Back from a few days away, and ready to check back in with the Pirates’ players and friends in winter league action… Thanks to Tim for filling in this week!
VENEZUELAN LEAGUE
Leones del Caracas 6, Aguilas del Zulia 1
CF Corey Wimberly continued his hot Venezuelan League start with 2 hits for 2 RBI. He singled with the bases loaded in the 2nd inning to drive in the first of Los Leones’ two runs in that inning. Wimberly singled to begin a one-run rally in the top of the 4th, and he scored on a wild pitch. Two doubles and a single brought in two runs in the top of the 5th, and Wimberly added a run with a sacrifice fly. In his first three games with Los Leones, Wimberly is 4-for-13 at the plate, with a 308 average.
Caribes de Anzoategui 6, Tigres de Aragua 4
Los Caribes scored 2 runs in the top of the 3rd, then added 4 runs in the top of the 4th. With two runs already in, CF Gorkys Hernandez reached on a force attempt/throwing error, allowing the third run of the inning to score. Hernandez was caught stealing second base, and the runner on third scored while Hernandez was in a run-down. Hernandez singled to begin the 7th inning, and that time he safely stole second, but was left stranded. Former Pirates 1B Hector Gimenez and RF Jonel Pacheco each had a hit in the game for Los Tigres, and Gimenez scored a run. CF Lastings Milledge went 0-for-4.
DOMINICAN LEAGUE
Toros del Este 3, Leones del Escogido 2
Los Toros scored one run in each of the 2nd, 5th, and 6th, while Los Leones scored one run in the 4th and 6th. SS Pedro Ciriaco and 1B Matt Hague were both hitless in a total of 7 at-bats for Los Toros, though Hague walked in the top of the 1st. 3B Andy Marte went 0-for-3 for Los Leones.
PUERTO RICAN LEAGUE
Indios de Mayaguez 8, Leones de Ponce 6
Los Indios scored 2 runs in the 3rd and 3 runs in both the 4th and the 7th innings. A 3-run homer in the 7th gave them the edge over Los Leones, who scored one in the 1st, 2 in the 4th, and 3 in the 5th. Jeremy Farrell came in as a defensive replacement at third base in the bottom of the 8th for Mayaguez; he struck out in his only plate appearance. Former Pirate farmhand RJ Rodriguez pitched a scoreless 9th inning (and struck out Farrell) for Los Leones, but was not involved in the decision.
AUSTRALIAN LEAGUE
Perth Heat 6, Sydney Blue Sox 2 (Friday)
1B Aaron Baker went 0-for-4 for the Heat, whose 3-run 7th inning put the game into the pocket for Perth. The Blue Sox posted 12 hits to Perth’s 9, but left 8 runners on base.
Heat 16, Blue Sox 1 (1st Game, Saturday)
Every member of the Heat’s line-up had at least one hit, and most had 3 or 4 hits, for a total of 23, as Perth ran over Sydney. DH Aaron Baker grounded into a fielder’s choice ground out in the Heat’s 5-run 4th inning. He walked in the 6th but was out in a double play, and reached on a fielding error in the 7th. Baker’s RBI single in the top of the 9th drove in a runner from third, then Baker scored when the next batter smacked a 3-run homer.
Heat 5, Blue Sox 3 (2nd Game, Saturday)
Baker was back at first base for the second game. The Heat broke a 2-2 tie with 3 runs in the top of the 10th, then held Sydney to just one run in the bottom of the frame for the win. Baker walked in the 6th and was left stranded. In the top of the 10th, with one run in and runners on first and third, Baker struck out, but the runners were off and running. The runner from first was safe at second with a stolen base when the Blue Sox shortstop made a missed catch error, and that allowed the runner from third to score easily. An RBI single gave Perth their final run.
Heat 19, Blue Sox 3 (Sunday)
The Heat burned the Blue Sox again today, with a pair of 5-run innings and a pair of 3-run innings. That gives the Heat a total of 46 runs on 62 hits in three days, compared to 9 runs on 32 hits by Sydney. 1B Aaron Baker had a single and a double in this game. His RBI single drove in two runs in the 1st inning. He hit the second of back-to-back doubledsin the 2nd inning, driving in one run, then came in to score on a single. In the 5-run 7th inning, Baker was hit by a pitch, then scored on a grand slam by RF Graeme Scorer.
