Sunday’s winter league action for some Pirates’ players and friends:
DOMINICAN LEAGUE
Toros del Este 5, Estrellas de Oriente 1
Each team posted just 6 hits, but Los Toros made them count. Los Estrellas scored first with a solo homer in the 3rd. Former Pirate farmhand CF Rich Thompson singled in that inning also, but didn’t score. Matt Hague tied the score for Los Toros in the 4th inning with his second solo homer of the winter league season. Los Toros broke the tie with 4 runs in the 7th inning, taking advantage of 2 errors by Los Estrellas. A single, a bunt with an fielding error, and an intentional walk loaded the bases. Two singled drove in three runs, then a throwing error by Los Estrellas’ catcher on a double steal brought in another run. Hague walked in that inning, but was left on base. Tim Wood pitched a perfect 8th inning, with two strikeouts.
Tigres del Licey 5, Leones del Escogido 5
CF Starling Marte singled and scored for Los Leones, but it wasn’t enough. Los Tigres had a 5-0 lead by the middle of the 5th, scoring in every inning but the 4th. Los Leones scored two runs in the bottom of the 5th on a walk and two errors. Marte’s single came in the 6th, and he reached as far as second base, but no further. He was hit by a pitch to lead off the bottom of the 8th, then came around to score on a single and a sacrifice fly.
VENEZUELAN LEAGUE
Tigres de Aragua 4, Tiburones de La Guaira 0
1B Hector Gimenez and LF Lastings Milledge each had a single for Los Tigres. Both singles came in the 6th inning after a walk, and Milledge’s hit drove in a run. Los Tigres also scored single runs in the 1st, 7th, and 9th.
Caribes de Anzoategui 2, Cardenales de Lara 0
Los Caribes put one run onto the scoreboard with a solo homer in the bottom of the 1st. CF Gorkys Hernandez scored the only other run of the game when he led off the bottom of the 5th with a single. A hit batter and a bunt moved Hernandez to third base, and he scored on a sacrifice fly. Hernandez also prevented Los Cardenales from scoring in the 2nd inning. After a double, a single up the middle had the runner rounding third and heading for home. Hernandez’s throw in to the plate was on time and on target, and the runner was tagged out at the plate.
Leones del Caracas 5, Navegantes del Magallanes 0
Four errors by Los Magallanes helped Los Leones score 2 runs in the 2nd, one in the 6th, and 2 more in the 8th. Pirates’ DH Ramon Cabrera dropped down a sacrifice bunt after a lead-off double in the 8th, but a throwing error allowed Cabrera to reach second base and allowed the other runner to score. Cabrera moved up to third on a ground out, and scored on an RBI single. Former Pirate SS Argenis Diaz came into the game in the 8th for Los Navegantes, and popped out in his only plate appearance.
Aguilas del Zulia 4, Bravos de Margarita 1
Anthony Claggett got the start for Los Bravos and he also suffered the loss, allowing 4 runs on 5 hits in 4 innings. Three of the runs came in the top of the 1st, on a four consecutive hits: double, homer, double, double. He retired the side in order in the 2nd, then gave up another run in the 3rd on a walk, a single, and a sacrifice fly. Claggett retired Los Aguilas in order again in the 4th, but was relieved after that inning. Los Bravos were held scoreless until the bottom of the 9th, when they scored one run on a double, a single, and a run-scoring double play. Former Pirate C Carlos Maldonado went 0-for-4 for Zulia in the game.
