The Pirates have signed INF Josh Fields to a minor league contract. Fields is an Oklahoma native who was the White Sox' first round draft pick in 2004. He progressed quickly through their organization, playing mostly third base, and reached the major leagues in 2006, when he played in 11 games for Chicago after spending most of the season in AAA Charlotte (.305, 19 HR, 70 RBI). For the next three seasons, Fields bounced between AAA and the majors. With Charlotte, he totalled 25 homers and 85 RBI with a .262 average in 158 games. He played in 193 games with the White Sox over those seasons, with a .231 average, 30 homers, and 99 RBI. Fields was traded to the Royals after the 2009 season, but he got in little playing time during 2010 due to hip surgery. He played in 13 games for the Royals in September, and his bat showed some promise -- .309 with 3 homers and 6 RBI. The 28-year-old got in some make up for missed at-bats by playing for Los Senadores de San Juan in the Puerto Rican League during October and November. In 22 games, he hit .200 with 6 RBI, though in his last week, he went 7-for-27 (.259). Fields has been invited to the major league camp for spring training, and he will be competing for a utility spot on the major league club.
Just a little action on Monday in the winter leagues as we cheer for a few Pirates' players and friends:
DOMINICAN LEAGUE Tigres de Licey 2, Aguilas Cibaenas 0 -- Los Aguilas were held to three hits and two walks -- one hit and one walk in both the first and last innings, plus a single in the 8th. Starling Marte came into the game as a defensive replacement in center field for Los Aguilas, but he did not get an at-bat. Los Tigres scored one run in the 2nd, on a single, a walk, and a fielding error. They added an insurance run in the 8th, when DH Ronny Paulino led off with a single and was replaced by a pinch-runner. A sacrifice bunt and a throwing error put the runner on third base, and 1B Robinzon Diaz brought him in with a fly ball and an error. A single followed, but two runners were left on base. Tigres' Denny Bautista pitched to 3 batters in the 8th inning and gave up a single.
VENEZUELAN LEAGUE Tiburones de La Guaira 5, Navegantes del Magallanes 4 -- A solo homer in the bottom of the 10th inning broke a 4-4 tie, for Los Tiburones' win. Los Navegantes plated 4 runs in the 4th, on a 2-run homer, followed by four singles and a sacrifice fly. Los Tiburones got onto the scoreboard in the 6th inning, with a run on a double and an RBI single. Jean Machi took the mound in the bottom of the 9th for Magallanes, but he was done in by three fielding errors (of the 5 errors committed by Los Magallanes). A single opened the inning, then Machi got a pop out. The first fielding error put runners on first and second, then Machi struck out the next batter. Another fielding error loaded the bases, and the third error allowed 2 runs to score. An RBI single gave Los Tiburones their third run of the inning and tied the score. Machi was relieved at that point, and a fly out ended the inning.
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Cheering for Pirates' players and friends in Sunday's winter league action... The Dominican League's last regular season games will be on Tuesday. VENEZUELAN LEAGUE Tigres de Aragua 8, Leones de Caracas 3 (Game 1) -- Los Tigres won this battle of the big cats with a 6-run 3rd inning. CF Jorge Cortes led off the inning with a single, was bunted to second base, and scored on an RBI single. SS Ronny Cedeno lined out, but the next two batters singled, driving in a run. 1B Hector Gimenez was hit by a pitch, then LF Lastings Milledge brought in two runs with his RBI single. A triple added two more runs. Cortes walked in his second at-bat in the inning, but a fly out ended the rally. Los Tigres added another run in the 5th on a single, Gimenez's ground rule double, and Milledge's sacrifice fly -- his third RBI of the game. Milledge singled again in a rally in the 7th, when Aragua slipped in their 8th run. Caracas did all their scoring in the bottom of the 7th, leading off the inning with two singles and a 3-run homer.
Tigres 6, Leones 5 (Game 2) -- It was Cortes who had 3 hits in the night-cap, while Cedeno, Gimenez, and C Raul Chavez were hitless. Wil Ledezma made the start for Los Tigres, and pitched 2 innings, allowing a run in the 1st. Aragua tied the score in the 2nd with a walk, a single by Milledge, and an RBI single by Cortes. Ledezma was relieved to begin the 3rd, and that was when Caracas scored 2 more runs on a walk, a single, and a triple. Another triple and a sacrifice fly gave Los Leones a 4-1 lead in the 5th. Los Tigres came roaring back in the top of the 6th, to take the lead. The inning began with 3 consecutive walks, including on Milledge and Gimenez. A triple cleared the bases, then Cortes' double gave Aragua a 5-4 lead. Another single and a walk loaded the bases for Aragua, but a double play ended the inning and the rally. Caracas tied the score again in the bottom of the 7th, sending the game into extra innings. Jose Ascanio took the mound for Caracas in the top of the 7th, when he retired the side in order. In the bottom of the 8th, pinch-hitter Miguel Perez led off with a single, and Cortes bunted him to second base. A single drove in the speedy Perez from second base with the go-ahead run.
Navegantes del Magallanes 8, Tiburones de La Guaira 2 -- Los Tiburones had the early lead, but Los Navegantes scored 7 of their runs in the final three innings, including a 4-run 8th. Jean Machi earned his 7th save with 1.1 scoreless innings, allowing only one hit.
Caribes de Anzoategui 8, Cardenales de Lara 7 (Game 1) -- Six runs in the 2nd inning gave Los Caribes enough runs to outlast Lara's late-inning rallies. DH Jose Tabata singled and scored on a 2-run homer in the top of the 1st. Los Cardenales got one of the runs back in the bottom of the inning, but Los Caribes had their big 2nd inning. With one out, a walk and four straight singles, including Tabata's second single, brought in two runs, then a grand slam by LF Juan Camacho gave Los Caribes an 8-1 lead.
Caribes 4, Cardenales 2 (Game 2) -- Four runs in the 6th inning gave Los Caribes what they needed. The inning began with a double and a single, then Jose Tabata lined another single into center field, bringing in one run. Three more singles and a sacrifice fly added 3 more runs. Los Cardenales scored one run in the 2nd on a walk, a single, and an RBI ground out. A double, a wild pitch, and a single gave Lara their second run in the 4th. CF Ray Sadler went 0-for-3 for Lara.
The story of the 2010 Padres is one about Pitching and Divorce. Pitching and divorce are not typically two words that one associates together, but if you think about it both are settled by an independent arbiter and someone is usually unhappy about the resolution.
A full Saturday night of action in the winter leagues:
VENEZUELAN LEAGUE Tiburones de La Guaira 9, Tigres de Aragua 5 -- Three runs in the bottom of the 8th put the game out of reach for Los Tigres. Aragua put their first run on the board in the top of the 1st, when SS Ronny Cedeno singled, and came around to score on a wild pitch. Los Tiburones took the lead with 2 runs in the bottom of the inning and added their third run in the 2nd. Los Tigres tied the score in the top of the 5th. A single and two walks (one to 1B Hector Gimenez) loaded the bases, then back-to-back sacrifice flies (one by LF Lastings Milledge) brought in two runs. The tie did not last long -- two doubles and a 2-run homer gave the lead back to La Guaira in the bottom of the frame. Aragua got within one run again in the 6th, with a walk, a passed ball, an RBI single by Gimenez and an RBI ground out, but it wasn't enough when La Guaira scored again in their last at-bat. Cedeno singled again in the 8th, and was hit by a pitch. Gimenez walked twice more in the game, and C Raul Chavez singled and walked twice.
Navegantes del Magallanes 6, Caribes de Anzoategui 5 -- Two singles and a 2-RBI double in the bottom of the 9th gave Los Navegantes the walk-off win. Los Caribes were onto the scoreboard first with a solo homer in the 2nd. Magallanes scored 3 unearned runs in the bottom of the 3rd, on two errors, three wild pitches by Caribes' starter Chris Hayes, two walks, and a single. Magallanes added a run in the 4th, on two more walks and a single. LF Jose Tabata led off the top of the 6th for Los Caribes with a double. A single and a ground out drove in Tabata, then a walk, two singles, and a wild pitch gave Los Caribes 3 more runs, for a 5-4 lead. Corey Hamman relieved the Magallanes' pitcher, and ended the 6th inning with a strikeout. He went on to pitch two more scoreless innings, allowing only one hit, with a total of 3 strikeouts. Tabata singled again and stole second base in the top of the 9th, but was left on base.
Aguilas de Zulia 3, Bravos de Margarita 2 -- Jhonathan Ramos suffered the loss for Los Bravos. He had entered the game to finish the bottom of the 7th with a ground out, and the bottom of the 8th began with a batter reaching on a fielding error. A single and a triple brought in 2 runs for Zulia to break a 1-1 tie. Margarita scored an unearned run in the top of the 9th, but a double play ended the game before they could tie the score again.
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