The Venezuelan and Mexican Pacific Leagues had a scheduled day off on Monday. The Dominican League had just one game going.
The Puerto Rican and Australian winter leagues (well, summer for the Aussies) begin in a few more weeks.
Team USA is on a short break before continuing with the Pan Am games later this week.
Toros del Este 5, Estrellas de Oriente 4
Los Estrellas scored the first run of the game in the bottom of the 1st, without benefit of a hit. Former Pirate farmhand CF Rich Thompson walked to lead off the inning. Then he did what Indianapolis fans saw him do over and over — he stole both second and third bases. A fielding error at second base allowed Thompson to score. That was the only run starter Chris Leroux allowed in his four innings of work. He gave up a single in the 3rd inning, and struck out 6 batters.
Dean Treanor’s Toros del Este batters had 2 hits in the top of the 1st, but one runner was doubled off first base when SS Chase d’Arnaud flied out. Los Toros took the lead with a 2-run homer in the 6th inning. A walk, a sacrifice bunt, and an error gave them one run in the top of the 7th. A single, a wild pitch, and a fielding error added 2 unearned runs. D’Arnaud was hit by a pitch, giving Los Toros runners on the corners, but double play forced out d’Arnaud at second and ended the inning.
Thompson hit the first of two singles for Los Estrellas in the bottom of the 8th, and of course he stole third base. He didn’t need his speed to score, though, as two walks forced him in. A single drove in two more runs, and brought in former Pirate Tim Wood to pitch for Los Toros. Wood ended the inning with a quick ground out, as Los Estrellas had come within one run of Los Toros, 5-4. After Los Toros went down in order in the top of the 9th, Wood returned to the mound for the bottom of the frame. He gave up a lead-off single, then a bunt and a wild pitch put that runner on third base. But Wood earned a Save by getting two ground outs to end the game.
Luis Santos, who pitched for the DSL Pirates in 2010, pitched to two batters for Los Estrellas in the top of the 8th. He gave up a walk, then ended the inning with a grounder force out.
