Just a little winter league action for Pirates’ players and friends on Sunday:
VENEZUELAN LEAGUE
Aguilas de Zulia 8, Caribes de Anzoategui 6
A 5-run inning by Los Aguilas was too much for Los Caribes to overcome. Zulia scored single runs in the 1st, 3rd, and 6th innings. Former Pirate C Carlos Maldonado contributed a walk in the 6th. Los Caribes tied the score with single runs in each of the 5th, 7th, and 8th. Solo homers accounted for Los Caribes’ first two runs, and a single, a sacrifice bunt, and a sacrifice fly gave them their run in the 8th. Zulia exploded in the bottom of the 8th, loading the bases on two walks (another by Maldonado) and a single. A double drove in 2 runs, and a 3-run homer gave Los Aguilas an 8-3 lead. Los Caribes rallied in the top of the 9th, with Pirates’ Diego Moreno taking the mound for Zulia. Moreno faced four batters — a double, a walk, a strikeout, and another walk to load the bases. That was all for Moreno, but he was responsible for all three base runners. The new reliever walked the first batter he faced, forcing in one run. A single drove in two more runs before the inning ended, with Los Caribes still two runs short.
DOMINICAN LEAGUE
Leones del Escogido 9, Toros del Este 2
Los Leones scored in six of their eight batting opportunities, taking advantage of 4 errors by Los Toros. Los Toros got off to a good start with a run on two doubles in the top of the 1st. Escogido responded with 2 runs in the bottom of the 1st, plus a run in each of the 2nd and 3rd innings. They added 2 more in the 5th and one in the 6th, and two again in the 7th. Los Toros managed one more run in the top of the 7th, with a triple and an RBI ground out. 3B Matt Hague reached base on a fielding error in that inning, but did not come around to score. Hague went 0-for-3 in his other at-bats. Pirates’ Andy Vasquez entered the game as a replacement for Hague at third base; he struck out in his only trip to the plate.
