-out. Lara scored one run in the 1st and 4 runs in the 7th. Romulo Sanchez pitched the top of the 9th for Lara, and walked the first batter, then erased him with a double play before striking out the last batter of the game.

DOMINICAN AND PUERTO RICAN LEAGUES

Aguilas Cibaenas 2, Lobos de Aricebo 0

Los Aguilas scored a run in the 2nd inning on a single, a wild pitch, a stolen base and a throwing error. Two singles and a fielding error gave them another run in the 4th inning. Los Aguilas’ starter Ben Jukich (Reds) earned his third win with 8.1 scoreless innings, scattering 7 hits and no walks. C Erik Kratz went 0-for-2 with two strikeouts.

Tigres del Licey 9, Leones del Escogido 2

Indy area native LF Jake Fox (Cubs) singled and scored in Licey’s 3-run 3rd inning, and smacked a 2-run double in the 5-run 5th inning. A 2-run homer was Escogido’s only scoring opportunity.

MEXICAN PACIFIC LEAGUE

Tomateros de Culiacan 5, Naranjeros de Hermosillo 1

2B/RF Luis Cruz led Culiacan with 2 singles and 2 RBI. In the bottom of the 1st inning, two singles and two wild pitches brought in one run, and Cruz’s RBI single gave Los Tomateros their second run. Cruz walked to lead off the 7th inning, then scored on a sacrifice bunt and a throwing error in the 7th. An RBI single brought in a second run in that inning. Cruz had the third single in the 8th inning, bringing in another run for Culiacan.

Algodoneros de Guasave 3, Yaquis de Obregon 2

Two runs in the bottom of the 8th inning and a total of 4 Obregon errors gave Guasave this win. After a single and a walk to lead off the inning a sacrifice bunt was complicated by two throwing errors, one by Obregon’s pitcher and another by 1B Chris Snelling, allowing two runs to come in. Guasave had scored their first run of the game in the 3rd inning on another error and an RBI single. LF Yurendell de Caster reached base on another error in the 2nd inning but was out in a double play. He also singled twice but was left on base. Snelling was involved in both of Obregon’s run-scoring innings. In the 5th, CF John Mayberry (Phillies) led off with a double, moved to third on Snelling’s ground out to the right side of the infield, and scored on a sacrifice fly. A walk, a single, and a hit batter loaded the bases for Obregon in the 6th, and Snelling picked up an RBI with a singled into right field.