Tag: Starling Marte

Cheering for some Pirates' players and friends in Friday's winter league action:

VENEZUELAN LEAGUE
Leones del Caracas  6,  Tigres de Aragua  4  --  Caracas won this battle of the Big Cats.  Los Leones scored first with a solo homer in the top of the 1st.  Los Tigres tied it up in the 2nd inning.  Two singles, including one by 1B Hector Gimenez, and a throwing error put runners on second and third bases.  LF  Lastings Milledge drove in the run with a ground out to third.  Caracas took the lead again in the top of the 3rd, with a walk, a ground out, and an RBI single.  The batter was out at second as he tried to advance on the throw to the plate:  CF Jorge Cortes to C Raul Chavez to SS Ronny Cedeno, who tagged the runner out.  Aragua took a 4-2 lead in the bottom of the 3rd, with a 3-run homer, after Chavez reached on a fielding error, a single, and Cedeno's sacrifice bunt.  But Los Leones came right back with their own homer for 2 runs in the top of the 4th, then took the lead with another run on two singles.  They added an insurance run in the top of the 9th, on two singles and a throwing error.  Los Tigres did not score again, though Milledge singled in the 4th, Cedeno singled in the 5th, and Cortes singled in the 7th.

PUERTO RICAN LEAGUE
Gigantes de Carolina  8,  Criollos de Caguas  3  --  Los Criollos managed only 5 hits, and two of those were by SS Luis Figueroa.  Figueroa singled in the 3rd, and along with two more singles and two walks, Los Criollos scored 2 runs.  Figueroa also reached on an error in the 4th, and that allowed Los Criollos' remaining run to score.  He also singled in the 9th.  3B Ramon Vazquez went 0-for-4 for Caguas.  Los Gigantes scored 2 runs in the 2nd and 4th innings, then added 4 runs in the 7th inning.   



DOMINICAN LEAGUE
Aguilas Cibaenas  10,  Tigres del Licey  3  --  Los Tigres posted 10 hits but left 11 runners on base, scoring only 3 times.  Licey scored a run in the 3rd on two singles and a sacrifice fly.  LF Jake Fox and two others singled in the 7th, and one run scored when C Robinzon Diaz bounced into a double play.  A single and a double gave Los Tigres their last run in the 8th.  Diaz singled for Los Tigres in the 2nd inning, but DH Ronny Paulino (who just signed a contract with the Mets) went 0-for-3 with a walk.  Los Aguilas put up their first run in the 4th, tying the game on two singles, a walk, and a wild pitch.  Then they put the game out of reach with 4 runs in the 6th and 3 runs in the 7th.  Denny Bautista came on to pitch for Licey in the 7th, and he gave up a walk and a 2-RBI double.  Starling Marte scored one of those runs, since he had just come in to pinch-run.  Marte remained in the game to play right field.  He batted again in the 9th, and reached base on a fielding error, though was out on a force play at second.  A walk and a single brought in two more Aguilas' runs in the 9th.  LF Kevin Melillo went 0-for-3 for Los Aguilas.    

Two pitching acquisitions for the Pirates at the winter meetings, though both should remain at the major league level, with no impact on the minor league part of the organization:
RHP Kevin Correia is a 30-year old San Diego native, who came up through the Giants' organization, but pitched for his home-town Padres for the past two seasons.  In 61 games (all but 2 were starts) for the Padres, he earned a 22-21 record and 4.54 ERA.  In 343 innings, he allowed 346 hits and walked 128 batters, while striking out 256.
LHP Scott Olsen will turn 27 next month.  The Michigan native came up in the Marlins' organization and was traded to the Nationals at the end of 2008.  He has spent a lot of the past two seasons on the DL with left shoulder issues, so that over those two seasons he made only 28 appearances (2 in relief) for the Nats.  He has a 6-12 record and a 5.79 ERA in those games.  In 143 innings at the major league level, he allowed 176 hits and 52 walks, and struck out 95.  

Other news:
Former Pirate farmhand RHP Jimmy Barthmaier signed a minor league contract to return to the Nationals. 
Former Pirate INF Ty Wigginton is signing a contract with the Rockies.  

Just a little bit of winter league action on Tuesday, involving Pirates' players and friends:

DOMINICAN LEAGUE
Aguilas Cibaenas  3,  Leones del Escogido  2  --  Los Aguilas scored 2 runs in the 4th inning, and that gave them all the runs they needed.  Indy Indians'  Kevin Melillo, in his first game with Los Aguilas, started the rally with a double, then scored on a 2-run homer.  He went 1-for-3 in the game.  Starling Marte came into the game as a pinch-hitter and remained in to play center field.  Marte struck out in both of his at-bats.  

Tigres del Licey  3,  Toros del Este  0  --  Los Tigres scored all of their runs in the top of the 5th.  Indy area native LF/1B Jake Fox led off with a double, then 3B Andy Marte moved Fox to third with a sacrifice bunt.  After a walk, a double plated Fox.  Another single brought in the second run, and a sacrifice fly added the third run.  DH Ronny Paulino went 0-for-4 for Los Tigres.  SS Pedro Ciriaco singled for Los Toros in the bottom of the 8th, but was erased with a double play.  


VENEZUELAN LEAGUE
Aguilas de Zulia  5,  Navegantes del Magallanes  4   --  This game was tied at 2-2 going into the top of the 7th.  A single, a sacrifice bunt, and an intentional walk gave Los Aguilas two on and one out.  A grounder produced a force out at second base and gave Zulia runners on the corners.  Los Navegantes' Corey Hamman was brought in to get the last out of the inning.  The only batter he faced lifted a fly ball into center field, but the ball was misplayed, and the error allowed 2 runs to score.  Hamman was relieved, and a strikeout ended the inning, with Los Aguilas ahead 4-2.  Los Navegantes tied the score again in the bottom of the 9th, on a walk, two singles, and an RBI ground out, sending the game into extra innings.  Jean Machi came in to pitch for Los Navegantes, and he gave up the go-ahead run on a walk, a sacrifice bunt, and a single.  Two walks in the bottom of the inning gave Los Navegantes one more chance to catch up, but a double play ended the inning without a run scoring. 

MLB's winter meetings begin tomorrow (Monday).  Stay tuned for news of trades, moves, shifts, Rule 5 draft, etc.  
A few of Sunday's winter league games with Pirates' players and friends participating:

VENEZUELAN LEAGUE
Cardenales de Lara  3,  Bravos de Margarita 1  --  Anthony Claggett pitched 4 innings in his start for Los Bravos, and allowed one unearned run on a hit and a walk in the night-cap of a double-header.  The run came in the bottom of the 1st, when a single and a throwing error at third base put the lead-off runner on second base.  A sacrifice bunt and an RBI ground out brought in the unearned run.  After a walk, Claggett retired 10 of the 11 remaining batters he faced -- he hit one batter with a pitch.  Los Bravos scored their run in the top of the 1st, on a double, a bunt, and a sacrifice fly.  Claggett left the game with the score tied.  He was relieved by Edgar Martinez, who began the bottom of the 5th by allowing a walk, a sacrifice bunt, and a 2-run homer, which gave Lara the win.  

Aguilas de Zulia  6,  Tigres de Aragua  1  --  SS Ronny Cedeno and CF Lastings Milledge each had a single in the 8th inning, and Milledge also walked in the 4th, but neither came around to score in Los Tigres' loss.  Aragua's only run was scored in the top of the 9th, on a triple and an RBI single.  Zulia scored their 6 runs on 13 hits, scattered over 5 of their 8 at-bats.  C Raul Chavez, C Miguel Perez, and pinch-hitter Jorge Cortes were all hitless for Los Tigres.  

Leones del Caracas   8,  Navegantes del Magallanes  4  --  Corey Hamman pitched a scoreless inning for Los  Navegantes in their loss.  Caracas had already scored 2 runs in each of the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 5th innings, and Los Navegantes had scored a pair of runs on a 2-run homer in the 4th and one more run in the 7th on a double, a single, and an RBI ground out.  The first batter in the top of the 8th was hit by a pitch, and Hamman entered the game with that runner on first base.  He gave up a walk but retired three batters to get out of the inning without allowing a run to score.  Los Navegantes scored one more run in the bottom of the 9th on a hit batter and two singles, but it wasn't enough.

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.  

Looking in on the Pirates' players and friends in the Dominican League over the past few days...

Starling Marte went 1-for-4 for Los Aguilas Cibaenas on the 17th.  After reaching base on a grounder force out,  he scored one of the 4 runs in the 3rd inning.  Then Marte singled in a run in the 8th inning, as Los Aguilas beat Escogido 7-2.  The next night, Marte grounded out in the 2nd inning, then was removed from the game in the middle of the top of the 4th -- no explanation given. 
SS Pedro Ciriaco beat out an infield hit in his one plate appearance as a late-inning defensive replacement for Los Toros del Este on the 17th.  On Sunday, Ciriaco singled in the 3rd inning, then scored on a triple, as Los Toros beat Los Gigantes 7-3.  
Mike Dubee earned the win for Los Gigantes del Cibao on the 19th, beating Los Tigres del Licey 12 - 10.  Los Gigantes jumped out to a big lead with a 6-run 1st inning, and they added 4 runs in the 5th and 2 in the 8th.  Licey scored 4 runs in both the 4th and 7th, and one run in each of the 5th and the 9th.  Dubee came into the game in the 5th with two runners on base and one out.  He gave up an RBI single to Indy area native Jake Fox, then ended the inning with a grounder force out and a strikeout.  Dubee then pitched a 1-2-3 inning in the 6th.  Los Gigantes scored 4 runs in the bottom of the 5th, and Dubee was the pitcher of record.  
C Jason Jaramillo went 0-for-2 for Los Toros on the 19th. He has not been getting much playing time lately.  

Tuesday's action:
Tigres del Licey  7,  Gigantes del Cibao  6  --  A double, an intentional walk, and an RBI single gave Licey the walk-off win in the bottom of the 11th.  Los Gigantes started things with a 5-run 1st inning, on an RBI double, a 2-run homer, and a pair of singles.  A sacrifice fly brought in another run in the 5th.  Los Tigres caught up with 2 runs in the 1st and one in the 2nd, then a 3-run homer by 1B Jake Fox in the 7th.  Unfortunately, that homer came off Mike Dubee, who had just entered the game in relief of Juan Perez.  Dubee was charged with a Blown Save.  

Cheering for the Pirates' players and friends in Tuesday's winter league action...
I'll be going on the road for a few days... catch up with everyone at the beginning of next week.


VENEZUELAN LEAGUE

Cardenales de Lara  6,  Tigres de Aragua  2  --  Los Tigres were held to 5 hits.  They scored their 2 runs in the 7th inning on a walk, a triple, and a single.  Aragua also had two singles in the 3rd inning but didn't score, and 3 walks in the 6th, but a double play and a pop out ended that inning without a run scoring.  Los Tigres' only other hit in the game was a double by 1B Hector Gimenez to lead off the 9th inning.  Raul Chavez pinch hit in the 9th, but popped out to end the game.  Lastings Milledge started the game in left field, and popped out to end the 2nd inning (with no runners on base).  He was removed from the game as the bottom half of the inning began, but no explanation was given.  CF Jorge Cortes went 0-for-3 for Los Tigres.  Former Indy Indian C Alex Delgado had an RBI single in the 4th for Lara, and doubled and scored on a 2-run homer in the 6th. 

Bravos de Margarita  2,  Navegantes del Magallanes  1  --  Pitching ruled for the first 6 innings of this game.  Margarita scored a run in the 7th on two singles and added another run in the 8th on a walk and two more singles.  Los Navegantes scored just one run, which came in the bottom of the 9th, on a walk and a double.  Justin Thomas took the mound in relief for Los Bravos to begin the bottom of the 5th.  He worked around a lead-off single for a scoreless 5th, then loaded the bases on two singles, a sacrifice bunt, and an intentional walk to begin the 6th inning.  Edgar Martinez relieved Thomas and got a strikeout and pop out to end the inning with the bases still loaded.  Ronald Belisario earned his 7th save for Margarita, even though he was responsible for Los Navegantes' run in the 9th.  

Leones del Caracas  5,  Caribes del Anzoategui  4  --  Four runs in the top of the 9th were not enough for Los Caribes to catch up to Los Leones.  Adenson Chourio came into the game to pinch-run in the 9th, with the bases loaded and one run already walked in.  A double lined into center field scored the runners from second and third, but Chourio was out at the plate on the throw in from center field.  C Carlos Maldonado was the one who tagged out Chourio.  Maldonado's lead-off homer in the 8th gave Caracas what turned out to be the winning run.  He also singled in the 2nd and walked in the 6th.   

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

PUERTO RICAN LEAGUE

Gigantes de Carolina  5,  Senadores de San Juan  4  --  Los Gigantes plated a run in the bottom of the 11th inning for the walk-off win.  Carolina posted 15 hits, and 3 of those were by LF/RF Luis Matos.  Benji Gonzalez came into the game to pinch-hit in the 8th inning, when he put down a sacrifice bunt in the rally that tied the game and eventually sent it into extra innings.  Gonzalez remained in the game to play second base.  He struck out in his only other plate appearance.   

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VENEZUELAN LEAGUE

Bravos de Margarita  2,  Tigres de Aragua  1  --  A solo home run by Margarita's DH Frank Diaz in the bottom of the 9th gave the win to Los Bravos.  Los Tigres scored their only run in the 6th inning, when C Raul Chavez singled and came around to score on an RBI double.  Margarita tied the score in the 7th with an RBI single.  Chavez had a pair of singles in the game.  LF Lastings Milledge and CF Jorge Cortes each had a single in the game.  1B Hector Gimenez was 0-for-4.  Ronny Cedeno came in to pinch-run for Chavez after his single in the 8th, but did not score.  Miguel Perez took over behind the plate for the rest of the game.  Margarita's Andy LaRoche did not get into the game. 

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Winter league action with the Pirates' players and friends on Wednesday...

VENEZUELAN LEAGUE

Tigres de Aragua� 6,� Bravos de Margarita� 0� (Game 1) -- SS Ronny Cedeno's 3-run homer in the 4th inning put the game away for Los Tigres.� Aragua scored one run in each of the first three innings.� A single, a sacrifice bunt by Cedeno, and an RBI single by DH Hector Gimenez plated the run in the 1st inning.� A walk, a single by CF Jorge Cortes, and an RBI ground out brought in the run in the 2nd.� Gimenez also drove in the run in the 3rd with another RBI single.� LF/RF Lastings Milledge was hitless in this game, as was Margarita's 3B Andy LaRoche. Los Bravos were held to just 3 hits.

Tigres de Aragua� 2,� Bravos de Margarita� 0� (Game 2)� -- RF Lastings Milledge blasted a solo homer over the left field wall in the top of the 1st, and that was all the scoring Los Tigres needed.� Milledge added another RBI in the 7th inning with a single to give Aragua some insurance, and he also walked in the 3rd inning.� Los Tigres needed only 5 hits in the game, with 1B Hector Gimenez getting one of those.� CF Jorge Cortes walked in three trips to the plate, but SS Cedeno and C Raul Chavez were both hitless.� 3B Andy LaRoche singled to lead off the 2nd inning for Margarita, but did not score.

Aguilas de Zulia� 5,� Navegantes del Magallanes� 1� -- DH Mike Ryan scored Magallanes' only run, which came in the 6th inning, when he singled, then scored on an RBI double.� Ryan also singled in the 1st inning.� Zulia scored one run in both the 1st and 2nd innings, then 2 more in the 6th, and one in the 7th.� Corey Hamman took the mound in relief in the 7th, with two outs and a runner on 2nd base.� He gave up an RBI single to the only batter he faced, though the run was charged to the previous pitcher.

Cheering for some Pirates' players and friends in Tuesday's winter league action...�� The Australians are back in action on Thursday, which will be late Wednesday night/early Thursday morning for most of us.

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VENEZUELAN LEAGUE

Tigres de Aragua� 6,� Bravos de Margarita� 0� -- A Pirate-filled game... 2B/3B Andy LaRoche singled twice and walked for Los Bravos, but his teammates could not get him or anyone else pushed across the plate.� LaRoche singled to lead off the 2nd inning, went to second on a fielding error, and to third on a wild pitch, but he was out at the plate on what seems to have been a wild pitch or passed ball.� LaRoche worked the second of two walks in the 4th inning, but was erased in an inning-ending double play.� Another double play took him off the bases in the 9th, after another lead-off single.� Meanwhile, the Pirates playing for Los Tigres also got off to a frustrating start.� DH Hector Gimenez walked in the 2nd, and LF Lastings Milledge followed by beating out a tapper back to the mound.� But a double play ended that inning without a run scoring.� It got better in the 5th, when Milledge walked, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt, then scored on CF Jorge Cortes' RBI double into right field.� A single and a home run by C Wilson Ramos gave Los Tigres 2 more runs in the 6th.� In the 8th, with two on (walk and single) and two outs, Jhonathan Ramos came on to pitch for Los Bravos.� Gimenez was the first batter he faced� -- and he blasted a 3-run over the left field wall, to give Aragua a 6-0 lead.� Ramos got Milledge to ground out to end the inning, and he was relieved for the next inning.� So, one hit each for Gimenez, Milledge, and Cortes, but an 0-for-4 night for SS Ronny Cedeno.

Caribes de Anzoategui� 7,� Tiburones de La Guaira� 1� -- The score was tied at 1-1 going into the bottom of the 8th, when Los Caribes exploded for 6 runs.� After a lead-off double, Adenson Chourio was brought in to pinch-hit.� He was intentionally walked, and a sacrifice bunt put both runners into scoring position.� Another intentional walk loaded the bases, then an unintentional walk forced in the go-ahead run.� An RBI grounder plated Chourio, then back-to-back homers, 3-run and solo, gave Los Caribes all the insurance they would need.

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The Pirates have signed reliever Justin Thomas to a minor league contract for the 2011 season.� Thomas was removed from the Pirates' 40-man roster at the end of the 2010 season.� He has been pitching for Los Bravos de Margarita, where he has made 5 appearances, for 12.1 innings.� He has a 0-2 record with a 6.57 ERA.

AFL:� Scottsdale Scorpions� 8,� Mesa Solar Sox� 3

The Solar Sox scored their runs on 3B Brandon Wood's 3-run homer in the 7th inning, and that was all the scoring they managed, despite having at least one runner on base in all but one inning.� The Solar Sox threatened in the 4th inning when C Tony Sanchez walked and RF Andrew Lambo singled, but neither came around to score.�� The Scorpions did their scoring early, with 2 runs in the 2nd and 3 runs in the 3rd all off starter Robert Carson (Mets), who surrendered 8 hits.� The Scorpions added another 3 runs in the 4th inning off reliever Eric Niesen (Mets), on a homer, a walk, a single, a double, and a sacrifice fly.� David Cales (Cubs) finished the 4th and pitched a scoreless 5th for Mesa.� Nicholas Carr (Mets) threw 2 scoreless innings, and Brian Leach followed with a scoreless 8th, with one walk.� Robert Fish (Angels) wrapped things up for Mesa with a scoreless 9th.

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DOMINICAN LEAGUE

Toros del Este� 8,� Leones del Escogido� 1 -- C Jason Jaramillo singled and doubled for Los Toros, and the double drove in a run for Los Toros in the 6th inning.� SS Pedro Ciriaco was hitless in 5 trips to the plate.� He committed one of Los Toros' 4 errors, though his error did not lead to Los Leones' run.

Tigres del Licey� 7,� Aguilas Cibaenas� 5� -- C Luke Carlin and CF Starling Marte each had one hit for Los Aguilas, who could not stand up to Los Tigres' 3 runs over the final two inning of the game.� Carlin walked and Marte reached on a fielding error in the 2nd inning, and in the 4th, Carlin singled and Marte bunted him to second base, but they did not score in either of those innings.� Marte doubled to lead off the 6th inning, and he came around to score in that inning.� C Robinzon Diaz doubled to lead off the 5th inning for Los Tigres, and he scored on two singles and a ground out.

Estrellas de Oriente� 7,� Gigantes del Cibao� 5� -- Franquelis Osoria had the win for Los Estrellas, as he was the pitcher of record when his teammates scored 4 runs in the top of the 9th.� Mike Dubee pitched a total of 2 innings for Los Gigantes.� He entered the game in the 6th inning with one on and one out, then ended the inning by picking the runner of first and then striking out the next batter.� Dubee retired the side in the 7th, then began the 8th with a ground out and a hit batter, before being relieved.� (That runner did not score.)

PUERTO RICAN LEAGUE

Gigantes de Carolina� 3,� Criollos de Caguas� 0� -- 2B Benji Gonzalez had two singles for Los Gigantes, though he was not involved with the scoring.� The only runs of the game came in the top of the 5th, on a 3-run homer for Los Gigantes.� SS Luis Figueroa had one hit, and 3B Ramon Vazquez collected 2 singles for Los Criollos.

Cheering for Pirates' players and friends in Sunday's winter league games...

VENEZUELAN LEAGUE

Leones del Caracas� 9,� Bravos de Margarita� 2� -- Caracas began the game with 2 runs in the bottom of the 1st, and kept right on rolling, with a run in the 3rd, 2 in the 4th , and 4 in the 5th.� In the 5th, Margarita reliever Jhonathan Ramos enterd the game with one run already scored, a runner on second base, and no outs.� He made a missed catch error while covering first base for the first batter he faced, which allowed the base runner to score.� Then Ramos gave up a double and a single, and two more runs came in.� A double play and a tapper back to the mound ended the inning.� Margarita's first run came in the 4th inning, when LF Frank Diaz tripled, and 3B Andy LaRoche brought him in with a sacrifice fly.� Los Bravos scored again in the 5th inning on a pair of doubles.� LaRoche also walked in the 6th inning, but was earased in a double play.

Navegantes del Magallanes� 5,� Tigres de Aragua� 4� -- Aragua jumped out to a 3-0 start in the top of the 1st.� A lead-off double was followed by a sacrifice bunt by SS Ronny Cedeno, and an RBI single by LF Lastings Milledge. DH Hector Gimenez brought in Milledge with a 2-run homer.� Magallanes brought Corey Hamman on in relief to begin the 3rd inning, and Hamman allowed Aragua only one hit over the next three innings.� He then began the top of the 6th by giving up a double, then a sacrifice bunt by Gimenez.� Hamman was relieved, and one more run scored on a walk and a sacrifice fly.� Then in the bottom of the inning, Magallanes started their come-back.� Brian Bass had pitched 5 scoreless innings for Los Tigres (allowing just 2 hits and 4 walks), and Los Navegantes had to wait until Bass was relieved to start their rallies.� A single, a walk to DH Mike Ryan, then three more walks forced in two runs in the 6th.� A hit batter, another walk to Ryan, a wild pitch, and an RBI ground out got Los Navegantes within one run of Los Tigres.� In the bottom of the 8th, two lead-off singles and a sacrifice bunt put two Navegantes' runners into scoring position.� The next batter dropped another sacrifice bunt, which Aragua reliever Rich Rundles picked up and threw away, allowing two runs to score, to give Magallanes the win.� Aragua CF Jorge Cortes also singled and doubled in the game but didn't score.