Pirates’ players and friends in winter league action:
MEXICAN PACIFIC LEAGUE
Naranjeros de Hermosillo 2, Venados de Mazatlan 1
Los Naranjeros scored lone runs in both the 3rd and 4th innings, with a double and a single in each. Los Venados were kept scoreless and held to just 2 hits and 2 walks over the first 7 innings of the game. They finally scored their one run in the top of the 8th, with a double and an RBI single. In the top of the 9th, Los Venados put a runner on base with a two-out single. Rogelio Noris came in to pinch-run, but the next batter grounded out to end the game.
VENEZUELAN LEAGUE
Tigres de Aragua 7, Bravos de Margarita 3
A 4-run 8th inning by Los Tigres broke a 3-3 tie to give Aragua the win. With one out in the top of the 8th inning, three consecutive walks (by two Bravos’ pitchers) loaded the bases, and a walk by the third pitcher of the inning forced in the go-ahead run. Former Pirate farmhand Hector Gimenez added a second run with a sacrifice fly. Then Lastings Milledge drove in two more with a triple into center field. More former Pirate farmhands — C Raul Chavez singled for Los Tigres in the 9th and was replaced by pinch runner Jonel Pacheco, who did not get the chance to score. Gimenez also singled in a run in the top of the 1st, and Milledge singled to lead off the 4th, but was thrown out trying to steal second base.
Caribes de Anzoategui 6, Navegantes del Magallanes 0
CF Gorkys Hernandez singled three times for Los Caribes and stole two bases in this shut-out. Los Caribes scored one run in each of the first three innings. Hernandez contributed his first single in the 2nd inning rally — the middle of three consecutive singles, scoring one run. He singled and stole second in the 4th inning and again in the 6th. Los Caribes hit back-to-back solo homers in the 7th, then a double and two singles scored the third run of that inning.
AUSTRALIAN LEAGUE
Adelaide Bite 10, Canberra Cavalry 7
The Bite scored 8 runs over the first 4 innings, and the Cavalry could not catch up. An RBI double and a 2-RBI single gave the Bite 3 runs in the 2nd inning. A walk, a stolen base, and an RBI single brought in one run in the 3rd. In the bottom of the 4th, the Bite loaded the bases with a hit batter and two walks. Then 1B Calvin Anderson blasted a grand slam over the left field wall to give the Bite an 8-0 lead. The Cavalry started their come-back with a 3-run homer in the 5th. Two doubles and a single added 2 runs for the Cavalry in the 6th. C Travis Scott was hit by a pitch in the 7th, then scored when the next batter blasted a homer, cutting the Bite’s lead to just one run. But the Bite came on again in the bottom of the 8th to score 2 runs with a walk, a single, a double, and an RBI-grounder. Anderson was charged with a dropped pop foul error in the 7th, and was immediately removed from the game — I wonder if he hit the wall or a railing?
Perth Heat 6, Melbourne Aces 3
The Aces scored 3 runs in the bottom of the 1st, then the Heat scored 6 unanswered runs over the rest of the game. The Heat began with a solo homer in the 4th. Former Pirate 1B Aaron Baker added a 2-run homer in the 6th to tie the score, and that was immediately followed by C Allan de San Miguel’s solo homer to take the lead. Another solo homer in the 8th gave Perth some insurance. Baker contributed the final run in the top of the 9th, when he walked, moved to second on a passed ball, then scored on de San Miguel’s RBI single.
