The Mexican Pacific League started their playoffs on New Years' Day. Los Tomateros De Culiacan beat Los Venados de Mazatlan 4-3, and Rogelios Noris did not get into the game. It took 11 innings for Los Caneros de Los Mochis to beat Los Algodoneros de Guasave 7-6. Yurendell de Caster singled in a run for Guasave in the 6th. More playoff games, including Puerto Rican and Dominican games, on Sunday.
AUSTRALIAN LEAGUE Adelaide Bite 12, Canberra Cavalry 1 -- This game ended after the top of the 7th, with the Bite ahead by more than 10 runs (international rules). The Cavalry started off well, with a run in the top of the 1st on an error and an RBI double. But that was the only hit and the only run they would get. Bite starter Darren Fidge pitched 5 innings and struck out 7 batters, while allowing the one run, one hit, and one walk. Two relievers each pitched a perfect inning. The Bite started scoring in the bottom of the 1st, loading the bases with a single and two walks. Quincy Latimore, in center field today, struck out swinging, but strike three was a wild pitch, which allowed the runner from third base to score. An RBI ground out brought in a second run. The Bite powered up in the 4th inning, with three home runs -- a solo homer, a double followed by a 2-run homer, and a batter reaching on an error, followed by another 2-run homer. Latimore also walked in that inning, after all the homers, but was left on base. The Cavalry changed pitchers, bringing Rinku Singh on to pitch the 5th inning, but he did not have much better luck. A single, a walk, and another single loaded the bases. An RBI single and an RBI ground out drove in one run each, and another came in on a throwing error. Latimore also grounded out to drive in a run, and Singh was charged with 4 runs (3 earned) on 3 hits and 2 walks. The Cavalry tried another pitcher for the bottom of the 6th, and he got one out, then walked three consecutive batters. A wild pitch must have bounced just right, because the Cavalry catcher and pitcher were able to tag the runner from third out at the plate. They were not as lucky with the next wild pitch, as the Bite scored their final run.
Sydney Blue Sox 10, Perth Heat 3 -- The Blue Sox took an early lead with 4 runs in the 1st and 3 runs in the 2nd. Then they added 2 more in the 5th and one in the 6th. Perth scratched out a run in the 5th and 2 runs in the 6th. Jarryd Sullivan pitched the bottom of the 9th for the Blue Sox. He walked the first batter of the inning, then got a grounder force out, a strikeout, and a fly out to end the game.
Happy New Year! The Australians have started the new year with some baseball, early Saturday morning for the rest of us. The Caribbean leagues will be in playoff mode now. The Dominicans have already started their round robin style playoff tournament. The Mexican Pacific League begins their playoffs tonight, and the rest will be in action on Sunday.
Adelaide Bite 5, Canberra Cavalry 2 -- Not a lot of hits for either team. The Cavalry had 6 hits, and two of them were solo home runs, one in the 7th and one in the 8th inning. That was all of their scoring. The Bite needed only 2 of their 5 hits to score 5 runs in the 7th. The inning began with a walk and a hit batter. A sacrifice bunt moved the runners into scoring position, and an RBI ground out brought in the first Bite run. A pair of walks loaded the bases, and the Cavalry changed pitchers. But the new pitcher walked LF Quincy Latimore to force in the second run of the inning. Two singles drove in 3 more runs, and the Bite had all they needed. Latimore also singled in the 4th and stole second base, then walked in the 6th. Jackson Lodge pitched the top of the 9th for the Bite, and gave up a single, while striking out two batters, to earn his first save.
Just in case you were wondering for the new year.... 96 days until the Indy Indians (and the rest of the minor leagues') Opening Day.
