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Tag: Quincy Latimore

Winter League Season Ends

The Venezuelan, Mexican Pacific, and Puerto Rican Leagues wrap up their regular season play today.  Everyone is off for New Year's Eve, and playoff games begin soon after.  A few of the Pirates' players and friends in tonight's action:

VENEZUELAN LEAGUE
Caribes  de Anzoategui  2,  Navegantes del Magallanes  1  --  
C JR House had the second of three consecutive singles to lead off the top of the 7th for Los Navegantes, when they scored their only run of the game.  That run tied the game at 1-1, after Los Caribes had scored one run in the 5th on a fielding error and a double.  But Los Caribes broke the tie in the bottom of the 7th with a pair of doubles, and took the win.

Aguilas de Zulia   8,  Cardenales de Lara  7  --  Los Aguilas posted 16 hits and piled up their runs in the middle innings, and were leading 8-1 going into the top of the 9th.  Romulo Sanchez pitched the top of the 9th for Lara, and retired the side in order.  Then in the bottom of the inning. Los Cardenales rallied with three singles, two doubles, and a 2-run homer, scoring 6 runs.  But with two runners still on base, a fly out ended the game, and Los Cardenales fell one run short of catching up.

 
DOMINICAN LEAGUE (Round Robin Playoff Series)
Toros del Este  2,  Leones del Escogido  1  --  
A pitching duel, with each team posting only 5 hits.  Los Toros scored 2 runs in the 4th on two consecutive fielding errors, a single, a walk to force in one run, and an RBI ground out.  Two singles and a ground out gave Los Leones their only run in the top of the 9th.  SS Pedro Ciriaco went 0-for-3, plus he reached on a fielding error in the 3rd and stole second base.  

Estrellas de Oriente   9,  Gigantes del Cibao  0  --  DH Ronny Paulino was Los Estrellas' heavy hitter for the second night in a row.  He went 3-for-3, walked, scored twice, and drove in a run.  He singled to lead off the 2nd inning, though did not score.  He singled again to lead off the 4th, moved to third on a double, and scored on a sacrifice fly.  Another run came in on two more singles and a walk.  Paulino singled for the third time in the 5th inning, but was left on base.  Los Estrellas rallied for 6 runs in the 6th inning.  A walk, a single, and a hit batter loaded the bases, then Paulino picked up his RBI when he walked to force in a run.  A single and a wild pitch each brought in a run.  A ground out scored Paulino, and one more single drove in 2 runs.  A solo homer gave Los Estrellas their final run in the 7th.  Los Gigantes were held to just 6 hits, and two of those were by RF Rich Thompson.  He singled to open the 5th, but was out at second on a force play.  Thompson doubled in the 7th inning, and was left on base.  

Big Night For Paulino And Mildren

Cheering for Pirates' players and friends (some from the way-back machine) in Wednesday's winter league action:

DOMINICAN LEAGUE   (Round robin playoff series)
Leones del Escogido  4,  Gigantes del Cibao  2  --  
A 2-run homer in the top of the 7th made the difference for Los Leones.  LF/RF Rich Thompson went 0-for-2 for Los Gigantes, with a walk.  He also dropped down a sacrifice bunt following a single in the bottom of the 9th, moving the runner to second base.  Another single brought in Los Gigantes' run in that inning.  Former Indy Indian (2000 - 02) Tim Harikkala pitched 2.2 innings for Los Gigantes.  He finished the 4th inning, then pitched two scoreless innings, but gave up the 2-run homer in the 7th.  

Estrellas de Oriente  9,  Toros del Este  2  -  DH Ronny Paulino had 3 hits and an RBI for Los Estrellas.  The RBI came with a single in the bottom of the 1st inning, following two other singles.  He singled again in the 3rd, and tried to score on a double, but Paulino never was the fastest runner, and he was out at the plate.  Paulino led off the 6th inning with a single, which started a 5-run rally, including a 2-run homer.  


PUERTO RICAN LEAGUE
Leones de Ponce  8,  Senadores de San Juan  6  --  
A 4-run rally in the 8th was not enough for Los Senadores to catch up.  Then they had to deal with RJ Rodriguez in the 9th.  Rodriguez picked up his 13th save of the season for Los Leones, with a 1-2-3 inning.  

Criollos de Caguas  8,  Indios de Mayaguez  2  --  Eight runs in the 3rd inning were all Los Criollos needed.  They recorded 5 singles, 4 walks, a triple, and a sacrifice fly (by SS Luis Figueroa) as 13 batters came to the plate in the inning.  


VENEZUELAN LEAGUE
Caribes de Anzoategui  9,  Navegantes del Magallanes  2  --  
Los Caribes capped their scoring with a 4-run 8th inning, and Los Navegantes could not keep up.  C JR House had two hits and a walk for Los Navegantes, but did not get to score.  He walked in the top of the 1st but was left stranded.  He doubled in the 3rd, but runners were left on second and third bases in that inning, and in the 9th, he singled and was again left on base.


AUSTRALIAN LEAGUE
Adelaide Bite  4,  Canberra Cavalry  0  --  Former Altoona Curve Paul Mildren pitched 8 stellar innings for the Bite, allowing only 2 hits and no walks, while striking out 9 Canberra batters.  Mildren worked around a 2-out single and a batter reaching base on an error in the 2nd inning, then allowed a lead-off single in the 4th.  Then he finished his night by retiring 15 straight batters.  The Bite scored 2 runs in the bottom of the 1st, on a walk, a double, and a 2-RBI single by LF Quincy Latimore.  A 2-run homer gave them some insurance in the 2nd inning, and that was all the scoring there would be in the game.  Latimore singled again in the 5th inning, but was left on base.  

Bit Hits For House And Thompson

Just a few more days in the winter leagues' regular seasons...

DOMINICAN LEAGUE (round robin playoff series)
Leones del Escogido  6,  Gigantes del Cibao  4  --  
Three runs in the bottom of the 6th gave Los Leones the win, despite being out-hit 13 - 12.  Former Pirate Rich Thompson made his first Dominican League appearance, playing right and center field for Los Gigantes.  He singled twice and walked, and drove in Los Gigantes' first run in the top of the 2nd inning.  

Toros del Este  4,  Estrellas de Oriente  0  --  Los Estrellas also had the better hit totals (8-6) but still lost when they couldn't push any runners across the plate.  DH Ronny Paulino, taken from Los Tigres del Licey in the pre-playoff draft, doubled for Los Estrellas.  

 
PUERTO RICAN LEAGUE
Leones de Ponce  7,  Gigantes de Carolina  1  (Game 1)  --  
Los Leones scored in each of the last four innings of the 7-inning game, posting 12 hits.  Los Gigantes managed only 4 hits, and scored their only run on a solo homer in the bottom of the 7th.  Eric Krebs came in from the bullpen for Los Gigantes when another reliever was ejected (after hitting a batter).  Krebs threw a wild pitch, moving runners to second and third bases.  A ground out brought in the runner from third base (charged to the previous pitcher), then Krebs ended the inning with a strikeout.

Leones  7,  Gigantes  6  (Game 2)  --  Benji Gonzalez got the start at second base for Los Gigantes.  He doubled to lead off the bottom of the 1st, and scored on a ground out and a fielding error.  Gonzalez walked to load the bases in the 5th, and a sacrifice fly gave Los Gigantes a second run.  Ponce scored 3 runs in the 3rd on two singles and two doubles, then 2 runs in the 5th on a single, a walk, and a 2-RBI triple.  A single and a pair of doubles gave them two more in the top of the 7th, and Los Gigantes were behind 7-2 going into the bottom of the 7th (a 7-inning game).  With RJ Rodriguez on the mound for Los Leones, Los Gigantes rallied in the bottom of 7th.  Gonzalez opened the frame with a walk, then went to second base on a passed ball.  With two outs (both strikeouts), A double plated Gonzalez, then a walk, a wild pitch, and a triple gave Los Gigantes two more runs.  The second wild pitch of the inning brought in the 4th run.  CF Luis Matos was hit by a pitch, but Rodriguez finally got a third strikeout to end the inning and the game.


Tabata And Cedeno Hitting Nicely

A full Saturday night of action in the winter leagues:

VENEZUELAN LEAGUE
Tiburones de La Guaira  9,  Tigres de Aragua  5  --  
Three runs in the bottom of the 8th put the game out of reach for Los Tigres.  Aragua put their first run on the board in the top of the 1st, when SS Ronny Cedeno singled, and came around to score on a wild pitch.  Los Tiburones took the lead with 2 runs in the bottom of the inning and added their third run in the 2nd.  Los Tigres tied the score in the top of the 5th.  A single and two walks (one to 1B Hector Gimenez) loaded the bases, then back-to-back sacrifice flies (one by LF Lastings Milledge) brought in two runs.  The tie did not last long -- two doubles and a 2-run homer gave the lead back to La Guaira in the bottom of the frame.  Aragua got within one run again in the 6th, with a walk, a passed ball, an RBI single by Gimenez and an RBI ground out, but it wasn't enough when La Guaira scored again in their last at-bat.  Cedeno singled again in the 8th, and was hit by a pitch.  Gimenez walked twice more in the game, and C Raul Chavez singled and walked twice. 

Navegantes del Magallanes  6,  Caribes de Anzoategui  5  --  Two singles and a 2-RBI double in the bottom of the 9th gave Los Navegantes the walk-off win.  Los Caribes were onto the scoreboard first with a solo homer in the 2nd.  Magallanes scored 3 unearned runs in the bottom of the 3rd, on two errors, three wild pitches by Caribes' starter Chris Hayes, two walks, and a single.  Magallanes added a run in the 4th, on two more walks and a single.   LF Jose Tabata led off the top of the 6th for Los Caribes with a double.  A single and a ground out drove in Tabata, then a walk, two singles, and a wild pitch gave Los Caribes 3 more runs, for a 5-4 lead.  Corey Hamman relieved the Magallanes' pitcher, and ended the 6th inning with a strikeout.  He went on to pitch two more scoreless innings, allowing only one hit, with a total of 3 strikeouts.  Tabata singled again and stole second base in the top of the 9th, but was left on base.   

Aguilas de Zulia  3,  Bravos de Margarita  2  --  Jhonathan Ramos suffered the loss for Los Bravos.  He had entered the game to finish the bottom of the 7th with a ground out, and the bottom of the 8th began with a batter reaching on a fielding error.  A single and a triple brought in 2 runs for Zulia to break a 1-1 tie.  Margarita scored an unearned run in the top of the 9th, but a double play ended the game before they could tie the score again.  

Many Familiar Winter League Pitchers

Lots of Pirates and former Pirates pitching in Friday's winter league action... This is the last week of regular season play for the Dominican and Puerto Rican leagues.

VENEZUELAN LEAGUE
Caribes de Anzoategui  8,  Tiburones de La Guaira  5  -- (Game 1) 
A 5-run 6th inning gave Los Caribes the edge in the first game of the double header.  Los Caribes started the game with 3 runs in the top of the 1st, on a single, a walk by DH Jose Tabata, and a 3-run homer.  The 6th inning began with a double, a hit batter, and a walk to load the bases.  Two sacrifice flies, an RBI single, and a sacrifice bunt aided by a throwing error by Los Tiburones' pitcher added four more runs.  Tabata also singled in the inning.  La Guaira scored 2 runs in the 4th and rallied for 3 in the bottom of the 7th, but could not catch up.

Tiburones   9,  Caribes  2  -- (Game 2)  
Ryan Vogelsong earned his 6th win for Los Tiburones.  He allowed 2 runs on 5 hits and a walk over 6 innings.  Tabata did not get into the night-cap.

Leones de Caracas  6,  Aguilas de Zulia  2  --  Another former Pirate pitcher earned the win --  Ronald Uviedo also pitched 6 innings and allowed 2 runs.  He gave up 8 hits and a walk.  Los Leones scored one run in the 1st, two in the 2nd, and 3 in the 5th.  C Carlos Maldonado singled twice and walked, and scored one run.  

Bravos de Margarita  9,  Cardenales de Lara  --  
Both teams put up big innings and posted a total of 12 hits each.  Lara had a 5-run 3rd inning, which began with CF Ray Sadler  being hit by a pitch.  Three singles and a throwing error brought in 2 runs, a sacrifice fly plated a third run, and a 2-run homer made it 5 runs.  Three consecutive doubles, including one by Sadler, plus a sacrifice fly gave Los Cardenales 3 runs in the 4th.  Los Bravos began their scoring with a run in the 2nd, then 3 runs in the 3rd on three singles, an error, and a wild pitch.  They added 4 more in the next inning, on three singles and three walks.  After the bottom of the 4th, the score was tied at 8-8.  Los Bravos scored what would turn out to be the winning run in the top of the 5th, on a walk, a double, and an RBI ground out.  Romulo Sanchez pitched to three batters and got three outs in the top of the 9th for Los Cardenales.  Anthony Claggett took the mound for Los Bravos in the bottom of the 6th, with two on and one out.  He got two outs to end the inning, then pitched the next two innings, allowing only one walk, no hits, with three strikeouts.  Ronald Belisario earned his 14th save with a scoreless 9th inning for Los Bravos.  

Tigres de Aragua  7,  Navegantes del Magallanes  5  --  
New Pirate Fernando Nieve made the start for Los Navegantes and pitched 4.2 innings, allowing 4 runs on 7 hits and 3 walks.  A double and an RBI single by CF Jorge Cortes gave Los Tigres their first run in the 2nd inning.  Nieve gave up a 2-run homer to 1B Hector Gimenez in the 3rd inning.  Gimenez got to him again in the 5th, with an RBI single that followed a lead-off double.  Los Tigres scored 3 more runs after Nieve departed.  Cortes walked to lead off the 6th, then scored on a bunt and an RBI single.  Two runs scored in the 7th.  A double, Gimenez's third hit of the game, a wild pitch, and LF Lasting Milledge's sacrifice fly plated the runs.  Los Navegantes also scored one run in the 2nd inning, when LF Mike Ryan led off with a walk, moved to second on a wild pitch, and scored on a throwing error.  Magallanes scored 3 runs in the 5th, on a pair of singles, a double, and a fielding error by Milledge.  Reliever Wil Ledezma took the mound in relief for Aragua after those three runs had scored, and he worked around another error to get two outs and prevent further runs from scoring.  

Solid Inning For Ascanio, Latimore Slumping

Another minor league free agent signed: Pitcher Neal Cotts signed with the Yankees.

Looking in on some of the Pirates' players and friends in Thursday's winter league action.. the Dominican League has the night off, and there were some games postponed in Venezuela.

VENEZUELAN LEAGUE
Leones del Caracas   9,  Aguilas de Zulia  5  --
 A 4-run 8th inning made the difference for Los Leones.  Jose Ascanio pitched a scoreless bottom of the 8th for Caracas.  He gave up a walk and a single with one out, but then got a double play to get out of the inning.  

Cardenales de Lara  3,  Tigres de Aragua  0  --  LF Lastings Milledge, 1B Hector Gimenez, and C Raul Chavez each posted a single for Los Tigres, but none could come around to score.  Both Milledge and Gimenez had their singles in the 4th, after a walk.  The lead runner tried to score from second on Milledge's single, but Lara CF Ray Sadler's throw to the plate was right on targer, and the runner was out at home.  Sadler went 0-for-2 and was hit by a pitch.  


PUERTO RICAN LEAGUE
Criollos de Caguas  2,  Indios de Mayaguez  1  (Game 1) --  
Los Indios scored a run with a lead-off triple and a single in the top of the 1st, then did not score again for the rest of the game, despite out-hitting Los Criollos 8-5.  3B Ramon Vazquez started a rally for Los Criollos with a 2-out walk in the 2nd inning.  A pair of singles brought him around to score and tie the game at 1-1.  A walk, a throwing error, and an RBI double gave Caguas the go-ahead run in the 5th.  SS Luis Figueroa was hitless in 3 trips to the plate.  

Criollos  2,  Indios 1  (Game 2)  --  Yes, same score in the night-cap.  Three Caguas pitchers combined for a one-hitter.  Los Indios scored their run in the 5th, beginning with a walk and ending with a sacrifice fly.  Los Criollos scored one run in each of the 3rd and 4th innings.  Neither Figueroa nor Vazquez got into this game.

Leones de Ponce  2,  Senadores de San Juan  1  --  Really, same score again.  RJ Rodriguez earned his 10th save of the season with a scoreless 9th inning for Ponce.  He walked the first batter, then retired the next three to end the game.

Veal Re-signed; Hits For Brown And Hague

Southpaw Donnie Veal will likely be back in Indianapolis in 2011.  He has signed a minor league contract with the Pirates today, and has also been invited to the big league camp for Spring Training.  After struggling through his mandatory year on the Pirates' major league roster as a Rule 5 Draft pick in 2009, Veal was assigned to the AAA Indians to begin 2010.  He made 9 starts for the Indians, with a 3-2 record and a 4.35 ERA over 49.2 innings before being shut down due to elbow issues.  Veal had Tommy John surgery in early June, and is expected to be ready to go for Spring Training.  

The signing of 1B Lyle Overbay is going to make things more difficult for the likes of Steve Pearce and Jeff Clement.  Both are working their way back from knee problems.  Pearce was granted one more option year because of his injuries last season.  

Other news of minor league contracts signed: Former Pirate Denny Bautista has signed with the Mariners.  INF Doug Bernier, who spent 2010 with the Indy Indians, signed with the Yankees.  P Vinnie Chulk signed with the A's.  Former Pirate P Jonah Bayliss signed with the Rays.  INF/OF Jonathan Van Every signed with the Nationals.  

Cheering for Pirates' players and friends in Wednesday's winter league games:

VENEZUELAN LEAGUE
Caribes de Anzoategui  4,  Bravos de Margarita  0  --  
Los Bravos were held to just 3 hits, along with 2 walks.  The first 13 Margarita batters went down in order before the first base runner reached on a walk.  They had 2 runners on base in both the 6th and 8th innings, but could not get them around to score.  Los Caribes scored one run in each of the 3rd, 4th, and 5th innings, then one more in the 7th.  In the 4th, LF Jose Tabata was hit by a pitch, then scored on an RBI double.  

Tigres del Aragua  3,  Cardenales de Lara  1  --  A 2-run homer in the bottom of the 11th by C Wilson Ramos broke the 1-1 tie for Los Tigres.  The homer came off Lara reliever Romulo Sanchez, who was charged with his second loss of the season.  Each team scored a run in the 2nd inning.  Los Cardenales' rally was started with a single by former Pirate farmhand CF Ray Sadler, then another single and two walks forced in a run.  Ramos doubled to lead off the bottom of the 2nd for Los Tigres.  He scored on a single by 1B Hector Gimenez and a sacrifice fly.  Both teams missed scoring opportunities in the 3rd, 4th, and 5th innings, but there was only one base runner for either team over the next four innings -- that was DH Lastings Milledge, who doubled in the 9th.  


A Loss For Valdez

The MLB Winter Meetings are over.... back to the winter league action, as we cheer on some new Pirates' players.

DOMINICAN LEAGUE
Leones del Escogido  3,  Tigres del Licey  0  --  
New Pirate Caesar Valdez (just acquired from the Diamondbacks as the player-to-be-named-later in the Zach Duke trade) made his 8th start for Licey, but did not get out of the 3rd inning as he suffered his 2nd loss of the season.  Valdez had no trouble in his first inning of work, then gave up a solo home run in the 2nd inning.  He put out the first two batters in the 3rd inning, then gave up three consecutive singles for a run, plus a walk.  Valdez was relieved at that point, with no more runs scoring in the inning.  Los Leones did score one more run in the 5th.  Los Tigres were held to just 4 hits, including one by Indy area native 1B Jake Fox.  3B Andy Marte and C Robinzon Diaz were both hitless in the game.


VENEZUELAN LEAGUE
Bravos de Margarita  5,  Cardenales de Lara  4  --  
Los Cardenales tied the score at 4-4 in the top of the 8th on a pair of doubles.  The winning run scored in the bottom of the 9th, when two walks and a hit batter put three Bravos on base.  Another walk forced in the winning run.  Romulo Sanchez pitched to 4 Margarita batters and made 4 outs, finishing the 6th inning for Lara and then pitching a 1-2-3 inning in the 7th.  Jhonathan Ramos pitched a scoreless 6th inning for Margarita.  He allowed a double and a walk, with 2 strikeouts. 

Tigres de Aragua  6,  Navegantes de Magallanes  4  --  A game full of Pirates.  Los Tigres posted a pair of 2-run homers in the 5th inning, on their way to 13 total hits.  Every member of the lineup except for C Raul Chavez had at least one hit.  SS Ronny Cedeno, 1B Hector Gimenez, LF Lastings Milledge, and CF Jorge Cortes each had one run.  Wil Ledezma pitched one inning for Los Tigres.  He entered the game in the 7th inning, and was responsible for one run on a solo homer.  Then he began the 8th inning, when he allowed two more runs to score.  Corey Hamman pitched in the top of the 9th for Los Navegantes.  He gave up a single and a pair of intentional walks, but ended the inning and the game without any of those runners scoring.  

Tiburones de La Guaira  5,  Caribes de Anzoategui   3  --  In his second Venezuelan League game, LF Jose Tabata walked and singled for Los Caribes.  He singled in the bottom of the 1st, moving another runner to third base, and that runner came around to score, for 2 runs in the 1st.  Los Tiburones tied the score with 2 runs in the 3rd inning.  They took the lead with a run in the 6th, and Los Caribes tied the score again in the bottom of the 7th, on a walk and two singles.  The game went into extras, and in the top of the 10th, Los Tiburones scored the winning and insurance runs on a 2-run homer.  


Matt Diaz On Board; Ascanio And Tabata Reappear

Day Three of the Winter Meetings...the Rule 5 Draft will be tomorrow (Thursday)
Today, the Pirates added another player to their 40-man roster.  Matt Diaz is an outfielder who was drafted by the Rays in the 17th round of the 1999 draft.  He reached the major league level for the first time in 2003, but played in only 14 games for the Rays over the 2003 and 2004 seasons, and went 5-for-30 at the plate.  The Oregon native was released by the Rays in February 2005 and a few days later was claimed off waivers by the Orioles, then signed by the Royals the next day.  His 2005 season was shortened by injury, but he did hit .281 in 34 games for the Royals.  The Royals traded Diaz to the Braves after the 2005 season, and he remained in their organization for the next 5 years.  Diaz played full-time in 2006 and 2007, but a left knee injury prevented him from playing for most of the 2008 season.  He was back in full swing in 2009, when he hit .313 with 13 homers and 58 RBI for the Braves.  An infected thumb limited Diaz again in 2010.  He was able to play in 84 games for the Braves, and hit .250, with 7 homers and 31 RBI.  Diaz will turn 33 in early March.  He's expected to play in right field for the Pirates.

Cheering for Pirates' players and friends in Wednesday's winter league action:
VENEZUELAN LEAGUE
Leones del Caracas  7,  Navegantes del Magallanes  0  --  Corey Hamman
had a better outing tonight than he did yesterday.  He pitched 2 innings, taking the mound with a runner on second and no outs in the 7th.  Hamman gave up a single and a sacrifice fly, to bring in one run (charged to the previous pitcher), then another single and a double play.  In the 8th, Hamman worked around a single to keep Los Leones from scoring.  Jose Ascanio pitched his first competitive inning since recovering from injury.  He gave up a double to the first batter he faced, then retired the next three batters.  Caracas's 5-run 5th inning was all the firepower they needed.

Tiburones de La Guaira  4,  Caribes de Anzoategui  3  --  Jose Tabata made his Venezuelan debut, OK'ed by the Pirates, going 2-for-3 with an RBI and two walks.  Los Caribes scored 2 runs in the 4th and another in the 5th, to take a 3-1 lead. Tabata's RBI single drove in the run in the 5th.   But Los Tiburones bit back with a 3-run 8th inning for the win.  


Bravos de Margarita  7,  Cardenales de Lara  3  --  A 5-run rally in the bottom of the 1st inning, including a grand slam, gave Los Bravos a lead they would not give up.  Starter Yusmeiro Petit pitched 7 innings for Los Bravos, allowing one run.  He was relieved to begin the 8th inning, by Bobby Livingston (who pitched in one game for the Indy Indians in 2009.  Livingston gave up 2 runs on two singles and a double, then was relieved by Anthony Claggett.  Claggett ended the inning with a strikeout, then retired the side in the 9th.  

Aguilas de Zulia  2,  Tigres de Aragua  1  --  SS Ronny Cedeno scored Los Tigres' only run in the bottom of the 1st.  After a double, Cedeno reached base on a fielder's choice, then stole second base, and scored on an RBI single.  Back-to-back home runs in the top of the 4th gave Zulia the lead in the 4th inning.  Cedeno was hitless in his other 3 plate appearances.  1B Hector Gimenez singled in the 4th, when Los Tigres loaded the bases, but did not score.  LF Lastings Milledge went 0-for-4, and C Raul Chavez went 0-for-2 for Los Tigres.  

Machi’s 6th Save

Checking in on some Pirates' players and friends in Friday night's winter league games:

VENEZUELAN LEAGUE
Navegantes del Magallanes  7,  Bravos de Margarita  5  --  Jean Machi
pitched a perfect 9th inning to earn his 6th Save for Los Navegantes.  His teammates took a 5-1 lead in the bottom of the 6th with a two-out rally, scoring 5 runs on two doubles, four singles, and a walk.  They added 2 more runs in the 7th on four more singles.  Los Bravos put their first run on the board in the 3rd with three singles.  A grand slam by CF Frank Diaz in the top of the 8th brought Los Bravos closer, but Machi held them off in the 9th.  Just released SS Argenis Diaz came into the game to play shortstop in the top of the 9th, and he scooped the grounder that was Machi's first out.  

Tigres de Aragua  8,  Aguilas de Zulia  1  --   Two Pirates' teammates on Los Tigres.... one tendered a contract, one not... SS Ronny Cedeno was hit by a pitch in the top of the 1st, stole second base, then scored on a 2-run homer.  C Raul Chavez's home run in the 2nd inning gave Los Tigres a 3-0 lead.  In the 5th, a throwing error and a single put two runners on base.  Cedeno bunted them both into scoring position, then CF Lastings Milledge drove in one run with an RBI single into right field.  Los Tigres capped their scoring with 4 runs in the 6th.  A single and two walks loaded the bases.  Chavez was hit by a pitch, forcing in the first run.  A single brought in the second run, and Cedeno's ground out plated the third run.  A walk to Milledge loaded the bases again, and another walk forced in Chavez with the fourth run of the inning.  Chavez had an embarrassing moment in the 5th -- with runners on first and second bases, Chavez lined right to the Zulia third baseman, who started a triple play.  


PUERTO RICAN LEAGUE  
Criollos de Caguas  4,  Gigantes de Carolina  3  --  
Los Gigantes had the early lead, starting with a run in the 1st, when former Indy Indian LF Luis Matos doubled and scored.  In the 2nd, a ground-rule double, a walk, a fielding error by 3B Ramon Vazquez, and a single gave them a 3-0 lead.  An RBI single by SS Luis Figueroa drove in Los Criollos' first run in the 5th.  Then a single, a triple, and a 3-run homer in the 6th gave Los Criollos the win.  Figueroa also singled in the 1st, and Vazquez singled in the 3rd.  

Singh Wins First Aussie Game

An Australian double header early on Friday morning:

Game One:  Canberra Cavalry  3,  Adelaide Bite  1 
Pirate farmhand Rinku Singh earned his first win for the Cavalry, in a pitching-dominated game.  Former Altoona Curve pitcher Paul Mildren pitched the entire (7 inning) game for the Bite.  He allowed only one hit over the first three innings, and another single in the 4th.  Mildren got out of a jam in the 5th -- a walk and a double put two runners into scoring position with one out.  The next batter tapped one back to the mound, and Mildren returned the ball to his catcher, who tagged the lead runner out at the plate.  A pop out ended the inning.  But in the bottom of the 6th, Mildren gave up a double, an intentional walk, and another double, which brought in 2 runs.  Two more singles added a third run for the Cavalry.  
The Bite were also scoreless in all but their last at-bat.  They put runners on base in every inning, but could not bring them around to score.  LF Quincy Latimore led off the 4th inning with a single, then moved to second base on a wild pitch.  He got to third on an error, but was left there when the inning ended.  The Bite also left two runners on base in the 5th inning.  In the 6th, back-to-back singles put two Bite runners on base with one out.  The Cavalry made a pitching change, bringing in Rinku Singh.  Singh ended the inning with a strikeout and a ground out, stranding the two runners.  Singh came out to begin the 7th inning with a 3-run lead (and so was the pitcher of record, to get the win).  He gave up a walk, then got a strikeout.  A fielding error and a single by Latimore loaded the bases, and Singh was replaced.  The new pitcher, Chris Morgan, walked the first batter he faced, forcing in the Bite's only run of the game, but then got a double play to end it.  

Game Two:  Cavalry  11,  Bite 6  
Latimore also had two hits in this game, but the Bite's 5-run 7th inning couldn't stand up to their total meltdown in the bottom of the 5th, when the Cavalry scored all 11 of their runs.  The night-cap began like the first game, with pitchers in control.  The Bite had only two hits and a walk scattered over their first 5 innings, though one of the hits was a solo homer by DH Brandon Bantz in the 4th.  The Bite pitching allowed only 2 hits to Canberra over their first four innings.  Then came the bottom of the 5th:  walk, single, throwing error (2 runs), triple (run #3), double (#4), walk, missed catch error to load the bases, single (#5,6), single, single (#7), double (#8), wild pitch (#9), walk, triple (#10, 11), then finally, a ground out and a pop out to end the inning. Oh, and both of those triples were by pinch-hitter Donald Lutz, who came out of the game after that inning.  
Latimore doubled with two outs in the 6th, but got no further.  The Bite rallied in the 7th, but weren't even close to catching up.  With one out, three consecutive singles brought in one run, then a walk loaded the bases.  A double drove in two runs, then Latimore brought in the fourth run by beating out an infield hit to short.   Another single added run #5, but that was all they could get.
The same two teams play another double header on Saturday. 

A Little Winter League Hitting

Cheering for Pirates' players and friends in a few winter league games on Friday...

VENZUELAN WINTER LEAGUE
Tigres de Aragua  4,  Cardenales de Lara  1  --  
Aragua starting pitcher Yorman Bazardo pitched 8 innings and allowed only one run on 7 hits, earning his 5th win for Los Tigres.  That one run came in the 9th, on a bases-loaded ground out.  Los Tigres scored their first run in the 4th on a walk and a double.  They added 2 more runs in the 5th.  After a pair of walks, CF Jorge Cortes bunted both runners up one base, then an RBI double brought both runs in.  1B Hector Gimenez started a 2-out rally in the 8th with a walk, followed by two singles, which brought in Gimenez.  Gimenez also singled in the 6th inning, and Cortes walked in the 7th.  SS Ronny Cedeno went 0-for-4 for Aragua.  
The rest of Friday's Venezuelan League games were all postponed. 

PUERTO RICAN LEAGUE
Criollos de Caguas   17,  Gigantes de Carolina  4  --  
Los Criollos posted 20 hits and took advantage of 3 Carolina errors as they overwhelmed Los Gigantes.  DH Javier Valentin had 4 hits for Los Criollos.  3B Ramon Vazquez contributed a hit and an RBI, and scored one run.  SS Luis Figueroa had a hit and a walk, and he scored twice.  Both Vazquez's hit and Figueroa's walk came in Caguas' 7-run 3rd inning.  

DOMINICAN LEAGUE
Leones del Escogido  3,  Gigantes del Cibao  1 --  
Former Pirate farmhand C JR House had one hit for Los Gigantes, but he was lifted for a pinch-hitter in a critical situation in the 8th inning (despite his .375 average).  The pinch-hitter was able to knock an RBI single, accounting for Los Gigantes' only run.  Los Leones scored on a solo homer in the 3rd, then added 2 runs in the 7th inning.  Former Altoona Curve and Indy Indian SS Pedro Lopez had 2 hits for Escogido, but did not score.  One more former Pirate farmhand, Gigantes' reliever Juan Perez, pitched to one batter in the 8th inning, and got a ground out.  

MEXICAN PACIFIC LEAGUE
Caneros de Los Mochis  3,  Venados de Mazatlan  2  --
 LF Rogelios Noris' single in the 2nd inning loaded the bases for Los Venados, then a walk forced in the first run of the game.  Mochis took the lead with 2 runs in the 6th and another run in the 7th.  Mazatlan added one more run in the bottom of the 7th with a single, a throwing error, and an RBI ground out, but they couldn't catch up.

(Early Sat. Morning)
AUSTRALIAN LEAGUE 
Adelaide Bite   4,  Perth Heat  2  (Game 1)  --  
The Bite cruised through their opening series of the season, then ran into trouble with the Heat.  They split the 4-game series last weekend in Perth, and when the two teams resumed play in Adelaide this weekend, Perth easily took the first two games of this series.  This morning, the Bite salvaged a split of this series also, with a win of a double-header.  There was only one inning of scoring in Game One.  A single and a two-run homer gave Perth the lead in the top of the 4th inning.  The Bite came back in the bottom of the 4th.  Two walks, a grounder force out, and a third walk loaded the bases for RF Brendon Pett, who took the lead with a grand slam.  A walk and a single followed the homer, but LF Quincy Latimore bounced into an inning-ending double play.  Latimore singled in the 1st and walked in the 3rd, but both times was left on base.  

Bite  11,  Heat 4  (Game 2)  --  Adelaide's Dushan Ruzic pitched a complete game in the night-cap, allowing 4 runs on 7 hits and 2 walks, while striking out 8 Perth batters.  Ruzic faced only one batter over the minimum for the first 3 innings (fielding error), then got out of a 4th inning jam with a double play.  Ruzic got plenty of run support, beginning with a 6-run 3rd inning by the Bite.  Two singles and an error brought in the first run, and a walk and a double added the second run.  LF Quincy Latimore smacked a 3-run homer over the left-center field wall to give the Bite a 5-0 lead.  The next batter after Latimore was hit by a pitch, prompting the ejection of the Perth pitcher.  A walk, a single, and a sacrifice fly brought in the 6th run of the inning.  Perth scored 2 runs in each of the 5th and the 6th innings.  The Bite matched the 2 runs in the 5th on a 2-RBI double.  In the bottom of the 6th, two lead-off singles, one by Latimore, set up C Brandon Bantz for his 3-run homer.  Latimore's batting average sits at .400 and he leads the league with 5 homers and 16 RBI.