In Wednesday’s winter league games:
VENEZUELAN LEAGUE (still in the round-robin tournament)
Leones de Caracas 9, Aguilas de Zulia 0 — Los Leones posted 14 hits, while 5 of their pitchers combined for to shut-out Los Aguilas. 2B Jose Castillo went 4-for-4 for Los Leones. His RBI single drove in the first Caracas’ run in the bottom of the 2nd. A double, a triple, and a sacrifice fly brought in 2 runs in the 3rd. LF Mike Ryan and Castillo hit back-to-back singles to begin the 4th inning, and C Carlos Maldonado followed with a sacrifice bunt. A walk loaded the bases, and moments later, an RBI single plated Ryan with Caracas’ 4th hit. Castillo also singled in the 5th, then he sparked a big 8th inning rally when he followed Ryan’s lead-off single with a triple. A walk, a single, and an error brought in 2 more runs, then two doubles drove in a run each.
DOMINICAN LEAGUE (Championship series)
Toros del Este 5, Estrellas de Oriente 3 — Los Toros’ starter Raul Valdes pitched a complete game and struck out 7 batters as Los Toros won the first game of the championship series. Los Estrellas’ 3 runs all came in the 2nd inning, on a walk and 4 singles. After that inning, Valdes scattered just a walk and two singles over the rest of the game. Los Toros scored a run in the 3rd, then 3 runs in the 4th. After a walk, a double, and two singles brought in 2 runs in the 4th, Los Estrellas brought in Franquelis Osoria for relief, but he gave up another RBI single and a walk before ending the inning. Los Toros scored again in the 6th.
PUERTO RICAN LEAGUE (Championship series)
Criollos de Caguas 7, Leones de Ponce 6 — A solo homer with two outs in the bottom of the 11th broke a 6-6 to give Los Criollos the first game of the series. Los Criollos were leading 6-4 until Ponce tied it up with 2 runs in the top of the 9th. SS Luis Figueroa singled twice for Los Criollos but did not scored. RJ Rodriguez came on in relief for Ponce in the 9th, when he retired the side in order. He also pitched the 10th, and gave up a two-out single to Figueroa and walked pinch-hitter Ramon Vazquez, but left both on base.
AUSTRALIAN LEAGUE (last series of the regular season)
Adelaide Bite 9, Brisbane Bandits 6 (Game 1) — This was supposed to be a 7-inning game, but the Bite tied it up in the top of the 7th. A single, a walk, and DH Quincy Latimore getting hit by a pitch loaded the bases with two outs, and he was replaced by a pinch runner. Another hit batter forced in a run, then a double drove in two runs for the tie. The Bite came close to taking the lead at that point, but the runner from first base was thrown out at the plate. After two quiet innings, the Bite began the top of the 10th with a batter reaching on an error. A single and a double brought in one run, then back-to-back sacrifice flies added 2 insurance runs. Latimore was 0-for-3 in his other trips to the plate. Paul Mildren made the start for the Bite, and for the second start in a row he struggled. This time the long ball was his enemy. He gave up a pair of solo home runs (not back-to-back) followed by a double in the 1st inning, then another solo homer in the 2nd. He walked two and threw a wild pitch in the 3rd, though those runners did not come around to score. He gave up another run in the 4th on a walk and two singles, and was relieved at that point.
Bite 6, Bandits 5 (Game 2) — And then the second game went into extra innings too. This time the Bite scored 3 in the 3rd and 2 in the 5th, but the Bandits caught up and tied the score with solo homers in the 8th and the 9th. The Bite won it in the bottom of the 10th on a single and three consecutive walks, forcing in the winning run. Latimore did not make an appearance in this game.
