Tag: Rogelios Noris

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.  

Cheering for the Pirates' players and friends in Thursday's winter league action:

DOMINICAN LEAGUE
Toros del Este  6,  Tigres del Licey   0  --  Los Tigres were shut-out on 6 hits.  They had 2 runners on base in a few innings, but were never able to bring them around to score.  New Pirate 1B Andy Marte did not start, but came in to play at first in the 5th inning.  He bounced into a double play in the 6th, and was lifted for a pinch-hitter in the 9th.  DH Ronny Paulino and LF Jake Fox were both hitless, though Fox walked in the 1st inning.  Denny Bautista pitched the final inning for Los Tigres, and gave up 2 runs on a single, a walk, and a double.  SS Pedro Ciriaco went 0-for-3 for Los Toros.  

Gigantes del Cibao  3,  Estrellas de Oriente  2  --  Mike Dubee earned his second Dominican League win for los Gigantes with 1.1 scoreless innings of work.  Each team started with a run in the 1st inning -- on a homer for Los Estrellas and on a double, a bunt, and a sacrifice fly for Los Gigantes.  After the homer, Los Gigantes' starter Roman Colon retired the next 10 batters in order.  Dubee relieved Colon to begin the 5th inning.  He gave up a double and a walk, but got out of the jam with a strikeout and a ground out.  Dubee started the 6th inning with a fly out and a walk, then he was replaced by Juan Perez.  Perez finished that inning, but gave up a run on a double and an error in the 7th.  Los Gigantes' C JR House singled to lead off the 5th, then scored on a sacrifice bunt and a single.  A solo homer gave Los Gigantes' one more run in the 6th.  House also singled in the 2nd inning.  


PUERTO RICAN LEAGUE
Criollos de Caguas  15,  Indios de Mayaguez  2  --  Los Criollos posted 21 hits and scored in all but one of the first 7 innings, including 4 in the 2nd and 5 in the 6th.  SS Luis Figueroa singled and doubled and scored twice.  3B Ramon Vazquez singled twice and drove in 2 runs.  

Leones de Ponce  3,  Senadores de San Juan  0  --   Another shut-out, as Los Senadores were held to just 2 hits.  Starter Ben Snyder (Rangers, and Ball State University) gave up a walk in the 3rd inning, and lone singles in the 4th and 6th innings, as he pitched 7 innings for the win.  RJ Rodriguez earned his 7th Save with a perfect 9th inning.  


VENEZUELAN LEAGUE
Cardenales de Lara  6,  Tigres de Aragua  5  --  A single, two walks, and a sacrifice fly gave Los Cardenales the go-ahead run in the top of the 8th, then held on for the win.  Lara put up 13 hits, while Los Tigres had 7 hits, including 2 singles by SS Ronny Cedeno, and 2 doubles by LF Lastings Milledge.  Lara scored 4 runs in the 3rd and one more in the 5th.  Cedeno singled, stole second, and scored in the 1st inning.  He singled again in the 6th to begin a rally.  Two walks (one by C Hector Gimenez), a single, and Milledge's first double, brought in 3 runs for Los Tigres in that inning.  Aragua tied the score in the 7th, on an error, a bunt by Cedeno, and an RBI single.  That rally was cut short when Romulo Sanchez came on in relief for Lara and ended the inning with two strikeouts.  Milledge doubled again in the 8th inning and stole third base, but was out at home on a fielder's choice.  

 
MEXICAN PACIFIC LEAGUE
Venados de Mazatlan  4,  Tomateros de Culiacan  2  --  LF Rogelios Noris led off the top of the 6th with his 5th double of the season for Los Venados.  That sparked a 4-run rally, with three singles driving in three runs, and three walks forcing in a fourth run.  Former Pirate SS Luis Cruz drove in Culiacan's runs with a 2-run homer in the 4th.  

 

Cheering for Pirates' players and friends in Wednesday's winter league action (the new minor league free agents did not get into the games):

PUERTO RICAN LEAGUE
Criollos de Caguas  2,  Leones de Ponce  1 --  Not a lot of hitting or scoring here.  Ponce scored one run in the 3rd inning on a pair of doubles.  Los Criollos tied it up in the 6th with a walk, a single, and a throwing error.  3B Ramon Vazquez walked, then another single brought in the winning run.  SS Luis Figueroa singled in the 1st inning, but was left on base.  


VENEZUELAN LEAGUE
Caribes de Anzoategui  2,  Navegantes del Magallanes  1 --  Same thing in this game, not much offense.  The difference is that Los Caribes scored one run in two different innings -- a homer in the 2nd, and a double, a single, and an RBI grounder in the 7th.  Los Navegantes scored on a double and two wild pitches in the 6th.  Reliever Jean Machi pitched a perfect bottom of the 8th for Los Navegantes: two strikeouts and a ground out. 

Tiburones de La Guaira  5,  Aguilas del Zulia  4  --  This first game of a double-header was supposed to be only 7 innings, but the score was tied at 1-1 from the 5th through the 7th.  Los Tiburones scored 2 in the top of the 8th on a 2-run homer.  With Chris Hernandez on the mound for La Guaira, Los Aguilas responded with a 2-run homer in the bottom of the 8th, and Hernandez was charged with a Blown Save.  Then three singles gave La Guaira the go-ahead run again in the top of the 9th.  An error and a wild pitch added an insurance run, which they would need.  Zulia scored a run in the bottom of the inning on three singles, but their rally was cut short, and Los Tiburones held on for the win, credited to Hernandez.


DOMINICAN LEAGUE
Estrellas de Oriente  5,  Tigres del Licey  4  --  Los Tigres started the scoring in the 4th inning, on a single, a wild pitch, and an RBI single by Jake Fox.  Fox moved to second on an error on a pick-off attempt, then scored on an RBI single.  Robinzon Diaz also singled in the inning.  Diaz also singled in the 8th after a walk, and two errors on the play brought the run in.  A home run in the 6th gave Los Tigres one more run.  Los Estrellas scored one run in the 4th, and collected a 2-run homer in the 5th.  They took the lead in the bottom of the 8th on four singles.  

Toros del Este 10,  Aguilas Cibaenas  1  --  Los Aguilas scored one run on a triple and a sacrifice bunt in the 2nd inning, then gave up 10 unanswered runs, including 6 Toros' runs in the 8th inning.  SS Pedro Ciriaco walked in the 3rd inning but was out in a force play at second base.  He was 0-for-3 for the rest of the night.


MEXICAN PACIFIC LEAGUE
Tomateros de Culiacan 2,  Venados de Mazatlan  1 --  Los Venados were held to just 2 hits, and scored their only run in the 5th, on a walk, a stolen base, and an RBI ground out.  Culiacan's 2-run homer in the 2nd inning was all the scoring they needed.  LF Rogelios Noris came into the game as a late-inning defensive replacement, and struck out in his only plate appearance. 


AUSTRALIAN LEAGUE
The game between the Adelaide Bite and the Canberra Cavalry had to be postponed.  They will try for a double-header on Friday (early Friday morning for most of us).  The two teams are already scheduled to play a double-header on Saturday.
The Bite are reporting that the Pirates have signed reliever Jackson Lodge to a contract.  Lodge is a product of the Australian Baseball Academy, where he had a 2-3 record and a 2.03 ERA in 40 innings last year.  Lodge has pitched in 4 games for the Bite so far this season, with mixed results.  On Nov 13th, he pitched the 8th inning of the Bite's 8-3 win over Melbourne.  After striking out the first batter, Lodge gave up two doubles and two singles, for 2 runs.  On the 18th, he pitched to 4 batters in the Bite's win over Perth, and retired all four, including one strikeout.  Two days later, he earned a "Hold" in another victory over Perth, but he faced only two batters -- a ground out and a single, and that runner eventually came around to score.  On the 26th, Lodge came on in relief in the 4th when the starting pitcher had to leave the game due to an arm injury.  Lodge hit the first batter he faced, then ended the inning with a ground out.  But he got into trouble in the 5th, giving up 2 runs on a walk, three singles, and a sacrifice fly.  He retired two batters in the 6th, then was relieved.  It will be interesting to see where Lodge is assigned in the US -- the Pirates will surely be watching his progress in the ABL.



 

After having a Monday off, the winter leagues are back to action on Tuesday night, as we cheer on the Pirates' players and friends:

PUERTO RICAN LEAGUE
Leones de Ponce  1,  Gigantes de Carolina  0  --  After 10.5 scoreless innings, the only run of the game came in the bottom of the 11th.  A fielding error, a double, and and intentional walk loaded the bases for Los Leones, then a balk forced in the winning run.  Former Pirate farmhand RJ Rodriguez was the winning pitcher.  He threw two scoreless innings (9th and 10th) and was the pitcher of record when his teammates scored the winning run.  Los Gigantes was held to just 2 hits and 3 walks.  The hits were both singles, in the 1st and 2nd innings. 

Criollos de Caguas  3,  Senadores de San Juan  1  --  Former Indy Indian SS Luis Figueroa got the scoring started with a solo home run in the top of the 1st.  Figueroa led off the 4th with a single, then scored on an RBI double.  A single and two doubles added Caguas' third run in the 6th.  Figueroa collected his third hit of the game with a lead-off single in the 8th.  3B Ramon Vazquez went 0-for-4 for Los Criollos.  


DOMINICAN LEAGUE
Aguilas Cibaenas  5,  Toros del Este  3  --  SS Pedro Ciriaco had 2 of Los Toros' 8 hits.  He led off the bottom of the 6th with a single, then came around to score on a passed ball, a ground out, and an RBI single.  Los Toros added 2 more runs in the 7th, the first on a walk, a single, and a sacrifice fly.  Then Ciriaco drove in another run with his second single.  Los Aguilas scored 2 runs in each of the 4th and 5th, then one more in the 9th for the win.  

Tigres del Licey  6,  Estrellas de Oriente  5  --  Los Tigres were behind 5-0 going into the bottom of the 6th inning, when Indy area native DH Jake Fox put them onto the scoreboard with a 2-run homer.  C Robinzon Diaz led off the bottom of the 7th with a single, and two more runs scored that inning on another single and two errors.  Then Fox gave Los Tigres the win with another 2-run homer in the bottom of the 8th.  


MEXICAN PACIFIC LEAGUE
Venados de Mazatlan  5,  Tomateros de Culiacan  3  --  Los Venados held off late-inning rallies by Los Tomateros for the win.  LF Rogelios Noris singled in the game, but did not score.  

Not sure why the Venezuelan League info is not coming up.  Maybe more of that in the morning too.   --  7 am -- nope, still no info.  Odd.

A few signing notes for some former Pirates -- LHP Phil Dumatrait has signed a minor league contract with the Twins, and LHP Neal Cotts has signed a minor league contract with the Yankees.  OF Rajai Davis was traded from the A's to the Blue Jays.  

Sunday's winter league action involving a few Pirates' players and friends:

DOMINICAN LEAGUE
Aguilas Cibaenas  12,  Tigres del Licey  1 --  A 6-run 1st inning put the game into Los Aguilas' pocket right from the start.  Starling Marte came into the game in the 5th inning as a pinch runner (he didn't score), then remained in the game in left field.  He flied out in the 7th, then hit an RBI single in the 8th.  Denny Bautista was one of the few Licey pitchers who held Los Aguilas scoreless, as he threw a perfect top of the 9th for Los Tigres.  Indy area native Jake Fox went 0-for-4 for Los Tigres.


VENEZUELAN LEAGUE
Tiburones de La Guaira  6,  Tigres de Aragua  2 --  Los Tiburones scored 5 runs over the first 3 innings, and Los Tigres could only manage 2 runs.  In the top of the 1st, SS Ronny Cedeno followed a lead-off single with a sacrifice bunt, then another single brought in the first Aragua run.  Their second run came in the 6th inning, when Cedeno led off with a double into left field, and a few minutes later, 1B Hector Gimenez doubled into right field, bringing in Cedeno.  C Miguel Perez came in as a defensive replacement behind the plate, but flied out in his only plate appearance.  CF Jorge Cortes went 0-for-3 with a walk.  Former Pirate pitcher Chris Hernandez pitched the top of the 9th for La Guaira.  He gave up a walk, but then got Cortes to bounce into a double play to end the game.  

Cardenales de Lara  7,  Navegantes del Magallanes  2  --  Los Navegantes were also only able to put up 2 runs, one in the 2nd, and one in the 7th.  SS Argenis Diaz contributed one of Los Navegantes' 5 hits, but he did not score.  Corey Hamman pitched the 7th inning for Magallanes, and he gave up a solo home run.

Bravos de Margarita  2,  Aguilas de Zulia  1 --  Anthony Claggett won his second game in two days for Los Bravos, this time with one scoreless inning of work (it was 1.1 innings yesterday).  Los Bravos scored one run in the bottom of the 4th on a double, a single, and a grounder.  Los Aguilas tied the score in the top of the 6th, also with a single and a double.  Claggett took the mound to begin the 7th.  He gave up a lead-off single, then retired the next three batters he faced.  In the bottom of the inning, Los Bravos scored the go-ahead run on a single, a bunt, a wild pitch, and a sacrifice fly.  That made Claggett the pitcher of record.  Ronald Belisario pitched a perfect 9th inning for Margarita to collect his 10th save of the season.  

Looking in on the Pirates' players and friends in Saturday's winter league action...

PUERTO RICAN LEAGUE
Criollos de Caguas  2,  Gigantes de Carolina  1  --  A low-hitting game, and Caguas scored their 2 runs in the bottom of the 7th on two singles and some mistakes by Los Gigantes.  With the first two batters on base, SS Luis Figueroa bunted both into scoring position.  That put the runner on third base in position to score on a wild pitch.  Ramon Vazquez reached base on a fielding error at second base, which let the second run score.  Another wild pitch and a walk put two runners on base again, but no more runs scored.  Los Criollos also loaded the bases in the 3rd, on singles by Figueroa and Vazquez and a walk, and a walk and two more singles loaded the bases in the 6th, but both times the bases were left loaded.  Vazquez also walked in the 1st inning.   Los Gigantes' only run came in the 5th, on a single, a double by Luis Matos, and a sacrifice fly.  
 

VENEZUELAN LEAGUE
Navegantes del Magallanes  4,  Tigres de Aragua  0 -- Los Tigres could not score despite 7 hits and 2 walks.  RF Alex Romero had 3 of those 7 hits, and 1B Hector Gimenez had a single.  SS Ronny Cedeno, CF Jorge Cortes, and C Raul Chavez were all hitless in the game.  Los Navegantes scored all 4 of their runs in the top of the 2nd, on a solo homer, followed by four singles.  Corey Hamman pitched to one batter in the 6th, and gave up a single.  Two more walks loaded the bases for Magallanes, but the runners were left stranded.  Jean Machi pitched the 9th inning for Magallanes and gave up the single to Gimenez, but a double play erased Gimenez and ended the game.

Bravos de Margarita  6,  Aguilas del Zulia  4 --  Anthony Claggett earned his first Venezuelan League win with 1.1 scoreless innings for Margarita.  Los Bravos scored first, with a run in the bottom of the 1st, and Los Aguilas tied the score with one run in the top of the 2nd.  Zulia scored 2 more runs in the top of the 3rd on two walks and three singles, and Claggett was brought into the game with 2 runs in, one out, and the bases loaded.  he faced just one batter, and got the double play to end the inning.  Los Bravos' batters responded with 4 runs in the bottom of the 4th, on 4 singles, a walk, and a bases-clearing 3-RBI double.  That gave Los Bravos the lead, which they would not give up, and Claggett was the pitcher of record.  He began the top of the 4th with two outs, then a throwing error and a single put two runners on for Los Aguilas. Claggett was relieved at that point, but those runners did not score.  Ronald Belisario earned his 9th save for Margarita.  

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.  

Just a few game results for the Pirates' players and friends in Thursday's winter league action:

MEXICAN PACIFIC LEAGUE
Venados de Mazatlan  3,  Yaquis de Obregon  1 --  Los Venados' bats were quiet until the 5th inning, when LF Rogelios Noris followed a one-out walk with a double, giving Mazatlan 2 runners in scoring position.  A single by SS Heber Gomez drove in both runners.  Obregon got one of the runs back in the top of the 6, but Mazatlan added an insurance run in the bottom of the inning with two singles and a sacrifice fly.  CF Jeff Salazar walked twice for Obregon but did not score.

AUSTRALIAN LEAGUE
Perth Heat  9,  Adelaide Bite  3 --  The Bite posted 12 hits, but could only score in one inning, and the Heat sealed their win with a 5-run 8th inning early on Friday morning.  Adelaide tried to threaten in the bottom of the 1st.  With a runner on 1st after a single and a grounder force out at second,  LF Quincy Latimore grounded to third, which resulted in another force out at second, but Latimore safe at first.  But Latimore was picked off first to end the inning.  Latimore doubled in the 4th inning, but was left on base, as were Bite baserunners in the 2nd, 5th, and 7th innings.  Latimore singled in the 6th, but that time he was erased in a double play.  Finally in the 8th inning, a double and two singles brought in one run for Adelaide.  Latimore followed with another grounder force out at second, which drove in a run and again left Latimore on first base.  Another double let him score from first, and that was all the runs Adelaide would score.  Perth scored 2 runs in the 2nd on a home run, and 2 more in the 5th on three singles, a walk, and a sacrifice fly.  Adelaide pitching fell apart in the top of the 8th, when four walks and a wild pitch aided a double and two singles to bring in 5 runs.  

 

Happy Thanksgiving to all!  
Everyone has probably seen that Zach Duke has been traded to Arizona for a player to be named later.
Also, former Pirate Bryan Bullington, who was removed from the Kansas City Royals' 40-man roster last week, was released by the Royals yesterday.  Then Bullington signed a contract to play in Japan for the Hiroshima Toyo Carp for 2011.

Cheering for Pirates' players and friends in the winter leagues on Wednesday..... 

VENEZUELAN LEAGUE
Tiburones de La Guaira  4,  Bravos de Margarita  1  (Game 1)  --  This was supposed to be a 7-inning game, but the score was still tied at 1-1 after 7.  A bases-loaded walk forced in Los Bravos' run in the bottom of the 1st.  Los Tiburones tied the score with a run on a single, a ground out, and another single in the 3rd.  Anthony Claggett had pitched a scoreless 7th inning -- he gave up a single, but then picked the base runner off first.  But he started the top of the 8th with a single and a sacrifice bunt, and was then relieved.  The next pitcher loaded the bases with a pair of walks, then he was relieved too.  Two singles and a sacrifice fly brought in 3 runs for Los Tiburones, with the first one charged to Claggett, making him responsible for the loss.  Margarita won the second game 3-0, holding Los Tiburones to just 3 hits in the 7-inning game.  Former Pirate farmhand Ronald Belisario allowed one of the hits along with a walk in the 7th inning, earning his 8th save.

Tigres de Aragua  7,  Navegantes del Magallanes  5  --  Both SS Ronny Cedeno and 1B Hector Gimenez hit 2-run homers for Los Tigres in this win.  Gimenez's blast got Aragua going in their 4-run 1st inning, and Cedeno's homer made the score 6-1 in the 2nd inning.  Gimenez also doubled in the game.  CF Jorge Cortes walked and scored for Los Tigres, and C Raul Chavez was 0-for-3 at the plate.  

Pirates' infielder Benji Gonzalez is on the roster for Los Gigantes de Carolina in the Puerto Rican League.  He has not been seeing a lot of playing time, but he did get into the game on the 17th, starting at second base.  Gonzalez went 0-for-4 and struck out 3 times.  Los Indios de Mayaguez beat Los Gigantes 6-5.  
Ramon Vazquez has not been playing a lot either.  He was at third base for Los Criollos de Caguas on Sunday, and went 0-for-3 with 2 walks.  He led off the 4th inning with a walk, and he later scored when another walk with the bases loaded forced him in from third base.  Carolina beat Caguas 5-4, when a hit batter forced in the winning run in the bottom of the 10th.  
Vazquez went 1-for-3 on Tuesday night, as Los Criollos beat Los Senadores de San Juan 4-1.  Caguas scored 2 runs in the bottom of the 1st.  Former Indy Indian SS Luis Figueroa singled with one out, then moved to second base on a passed ball.  Vazquez walked, then an RBI single plated Figueroa and put Vazquez on third.  A sacrifice fly brougth in Vazquez.  Figueroa had his second single of the game in the 3rd inning, and he scored on an RBI double.  Both Figueroa and Vazquez singled with two outs in the 7th, but that time they were both left on base.  A solo home run gave Los Criollos their final run in the 8th.  San Juan scored their one run in the top of the 5th. 

Pirates' Rogelios Noris has not gotten into any games for his hometown Venados de Mazatlan in the Mexican Pacific League since he pinch-ran and scored in the game against Guasave on the 14th.  

Sunday's winter league action with the Pirates' players and friends...
As usual, the Arizona Fall League has Sunday off.  Guess who is leading the AFL in RBI?  That's right, it's OF Andrew Lambo.
The Australian League also has a few days off, with the Adelaide Bite and Quincy Latimore back in action on Wednesday.


 VENEZUELAN LEAGUE
 
Tigres de Aragua  6,  Cardenales de Lara  4  --  A 4-run 4th inning gave Los Tigres the edge over Los Cardenales.  A pair of singles opened the inning, then after a fly out, CF Jorge Cortes loaded the bases with a single into right field.   Lara changed pitchers, but he gave up three more singles.  The first drove in one run, then SS Ronny Cedeno singled in two more runs.  A passed ball put runners onto second and third bases, and RF/LF Lastings Milledge's single drove in the fourth run of the inning.  Los Tigres' first run came on a solo home run that opened the game in the top of the 1st.  Cedeno singled and Milledge walked after the home run, but they did not score in that inning.  Aragua added a run on a double and a fielding error in the 2nd inning.  Cedeno also singled in the 3rd inning, for a total of 3 hits in the game.  C Raul Chavez was hitless in 5 at-bats.  Lara also scored one run in the 1st inning, to tie the score.  Los Cardenales took a 3-2 lead with 2 runs in the bottom of the 3rd, but that lead lasted only a few minutes, until Aragua scored 4 in the 4th.  

Aguilas del Zulia  10,  Navegantes del Magallanes  4  --  Los Aguilas also had a 4-run inning, the 9th, to cap their scoring and take the win.  LF Mike Ryan singled in the 1st inning for Magallanes but did not come around to score.  Magallanes scored one run in the 3rd and another in the 4th.  In the 9th, Los Navegantes loaded the bases on two singles and a walk, then scored one run on SS Argenis Diaz's sacrifice fly.  Another single plated one more run, but a double play ended the rally.  


Los Bravos de Margarita are reporting that manager Luis Dorante has been hospitalized with kidney failure.  He will be out for two weeks.

Left over from late Friday night and early Saturday morning:

AUSTRALIAN LEAGUE

Adelaide Bite  13,  Melbourne Aces 2  (Game 1) --  The Bite continued chomping on the Aces in this 7-inning game.  LF Quincy Latimore got the scoring started for Adelaide in the bottom of the 1st with a 3-run homer that followed a pair of lead-off singles.  The Aces scored one run in the 2nd when two singles and two hit batters forced in a run.  A single, a stolen base, and two ground outs gave Melbourne another run in the 3rd, bringing the score to 3-2.  It was all Adelaide after that.  In the 4th, a single, a balk, and a hit batter put two runners on base, and RBI singles by 3B Stefan Welch and Latimore brought in 2 runs.  The Bite batted around in the 5th to plate 5 runs.  A throwing error, a walk, another balk, an RBI single and a 2 RBI double brought in 3 runs.  At that point, the Melbourne pitcher was ejected from the game.  Latimore reached on a throwing error, which added 2 more runs.  Another 2-RBI double and a sacrifice fly gave the Bite 3 runs in the 6th inning.

Bite   8,  Aces  3  (Game 2)  --  It didn't get any better for Melbourne in the night-cap, though they did post more hits (10).  Adelaide starter Dushan Ruzic scattered 5 hits over the first 6 innings, then gave up one run on a walk, a single, and a sacrifice fly in the 7th.  Two doubles and two singles gave the Aces their other 2 runs in the 8th.  The Bite bats were also quiet for the first three innings, then LF Quincy Latimore started pounding the ball again in the 4th.  His 2-run homer got things started, and the Bite added another run on a double and a single for a 3-0 lead.  Latimore's second homer of the game and third of the day opened the 6th inning.  Then he picked up his fourth RBI of the game in the bottom of the 7th inning.  A walk, a wild pitch, and two throwing errors gave Adelaide one run, then another walk and Latimore's RBI grounder plated the second run of the inning.  Three singles plus a wild pitch and a passed ball added 2 more runs to the Bite's total in the 8th inning, to give the Bite a 4-0 record in the new season. 

Quincy Latimore currently has a .429 average (third best in the league).  He leads the ABL with 3 homers, and teammate Ben Wigmore is next with 2.  Latimore and Wigmore also top the RBI list -- 8 for Latimore and 6 for Wigmore.  Guess who's on top of the SLG list?  Latimore with 1.071 and Wigmore with .933.  OPS?  1.601 for Latimore, 1.404 for Wigmore.  Yes, a very small sample, but we can enjoy it while it lasts.

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MEXICAN PACIFIC LEAGUE

Algondoneros de Guasave  16,  Venados de Mazatlan  1  --  It's the start of deer season in Indiana, and somehow that must have translated down to Mexico.  Guasave posted 21 hits, with each member of the starting line-up collecting at least one hit.  Yurendell de Caster contributed a 3-run homer in Guasave's 6-run 7th inning.  Los Venados scored only one run, which (briefly) tied the score in the 2nd inning.  Rogelios Noris came in as a defensive replacement later in the game, and he had a hit in his only plate appearance.