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The Solar Sox got back on track this afternoon in the Arizona Fall League, beating the Javelinas with two 3-run innings.� The Javelinas out-hit the Solar Sox 12 - 7, with 3B Cord Phelps (Cleveland Indians and Team USA) missing only a triple from hitting for the cycle.
The Solar Sox jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the 1st.� SS Andrew Romine (Angels) and LF Jeremy Moore (Angels) got the inning started with back-to-back walks, and 3B Brandon Wood (Angels) loaded the bases with a single lined into center field.� A sacrifice fly by 1B Matt Rizzotti (Phillies) brought in Romine, and RF Andrew Lambo plated Moore with an RBI ground out.� DH Jordy Mercer doubled into left field, bringing in� Wood for the third run of the inning.
The Javelinas got one run back in the top of the 2nd.� Cubs' Jake Muyco made the start for the Solar Sox.� He gave up that run on a walk,a� single, and a double by DH Koby Clemens (Astros, naturally).�� Muyco also gave up Phelps' double in the 1st and his single in the 3rd.
Lambo doubled in another run for the Solar Sox in the bottom of the 3rd, to give them a 4-1 lead.� Again the Javelinas answered right away, with a 2-run homer off Muyco in the top of the 4th.� Muyco finished his afternoon with 3 runs on 6 hits and 2 walks over 4 innings.
Chris Carpenter (Cubs) relieved Muyco to begin the 5th inning.� He retired the side in the 5th, then gave up a double and a walk in the 6th.� Chris Kissock (Phillies) finished the inning for Carpenter without allowing a run to score.
Peoria tied the score in the top of the 7th when Kyle Smit (Cubs) gave up Phelps' home run.� This time it was the Solar Sox who returned fire.� In the bottom of the frame, CF Kirk Nieuwenhuis (Mets) led off with a walk, and Romine dropped a sacrifice bunt then beat it out to put two runners on base.� Moore cleared the bases with a triple to give the Solar Sox a 6-4 lead, then Rizzotti brought Moore in from third base with an RBI single to provide an insurance run.
The Javelinas threatened in the 8th, when they worked a walk and a single off Mesa reliever David Cales (Cubs).� But Cales got a strikeout and two ground outs to keep a run from scoring.� Justin De Fratus (Phillies) earned the save with a scoreless 9th inning, working around a double and a walk.� The blown save, and then the win went to Smit -- it was his third win for the Solar Sox.
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Don't forget the AFL Rising Stars Game on Saturday... Tony Sanchez will represent the Pirates and the Solar Sox.
Cheering for the Pirates' players and friends in winter league action on Thursday...
VENEZUELAN LEAGUE
Tigres de Aragua� 6,� Bravos de Margarita� 0� -- Los Bravos were held to just 2 hits -- a single in the 7th, and another to lead off the 9th inning.� 3B Andy LaRoche worked a walk to open the 2nd inning, but was erased in a double play.� Margarita got another walk in the 4th inning, and those were the only two Bravos batters to reach base in the first six innings.� Los Tigres scored their first run in the 1st inning, on a double, a single by SS Ronny Cedeno (in his Tigres' debut), a fielders' choce by CF Lastings Milledge, and an RBI single.� They added 2 more runs in the 4th, on a 2-run homer.� C Raul Chavez doubled after the homer, and Hector Gimenez reached on a fielder's choice, but Chavez was out at third.� Cedeno also doubled in the 5th, then had the second single of the 7th inning.� Milledge moved Cedeno up to second base on a ground out, and an intentional walk loaded the bases.� A sacrifice fly plated the first run of the inning.� Chavez and Gimenez each drove in a run with an RBI single.� Jorge Cortes made a pinch-hitting appearance for Los Tigres and worked a walk in the 8th, but was left on base.
Navegantes del Magallanes� 3,� Tiburones de La Guaira� 1� -- Los Tiburones put up half of their 6 hits in the 4th inning, when they scored their only run -- back-to-back doubles and a single to begin the inning.� Los Navegantes scored one run in the 1st inning on a fielding error, a stolen base, and a double.� After Los Tiburones tied the score in the top of the 4th, Magallanes came back in the bottom of the frame to take the lead with a single, a walk, a wild pitch, and a 2-RBI single.� DH Mike Ryan was hitless in 4 trips to the plate for Magallanes.� Jean Machi pitched the top of the 9th for Magallanes and gave up a walk but struck out 2 batters to keep Los Tiburones from scoring.� Machi earned his 3rd save of the winter league season.
Three Pirates prospects started in the lineup today, as the Mesa Solar Sox won 7-4:
-Tony Sanchez (.209) started at catcher, batting eighth. Sanchez went...
The Mesa Solar Sox were still dealing with the karma rebound from their blow-out win a few days ago, losing to the Javelinas by 9 runs today.� The Sox had three players who recorded two hits each:� 3B Josh Harrison, 1B Josh Satin (Mets), and C Kai Gronauer (Mets).� 2B Jordany Valdespin (Mets) and RF Andrew Lambo added one hit each to the total.� Of those hits, only one (by Satin) was for extra bases -- a double.
Justin Wilson made the start for the Solar Sox, and he struggled right away in the bottom of the 1st.� The first batter for Peoria reached base on an error by Sox 1B Satin.� The next two batters hit back-to-back singles, bringing in the first run of the game.� A wild pitch allowed the second run to score, and a stolen base and another single drove in the third run of the inning.� Wilson pitched two more innings, retiring the side in order in the 2nd, and allowing 2 walks but no runs in the 3rd.
Bradley Holt (Mets) took over for Wilson to begin the 4th inning.� He gave up another run on a double and a single, extending the Javelina's lead to 4-0.� Brian Leach pitched a scoreless 5th inning, but he was very wild -- he walked 4 batters.� The only reason no runs scored was that a double play (2B Valdespin to SS Jordy Mercer to 1B Satin) followed the first walk and erased that base runner.� Three consecutive walks on 15 pitches loaded the bases, but Leach struck out the next batter to end the inning.
The 6th inning sealed the Solar Sox' fate.� With Jacob Diekman (Phillies) on the mound for the Sox for the first time, the first 7 batters of the inning reached base safely.� A double, a single, a fielding error (1 run), two more singles (2 more runs), a triple (2 runs), and a single (1 run) gave the Javelinas a 10- 0 lead and sent Diekman to the showers.� Eric Niesen came on in relief, and got three outs to end the inning.� Peoria tacked on one more run in the 7th, with Nicholas Carr (Mets) on the mound for Mesa.� Carr also had a wild day, giving up a single then three consecutive walks to force in a run.� Ryan Brasier (Angels) pitched the final inning for Mesa, allowing one walk, but no runs.
The Solar Sox had at least one base runner on in every inning but the 4th.� They only scored in the 8th, when Gronauer singled and Valdespin walked, then Harrison loaded the bases with his second single of the game.� Mercer's sacrifice fly brought in Gonauer.� Lambo followed with a single, plating Valdespin, and that was all the Solar Sox would get.
Other Sox notes:
OF Brett Jackson (Cubs) has had to leave the Solar Sox, due to an infection in his right lower leg.� He will not be able to participate in the rest of the AFL schedule, but is expected to be healed up and ready to go in time for spring training.
The AFL's version of the All-Star game, the Rising Stars Game, will be played on Saturday evening.� It will be the East Division (the Solar Sox, the Phoenix Desert Dogs, and the Scottsdale Scorpions) against the West Division (the Peoria Javelinas, the Peoria Saguaros, and the Surprise Rafters).�� Mesa's C Tony Sanchez is the only Pirates' representative on the Rising Star team.� The game will begin at 9 pm (Eastern time), and will be broadcast on MLB tv and MLB.com.
Several players have been removed from the 40-man roster and outrighted to AAA Indianapolis:� LHP Justin Thomas, RHP Sean Gallagher, RHP Steven Jackson, 1B Jeff Clement, and OF Brandon Moss.
Of these, Thomas, Jackson, and Moss are now all free to declare themselves minor league free agents.� Clement does not have enough service time to get to be a free agent, so he's "stuck" on the Indianapolis roster.� He's had knee surgery, and hopes to be ready by spring training.� Gallagher does have the service time, but the Pirates are probably negotiating with him to try to keep him.
LHP Wil Ledezma has signed a one-year contract with the Pirates for 2011.
RHP Jose Ascanio and 1B Steve Pearce (who has also had knee issues) are officially off the DL and back on the 40-man roster.� RHP Ross Ohlendorf also falls into this category.
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On to Wednesday's winter league action, with Pirates' players and friends:
PUERTO RICAN LEAGUE
Senadores de San Juan� 4,� Gigantes de Carolina� 3� -- San Juan rallied from a 3-1 deficit to score one run in the 5th and 2 runs in the 6th for the win.� Los Gigantes scored one run in the 4th on a double and a single.� They added 2 runs in the 5th, on two singles, an error, a walk, and a sacrifice fly.� Benji Gonzalez made a pinch-hitting appearance for Los Gigantes in the 8th inning, but flied out.� He remained in the game at third base for the final inning.
Criollos de Caguas� 4,� Indios de Mayaguez� 0� -- 3B Ramon Vazquez and SS Luis Figueroa each had one hit for Los Criollos in their win.� Vazquez's single in the 5th drove in one of Los Criollos' runs.� They also scored 2 runs in the 4th on two singles and two errors, and another run in the 6th on two singles and a sacrifice fly.
The Pittsburgh Pirates have narrowed their manager search down to two people: Clint Hurdle and Jeff Banister. Hurdle, the current batting coach for the...
Errors abounded as the Solar Sox experienced the effects of "what goes around comes around".� The two teams combined for 21 runs on 33 hits and 10 errors, but it was the Saguaros' 11-run 7th inning that did the Solar Sox in.
The Solar Sox posted 13 hits, led by 3B Brandon Wood (Angels) and his 2 singles and a double.� C Tony Sanchez and 2B Josh Harrison were both hitless, though Harrison walked and scored in one at-bat.� RF Andrew Lambo had one hit, a double, and he scored once.
Mesa started off well, when DH Jordany Valdespin (Mets) walked, moved to second on a balk, and scored on Wood's single.� Peoria replied with a run on a double, a single, and a throwing error by Lambo in the 2nd.
Two throwing errors, two singles, and a double by Wood gave Mesa the lead again, with 2 runs in the top of the 3rd.� Lambo doubled in the 4th inning, but was left on base.� Three singles, by SS Andrew Romine (Angels), Valdespin, and 1B Matt Rizzotti (Phillies), plus a wild pitch brought in two more runs in the 5th, and the Solar Sox lead 5-1.
Reliever Aaron Pribanic took a turn on the mound for the Solar Sox in the bottom of the 5th.� He gave up a run on three singles, then worked around a single by striking out three batters in the 6th.
The Sox kept going, with 2 runs in the 6th.� Lambo opened the inning by reaching first base on a fielding error, then advanced to second on a balk.� Harrison walked, then two singles, by LF Kirk Nieuwenhuis (Mets) and Romine, drove in Lambo.� Harrison scored on a wild pitch.� In the 7th, Wood singled again and scored on Rizzotti's double.� That gave the Solar Sox an 8 - 2 lead going into the bottom of the 7th.
That's when the wheels fell off.� Robert Fish (Angels) relieved Pribanic, and started the inning with a walk, a single, a ground-rule double, and a single, accounting for 2 runs.� After a fly out, Fish continued with a double and a triple, as 3 more runs came in.� Eddie McKiernan (Angels) relieved Fish, and he gave up a double and a run, complicated by a fielding error by Lambo.� Two singles and a missed catch error by Harrison, and another 2 runs scored.� A double steal resulted in two throwing errors (by Sanchez and by CF Jeremy Moore --� Angels) and 2 more runs, clearing the bases.� But it kept going, with a triple, a sacrifice fly, and an extra single -- totalling 11 runs and 15 batters.� A pop-out finally ended the horror.
The Solar Sox had no hope of coming back, though they did put two runners on base in the 8th, on a single by Nieuwenhuis and another error, but a double play ended the inning.
