According to Rob Biertempfel, the Pittsburgh Pirates have invited five more players to Spring Training. The new non-roster invitees are catchers Tony Sanchez and...
Checking in on Pirates' players and friends in the winter league playoffs on Monday...
PUERTO RICAN LEAGUE Criollos de Caguas 2, Senadores de San Juan 1 -- Los Criollos broke a 1-1 tie with a run in the bottom of the 9th. SS Luis Figueroa walked, and moved to second base on a balk. After an intentional walk, an RBI single let the speedy Figueroa score from second base for the walk-off win. The win moves Caguas into second place in the round robin tournament, with Los Leones de Ponce in first place, San Juan in third, and Carolina fourth.
VENEZUELAN LEAGUE Leones de Caracas 8, Tigres de Aragua 5 -- Los Tigres de Aragua posted 15 hits, but their 4 errors came back to hurt them. Caracas scored first, with 2 runs in the top of the 1st, on 3 singles and an error. Los Tigres responded with 2 runs in the bottom of the inning, on a walk, and 3 singles, including liners up the middle by 1B Hector Gimenez and LF Lastings Milledge. C Carlos Maldonado gave Los Leones the lead again in the top of the 4th with a solo home run. Milledge tied the score again in the bottom of the frame with a lead-off single, scoring on a double and a sacrifice fly. Then Aragua forged ahead to score 2 runs in the 5th, on a lead-off double, an RBI double by Gimenez, and an RBI single by Milledge. Two singles and an error gave them another run in the 6th, for a 6-3 lead. Caracas came closer in the 7th inning, when Maldonado led off with a walk. Another walk and two RBI singles brought in 2 runs, cutting Los Tigres' lead to 6-5. The top of the 9th began with a single, a sacrifice bunt, and an RBI double for Los Leones. A walk and a single added another run, but a fielding error by Milledge in left field allowed the go-ahead run to score. Los Tigres could not answer in the bottom of the inning. 1B Raul Chavez singled for Los Tigres, but did not score. LF Mike Ryan was hitless for Los Leones. Jose Ascanio pitched the bottom of the 8th for Caracas. He gave up 2 singles, but left both runners on base. He was the pitcher of record when the winning runs scored in the top of the 9th, so was credited with the win.
Los Caribes de Anzoategui beat Los Aguilas de Zulia 5-2 in the other Venezuelan game. There is still another week to go in this round robin tournament. Tonight's results mean that Los Caribes, Los Leones, and Los Tigres are all tied in first place with identical 8-5 records.
The Dominican League round robin playoffs ended with Los Toros del Este on top. Los Estrellas de Oriente and Los Gigantes del Cibao tied for second place, and Los Leones del Escogido finished in fourth place. Los Estrellas will face Los Toros del Este in the championship series.
The Mexican Pacific League was off on Monday. Los Algodoneros de Guasave are leading Los Tomateros de Culiacan 3 games to 2 in the semifinal round of the playoffs. The winner of this 7-game series will face Los Yaquis de Obregon in the finals.
The Pittsburgh Pirates will exchange arbitration figures with Joel Hanrahan and Ross Ohlendorf tomorrow, moving them one step closer to getting all of their...
Cheering for Pirates' players and friends in the few winter league playoff games on Sunday....
DOMINICAN LEAGUE Gigantes del Cibao 8, Toros del Este 2 -- A 7-run 7th inning by Los Gigantes included a 2-run homer and a 3-run homer, and it gave them all the firepower they would need. Former Indy Indian Tim Harikkala finished the 5th inning after Los Toros scored their runs, then loaded the bases with a double and two walks in the 6th, though another reliever was able to end the inning without a run scoring. Juan Perez pitched the 8th inning for Los Gigantes and struck out the side.
PUERTO RICAN LEAGUE Leones de Ponce 7, Gigantes de Carolina 6 -- 2B Benji Gonzalez singled and tripled for Los Gigantes, but Ponce pulled it out with 2 runs in the bottom of the 10th. Los Gigantes began the game with 3 runs in the top of the 1st. They added a run in the 6th on a single and Gonzalez's RBI triple. A double and a single gave them another run in the 7th. Los Leones scored one run in the 5th, then tied the score with 3 walks and a grand slam in the 7th. The game went into extra innings, but Carolina quickly scored a run in the top of the 10th with a single and a double. But in the bottom of the frame, Ponce had a runner reach base on an error, and a 2-run homer gave them the walk-off win. Gonzalez also singled in the 4th but was caught stealing.
Senadores de San Juan 8, Criollos de Caguas 2 -- Another game with 3 runs scored in the top of the 1st, and Los Criollos were chasing Los Senadores for the rest of the game. Los Criollos scored their runs in the 7th, on a pair of doubles and an RBI single by 3B Ramon Vazquez. SS Luis Figueroa singled in the 4th, but was left on base.
The following is from Pirates Prospects contributor John Dreker, as part of his ongoing Pirates History feature. The feature focuses on the history of...
A few signing notes for former Pirates, all minor league contracts: 1B Brad Eldred signed with the Giants, P Ian Snell and INF Ramon Vazquez signed with the Cardinals, and OF Matt Kata signed with the Rangers.
Cheering for a few Pirates' players and friends in the winter league playoffs....
PUERTO RICAN LEAGUE Leones de Ponce 2, Criollos de Caguas 1 -- RJ Rodriguez earned his 3rd save of the playoffs with a perfect 9th inning of work. Los Leones scored their runs in the 4th, on three straight hits -- a single and two doubles. Los Criollos' only run came in the top of the 6th, on a double, a ground out by SS Luis Figueroa which moved the runner to third, and a RBI single. 3B Ramon Vazquez singled to lead off the 5th for Los Criollos, but he was caught stealing second base.
Gigantes de Carolina 5, Senadores de San Juan 4 -- Benji Gonzalez made the start at second base for Los Gigantes, and he scored their first run. In the bottom of the 1st, Gonzalez singled, advanced to third on a throwing error, and scored on a sacrifice fly. San Juan scored 3 runs in the top of the 2nd, and Los Gigantes countered with a run in the bottom of the 3rd, on 3 singles. They tied the score in the 7th with a double, a hit batter, and an RBI single. The tie continued into the top of the 10th, when Los Senadores took the lead with a single and a double. But four singles in the bottom of the inning drove in 2 runs to give Los Gigantes the win.
