Monthly Archives: November, 2009

Peoria Javelinas 6, Scottsdale Scorpions 4

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A 4-run Peoria 7th inning, which included two Scottsdale errors, led to a Scorpions' loss on Monday afternoon in Arizona. The inning began with a 2-2 tie, and Craig Baker (Rockies) on the mound for the Scorpions. The first batter of the inning reached base safely on a throwing error by 3B Darin Holcomb (Rockies). The next batter, Team USA's C Lucas May (Dodgers), belted a 2-run homer over the right center field wall, giving the Javelinas a 4-2 lead. After a strikeout, Holcomb made a fielding error to put another runner on base. That runner scored on a double, and the next batter singled to bring in the 4th run of the inning, lifting the score to 6-2. The batter was out at second, on the throw in from CF Jose Tabata, and a ground out ended the inning.

The Scorpions had scored first, when RF Domonic Brown (Phillies) singled to lead off the 2nd inning, and C Buster Posey (Giants) followed with his second home run of the AFL season. The Javelinas tied the game with a single and a double for one run in the 5th, and two singles and a double for another run in the 6th. With Peoria ahead in the bottom of the 7th, the Scorpions got one run back. 1B Brandon Allen (Diamondbacks) walked with two outs, and a single by Brown and a walk to Posey loaded the bases. A wild pitch allowed Allen to scramble home, to make the score 6-3. They added one more run in the 8th inning. Darin Holcomb walked, and Jose Tabata singled, moving Holcomb to third base. SS Hector Gomez (Rockies) slapped a grounder back to the mound, which ricocheted off the Javelina's pitcher and over toward third base. Holcomb was able to score before the third baseman could get to the ball, but that was all the Scorpions could get.

Jose Tabata also singled to lead off the 1st inning, but was out in a double play. He led off the 3rd inning with another single, and stole second base, but was left stranded there when the inning ended. 2B Chase d'Arnaud walked in the 4th inning, but was out in his three other trips to the plate.

Scorpions' starter Michael Cisco (Phillies) faced only one batter over the minimum for his first 4 innings -- a double to lead off the 2nd inning. He gave up a single in the 5th inning, along with two outs, and that runner became the Javelina's first run of the game, and the only run charged to Cisco. Edgar Garcia (Phillies) gave up the double to May in the 5th, then ended that inning. He pitched the 6th, and was responsible for the run scored in that inning. Craig Baker was responsible for 4 runs (one earned) in the 7th. Andrew Johnston (Rockies) pitched a scoreless 8th inning, and Danny Moskos allowed a walk and a single in the scoreless 9th. The winning pitcher for the Javelina's was former Pirate farmhand, now with the Dodgers, Eric Krebs.

The Mexican Pacific, Venezuelan, and Dominican Leagues all had a scheduled day off on Monday.

Pirates' players and friend in Sunday's winter ball action

VENZUELAN LEAGUE

Bravos de Margarita 7, Cardenales de Lara 6

Former Pirate Romulo Sanchez suffered the loss for Lara, as he gave up the winning run in the bottom of the 7th. A fielding error, a ground out, and RF Rene Reyes' third hit of the game pushed the go-ahead run across the plate. Former Indy Indian Tim Harikkala got the start for Margarita, and he allowed 6 runs on 11 hits over his 5.2 innings. He allowed 3 runs in the top of the 1st inning on 5 singles plus his own throwing error. Reyes scored Los Bravos' first run in the 2nd inning, when he was hit by a pitch, moved to second and then third on two walks, and scored on a sacrifice fly. 3B Neil Walker tied the score in the 4th inning with a 2-run homer following Reyes' first single. Lara went ahead with a home run in the top of the 5th, and Margarita countered with a run on a hit batter, a walk, and Reyes' second single in the bottom of the inning. A two-run homer again gave Los Cardenales the lead in the top of the 6th. Again Los Bravos caught up with C Henry Blanco's two-run homer in their half of the inning. That set up Reyes to be the hero in the 7th. CF Jonel Pacheco went 0-for-4 for Margarita.

Navegantes del Magallanes 10, Tiburones de La Guaira 8

Jean Machi earned his 5th save for Magallanes with a hitless and scoreless 9th inning (there was a fielding error). LF Mike Ryan had a single and scored for Magallanes in their 5-run 3rd inning, which included two home runs. Ryan walked in the 5th inning, when Los Navegantes again scored 5 runs, though he was forced out at second base. Two singles, two walks, and two doubles accounted for the scoring in the 5th. La Guaira scored in four consecutive innings -- two in the 5th, 4 in the 6th, and one each in the 7th and 8th -- but could not catch up.

Caribes de Anzoategui 9, Aguilas de Zulia 6

Los Caribes took an early lead with 4 runs in the 1st inning and 3 more in the 2nd, then held off Los Aguilas for the win. CF Gorkys Hernandez went 0-for-4, with a fly out and three ground outs.

Leones del Caracas 9, Tigres de Aragua 3

Los Leones also snatched an early lead with a 4-run 1st inning, including a triple by Team USA's Josh Kroeger (White Sox). A homer, a double, and Kroeger's RBI single in the 2nd inning gave Caracas a 6-0 lead. Los Leones added another run in the 4th on three singles (another by Kroeger), and two more in the 6th on a two-run homer. Los Tigres scored one run in the 3rd on a lead-off double by C Alex Delgado followed by a second double. They did not score again until the 9th inning. Two singles, the second by LF Jorge Cortes, a wild pitch, and another single gave Aragua 2 more runs. Cortes was 1-for-4 in the game. 1B Hector Gimenez went 0-for-3 with a walk. Delgado went 1-for-2, and SS Ronny Cedeno had a single in three trips to the plate.

MEXICAN PACIFIC LEAGUE

Venados de Mazatlan 7, Tomateros de Culiacan 3

Mazatlan too scored 4 runs in the 1st inning, on a single, a walk, an RBI single, and a three-run homer by DH Robert Saucedo. LF Rogelios Noris singled after the homer but was left on base. Saucedo doubled to lead off the 3rd inning, and score on an RBI single. Culiacan scored one run in the bottom of the 3rd on a solo home run. They added two more in the 7th, after loading the bases with a single, a walk, and a single by CF Luis Cruz. A double brought in two runs, to make the score 5-3. 2B Brian Bixler got a small rally started for Los Venados in the 8th inning with a one-out single. He advanced to second base on a wild pitch, and moved up to third after two walks. A hit batter forced Bixler in with a run, though Los Venados left the bases loaded with a fly out to end the inning. Rogelios Noris hit his first home run of his rookie season in the top of the 9th inning. Bixler singled again after Noris' homer, and he also walked twice. Noris went 3-for-5 in the game, and has a .368 average. Luis Cruz was 2-for-4; he doubled in the 5th inning.

DOMINICAN LEAGUE

Gigantes del Cibao 6, Aguilas Cibaenas 4

Ramon Aguero pitched 1.2 innings for Los Aguilas. He took the mound to begin the 7th inning and gave up a single and a double, but got a ground out and a line out to third to end the inning, then retired two batters in the 8th. Los Gigantes' Juan Perez pitched to one batter in the 7th -- he struck out Kevin Barker (Reds).

Toros del Este 7, Estrellas de Oriente 3

2B Pedro Lopez had two singles for Los Estrellas, including a single to lead off the top of the 9th. Two more singles and a 3-RBI double got Los Estrellas closer to Los Toros, but they could not catch up to a 4-run 4th and a 3-run 8th by Los Toros. Robinzon Diaz pinch-hit in the 8th inning for Los Estrellas, but grounded out. He remained in the game to catch the last inning. Former Indy Indian Roberto Giron came on in relief for Los Estrellas in the 4th and got the final out, then gave up a double and a walk with two outs in the 5th.

Saturday's winter ball action with the Pirates' players and friends:

MEXICAN PACIFIC LEAGUE

Aguilas de Mexicali 8, Naranjeros de Hermosillo 4

Ty Taubenheim made the start for Hermosillo and allowed 3 runs on 5 hits and 2 walks over 4.2 innings. Two consecutive singles followed by two consecutive hit batters forced in a run in the 2nd inning. Taubenheim kept Mexicali from scoring in the 3rd and 4th innings. A walk and two singles in the 5th gave Mexicali two more runs, and Taubenheim was relieved. Hermosillo scored two runs in the 4th and two more in the 6th, and after 6 innings, the score was tied at 4-4. Mexicali scored 4 more runs in the 8th inning to take the win, and Taubenheim was not involved in the decision.

Venados de Mazatlan 3, Tomateros de Culiacan 2

LF Brian Bixler opened the game with a double for Mazatlan, and scored on a sacrifice bunt and a ground out. Bixler also reached base in the 3rd inning, on a fielding error by Pirates' teammate 2B Luis Cruz, but Bixler was left stranded that time. Culiacan took a 2-1 lead in the 4th on two walks, a double, and a sacrifice fly. Mazatlan tied it up in the next inning, on a walk and a dobule. CF Ruben Rivera gave Los Venados the winning run with his solo homer in the 8th. Cruz singled in the 9th inning, but did not score.

VENEZUELAN LEAGUE

Navegantes del Magallanes 5, Leones del Caracas 3

Jean Machi earned his 4th save for Magallanes with a scoreless 9th inning. LF Mike Ryan had two singles and SS Argenis Diaz contributed one single to Los Navegantes' cause. A double and three singles, one by Ryan, got Magallanes started in the bottom of the 1st inning. A double and a single gave them another run in the 2nd. A walk, a single by Ryan, and a 2-RBI double in the 3rd made it 5-0 for Magallanes. Caracas picked up their three runs on four walks, forcing in a run, and a 2-RBI single in the 4th inning.

Tiburones de La Guaira 7, Tigres de Aragua 6 (11 innigs)

Aragua more than doubled La Guaira's hit count, but it was Los Tiburones who finally took a bite out of Los Tigres for the extra-inning win. A walk-off home run by La Guaira's 3B Oscar Salazar was the difference. Bobby Livingston made his fourth start for La Guaira, going into the 4th inning and allowing 4 runs on 7 hits and 2 walks. Livingston gave up 2 runs in the 2nd inning, on a lead-off walk to Aragua's 1B Hector Gimenez, an error, and three singles, including one by LF Jorge Cortes. Livingston opened the 4th inning with another walk to Gimenez and a single, and he was relieved. A single scored Gimenez, a double by Cortes brought in two more runs, and another RBI single plated Cortes.

Los Tiburones picked up one run in the 3rd on a solo homer, and made it a 6-5 game with 4 runs in the 5th. SS Jorge Velandia singled, and after two walks, a triple brought in 3 runs, and a sacrifice fly added one more. La Guaira remained behind by one run until the bottom of the 9th, when a fielding error, a double, and a wild pitch tied the game and sent it into extra innings. Livingston did not factor into the decision. Hector Gimenez had the two walks but no hits in the game. DH Raul Chavez went 1-for-5. Jorge Cortes was 2-for-5. SS Ronny Cedeno had 6 hitless trips to the plate.

Bravos de Margarita 2, Cardenales de Lara 1 (Game 1, 7 innings)

Scott Strickland gave up a run in the top of the 9th, but held on to earn his 5th save for Margarita. Los Bravos scored their first run in the 5th. 1B Dennys Abreu walked, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt and to third on a single. Another sacrifice bunt allowed Abreu to score, but an alert play by the Lara first baseman made it a double play by throwing back to third base (covered by the shortstop) to get the trailing runner out. Margarita scored the winning run in the bottom of the 6th on two doubles. 3B Neil Walker was 0-for-3 in the game.

Bravos 4, Cardenales 3 (Game 2, 7 innings)

3B Neil Walker led Los Bravos with two hits and a walk to win the nightcap. Lara scored 2 runs in the top of the 1st, but Margarita came back with 3 in the bottom of the inning. A double and two singles brought in one run, and a sacrifice fly tied the game. Walker's RBI single plated the go-ahead run. A solo homer for Lara tied the game again in the top of the 4th. Walker got Los Bravos rally started in the bottom of that inning with a walk. He moved to second base on a single, and scored on an RBI double. Walker also led off the bottom of the 6th with a double, and he was removed in favor of a pinch runner. That runner got to third base as a hit batter and an intentional walk loaded the bases, but was doubled off third base in an inning-ending line out that turned into an unassisted double play.

Aguilas de Zulia 4, Caribes de Anzoategui 0 (Game 1, 7 innings)

Chris Hernandez also collected his 5th save of the winter season for Zulia, when he entered the game in the 7th inning with one out and two runners on base, and got two quick outs to end the game. Los Caribes CF Gorkys Hernandez was 0-for-2, as his teammates managed only 5 hits.

Aguilas 4, Caribes 2 (Game 2, 7 innings)

Gorkys Hernandez went 0-for-4 with 3 strikeouts in the nightcap, as Los Caribes lost both ends of the double header. Los Caribes scored one run on a single and a double in the 2nd, and another run on a triple and a single in the 4th. Zulia posted only 5 hits, but three of them were home runs, accounting for all of their runs.

DOMINICAN LEAGUE

Aguilas Cibaenas 10, Estrellas de Oriente 6

C Robinzon Diaz and 2B Pedro Lopez each had two hits for Los Estrellas, including a home run for Diaz. Lopez led off the 3rd inning with a double, and came around to score the first of two runs that inning. Diaz doubled begin the 4th inning, but was left on base. His solo homer led off the 6th inning, and two singles, including one by Lopez, and a sacrifice fly added another run in that inning.

Scottsdale Scorpions 6, Peoria Saguaros 0

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Donnie Veal pitched 4 shutout innings and earned his second AFL win on Saturday afternoon. Veal allowed only 2 hits and did not walk a batter in his 4 innings, while striking out 5 Saguaros. He had to work around runners on base in each of the first three innings. A fielding error by RF Domonic Brown (Phillies) and a hit batter put two runners on base in the 1st. One batter singled in each of the 2nd and 3rd innings, but in each instance, Veal bore down and got the outs he needed. Then he struck out two of the batters he faced in the 1-2-3 4th inning.

CF Jose Tabata and 3B Brandon Crawford (Giants) led the Scorpions at the plate with 3 hits each -- all singles. Of the 12 Scorpions' hits, only Domonic Brown had an extra-base hit, a double in the 7th inning. Tabata singled to open the game, but was caught stealing moments later. He also singled in the 4th inning, but was out on a force play at second base.

Tabata started the rally in the 3rd inning, though without a hit. Peoria's 3B Carlos Rivero (Cleveland Indians) made throwing errors on back-to-back plays, putting Tabata and 2B Pedro Ciriaco (Diamondbacks) on base. Brown followed with his double, scoring both Tabata and Ciriaco, and LF Thomas Neal (Giants) plated Brown with an RBI single. All three runs were unearned.

The Scorpions scored again in the 6th inning. Brandon Crawford singled, then stole second base. C Tuffy Gosewisch (Phillies) singled, and Crawford advanced to third base. SS Troy Hanzawa (Phillies) grounded to the second baseman, but the Peoria SS Brandon Hicks (Braves) covering second base could not handle the flip, and Crawford scored on the error.

Another error contributed to the Scorpions' rally in the 8th inning. With one out, Hanzawa reached base on SS Hicks' fielding error. Tabata singled and Ciriaco was hit by a pitch, loading the bases. Domonic Brown plated Hanzawa and Tabata with a line drive double into center field. Ciriaco tried to score from first base but was thrown out at the plate.

Three more pitchers contributed to the shutout. Japan's Takanobu Tsujiuchi and Matt Reynolds (Rockies) each pitched 2 scoreless innings, and Scott Mathieson (Phillies) added a scoreless 9th.