Monthly Archives: January, 2010

VENEZUELAN LEAGUE PLAYOFFS

Navegantes del Magallanes 7, Tiburones de La Guaira 3

Playing center field again, Ronny Cedeno had another tremendous day at the plate for Magallanes. He doubled and singled twice and brought in one of Los Navegantes' runs. La Guaira began the scoring with one run in the bottom of the 1st, on a walk, a single, and an RBI single by 1B Hector Gimenez. Magallanes took a 2-1 lead with a single, an RBI double by LF Mike Ryan and an RBI single in the 4th. In the 5th, Cedeno led off with a double and came around to score on a sacrifice bunt and a throwing error to give Magallanes a 3-1 lead. Cedeno added another run in the 6th with an RBI single. Magallanes capped it off with a solo homer in the 7th, followed by a walk to Ryan, two singles and an error for two more runs. La Guaira scored one run in the bottom of that frame, on four consecutive singles. Corey Hamman came on in relief with the bases loaded and one out. Hamman got out of the inning with a strikeout and a fly out. Hamman came back out to begin the 8th inning by walking Gimenez. Hamman was relieved but was still charged with the run when Gimenez came around to score on a single, a ground out, and a sacrifice fly. Jean Machi pitched an inning for Magallanes, allowing only a ground-rule double in the 9th. Cedeno also had a single in the 3rd, but was left on base.

Aguilas de Zulia 5, Bravos de Margarita 1

Margarita was held to 6 hits and scored their only run in the 3rd inning, on a single, a stolen base, and an RBI single. Zulia had scored their first run with a solo homer in the 2nd, and took a slim lead with another run on a single and a double in the 6th. Los Aguilas used two walks and three singles in the bottom of the 9th to add 3 insurance runs. Reliever Chris Hernandez pitched the final inning for Zulia and retired Los Bravos in order, and struck out the last two batters of the game.

PUERTO RICAN LEAGUE PLAYOFFS

Lobos de Arecibo 2, Leones de Ponce 1

Each team recorded only 5 hits, and each team scored a run in the 6th inning. Arecibo scored on two singles, and Ponce scored on a hit batter and two singles. The difference came in the 7th inning, when Arecibo's RF Jorge Padilla led off with a double and advanced to third base on a ground out. After a walk, reliever RJ Rodriguez got two ground outs, but Padilla scored from third base on the first grounder. Rodriguez got the first out in the top of the 8th, then gave up two singles before being relieved, though neither runner came in to score.

Criollos de Caguas 7, Gigantes de Carolina 5

This was a slug-fest in comparison, as Caguas recorded 14 hits and Carolina hit 11. CF Luis Matos and SS Luis Figueroa each had two of Caguas' hits, with a single and a double for each. Caguas scored 3 runs in the 4th on Figueroa's double, a walk, and a home run. Carolina countered with a walk, a double, and a homer in the bottom of the 5th. Two singles and a triple gave Caguas another 2 runs in the top of the 6th, but Carolina kept up with 2 in the bottom of the 7th on a triple, a single, and a double. Finally, Caguas got ahead to stay with a run in the 8th and another in the 9th, sparked by Matos' double.

DOMINCAN LEAGUE PLAYOFFS

Gigantes del Cibao 2, Tigres del Licey 1

Licey scored their only run in the 5th, with a double, a sacrifice bunt, and an RBI single. CF Jose Bautista had one of only 6 Licey hits, a double to lead off the 7th inning, and he also walked in the 2nd inning. C Ronny Paulino went 0-for-3, with a walk. Los Gigantes tied the score with a solo homer in the bottom of the 5th, then broke the tie in the 8th with a walk, a bunt, and a single. Los Gigantes' Juan Perez pitched to one batter in the 7th and two in the 8th, and retired all three.

Toros del Este 4, Leones del Escogido 3

Los Toros held a 4-0 lead going into the bottom of the 9th. They had scored on a 2-run homer in the 7th and added 2 more runs in the top of the 9th on a walk, a sacrifice bunt, a fielding error, and a sacrifice fly. A double, a single, and a 3-run homer in the bottom of the 9th brought Escogido within one run, but both pinch-hitter Brian Myrow and LF Freddy Guzman struck out to end the game.

MEXICAN PACIFIC LEAGUE PLAYOFFS

Venados de Mazatlan 3, Tomateros de Culiacan 0

Mazatlan pitchers dominated in this game. Los Venados starter Esteban Loaiza retired the first 13 Culiacan batters he faced, before surrendering a lone single in the 5th. He then worked around two singles in the 6th and a double in the 7th, still without allowing a run, then was relieved after giving up a lead-off single in the 8th -- the last hit Culiacan would get. Mazatlan put runners on base in each inning but the 5th, but did not push one across the plate until the 6th, when they scored one run on three singles. An error and two singles gave Mazatlan another run in the 7th inning. Los Venados began the 8th with a walk, and Rogelios Noris was sent in to pinch-run. But the next batter bounced into a double play, and Noris was out at second base. A double and a single followed, and Mazatlan had their third run of the game. 2B Luis Cruz went 0-for-3 for Culiacan.

VENEZUELAN LEAGUE

Navegantes del Magallanes 3, Leones del Caracas 1

Magallanes recorded 16 hits, including 4 singles by CF Ronny Cedeno, but left 12 runners on base and scored only 3 runs. Cedeno did not come around to score at all. He singled to lead off the game and made it as far as third base. He singled again in the 3rd, but was out at home on a fielder's choice. Cedeno's single in the 6th brought in Magallanes' second run (the first run came in the 4th on a homer). The last single came in the 8th, but Cedeno was erased in a double play. Los Navegantes' final run in the 9th was also a home run. Caracas scored their only run in the 7th, on a walk, a single, a sacrifice bunt, and an RBI single. Cedeno's throw in from center field on the RBI single was a perfect shot in to home plate, and it kept a second run from scoring on the play. Magallanes' reliever Jean Machi pitched the 9th inning and earned a save. He gave up two singles, and threw a wild pitch that put runners on second and third bases, but then Machi got former Pirate Carlos Maldonado to line out to short to end the game.

Bravos de Margarita 7, Aguilas de Zulia 6

Both teams scored 3 runs in the early innings, but Margarita's 4-run 7th inning gave them the edge over Zulia. Former Indy Indian (for a short time in 2007) Jim Brower made the start for Zulia. He struck out 5 batters but allowed 4 runs (3 earned) on 6 hits in 6.1 innings. Romulo Sanchez relieved Brower with one out and one on in the 7th. Sanchez first threw a wild pitch, then gave up an RBI double, and a single to load the bases. The runner from third base stole home, and Sanchez loaded the bases again with a walk before being removed. A 2-RBI single brought in two more runs, both charged to Sanchez, who was stuck with the Blown Save and the Loss. Zulia's Chris Hernandez pitched the 9th inning and retired the side in order.

PUERTO RICAN LEAGUE

Criollos de Caguas 3, Indios de Mayaguez 1

Caguas' C Carlos Corporan led off the 5th inning with a triple and scored on an error on the relay throw by the Mayaguez second baseman. A single, a stolen base, and an RBI single by CF Luis Matos brought in another run in that inning. A home run gave Los Criollos an insurance run in the 9th. Mayaguez scored their lone run in the 2nd inning on a double and an RBI single. SS Luis Figueroa had a rare hitless night for Caguas.

MEXICAN PACIFIC LEAGUE

Venados de Mazatlan 1, Tomateros de Culiacan 0

Six hits for each team, but Mazatlan got the ones that counted. In the bottom of the 5th, 3B Heber Gomez doubled and RF Christian Quintero followed with an RBI single to provide the only run of the game. 2B Luis Cruzsingled in the 2nd inning for Culiacan, but was erased in a double play.

Now that the Puerto Rican and Mexican Pacific Leagues have also finished their regular season, there will be more playoffs after a short holiday break.

PUERTO RICAN LEAGUE

Los Lobos de Arecibo won the pennant with a 21-11 recored. Los Gigantes de Carolina came in second, 3.5 games back. Los Indios de Mayaguez came in third, Los Criollos de Caguas fourth, and Los Leones de Ponce finished last, with a 12-21 record, 9.5 games out of first place. Stats for a few players:

RJ Rodriguez -(Ponce): 17 relief appearances, 1-0 record, 2 saves, 3.80 ERA; 21.1 innings, 19 hits, 13 runs/9 earned runs, 6 BB, 12 K, batters hit .238 against him. He had a couple of rough outings but generally was the Rodriguez we saw in Lynchburg.

Jorge Charry- (Ponce) (2008 Spikes): 5 relief appearances, no wins/losses/saves, 1.93 ERA; 4.2 innings, 4 hits, 1 runs, 2 BB, 1 K, batters hit .235 against him.

Shane Youman - (Arecibo): 5 starts, 1-2 record, 6.75 ERA; 17.1 innings, 29 hits, 13 runs, 7 BB, 13 K; batters hit .375 against him.

Greg Picart-(Ponce): 18 games, .167 average (3-for-18), 0 BB, 3 K. Not a performance that helped his standing.

Luis Figueroa - (Caguas): 32 games, .317 average, 10 doubles, 1 triple, 1 homer, 15 RBI, 11 BB, 6 K, 2 stolen bases. This is the same scrappy infielder with the big grin who played for the Indy Indians in 2004.

MEXICAN PACIFIC LEAGUE

Los Naranjeros de Hermosillo finished in first place, with a 20-13 record. Los Tomateros de Culiacan and Los Yaquis de Obregon tied for second place, just 0.5 games behind. Los Algodoneros de Guasave were next, then a tie between Los Venados de Mazatlan (the first half division winner) and Los Mayos de Navojoa. Los Caneros de Los Mochis and Los Aguilas de Mexicali finished at the bottom of the pile. Stats for a few players:

Brian Bixler- (Mazatlan, first half): 35 games, .300 average, 5 doubles, 1 triple, 5 homers, 12 RBI, 13 BB, 42 K, 4 stolen bases. Generally a strong performance, other than the strikeouts, which can only help make him look good to other teams when the Pirates go to either trade or release him.

Rogelios Noris -(Mazatlan): 20 games, .333 average, 3 doubles, 1 homer, 2 RBI, 2 BB, 12 K. An excellent rookie performance before the hometown fans.

Luis Cruz- (Culiacan): 53 games, .314 average, 15 doubles, 1 triple, 4 homers, 22 RBI, 16 BB, 19 K, 3 stolen bases. Another strong showing in his native country. Best of luck with the Brewers.

Chris Snelling- (Obregon): 23 games, .254 average, 1 double, 3 homers, 11 RBI, 11 BB, 8 K, 1 stolen base.

Yurendell de Caster- (Guasave): 24 games, .372 average, 6 doubles, 1 triple, 5 homers, 15 RBI, 6 BB, 7 K. This should help him find a job for 2010.

Ty Taubenheim -(Hermosillo): 6 starts, 1-2 record, 4.66 ERA; 29 innings, 32 hits, 17 runs/15 earned runs, 11 BB, 15 K, batters hit .288 against him. Didn't really help his own cause, unfortunately.

VENEZUELAN LEAGUE PLAYOFFS

Los Leones de Caracas lead the round robin playoff format with a 3-0 record. Los Aguilas de Zulia have played only one game and are 1-0. Los Navegantes del Magallanes are 1-1, and Los Bravos de Margarita and Los Tiburones de La Guaira are both 0-2.

DOMINICAN LEAGUE PLAYOFFS

Los Gigantes del Cibao and Los Leones del Escogido are tied in the round robin tournament with 3-2 records. That leaves Los Tigres del Licey and Los Toros del Este at the bottom, both with 2-3 records.