Looking at some Pirates’ players and friends in Winter League play.
DOMINICAN LEAGUE
Aguilas Cibaenas 8, Leones del Escogido 1
Los Aguilas put up 5 runs in the 3rd inning and 3 more in the 4th. A 3-run homer aided Los Aguilas in the 3rd, and a triple brought in two of the runs in the 4th. Los Leones’ only run came on a solo homer in the bottom of the 3rd. 3B Andy Marte went 0-for-3 with a walk for Los Leones. Still no word about Starling Marte. Could he have strained something while making a play in the outfield? Or hit himself with a foul ball on one of the first few pitches he saw?
VENEZUELAN LEAGUE
Bravos de Margarita 11, Caribes de Anzoategui 3
A pair of 4-run innings gave Margarita the big edge over Los Caribes. Gorkys Hernandez entered the game as a defensive replacement in center field in the bottom of the 6th. Hernandez had two plate appearances — a fly out and a walk.
Aguilas del Zulia 4, Tigres de Aragua 3
A host of former Pirates and former Pirates’ farmhands got into this game. Los Tigres scored one run in the top of the 1st, and 2 more in the top of the 3rd. They had a 3-1 lead going into the bottom of the 6th, when Los Aguilas loaded the bases on two walks in a single. A triple cleared the bases and gave Zulia the win. LF Lastings Milledge singled to open the 6th and doubled to lead off the 8th, but did not score either time. After the double in the 8th, Jorge Cortes came to the on-deck circle as a pinch-hitter. When Los Aguilas changed pitchers, Cortes was pulled, and Jonel Pacheco pinch-hit — and ground out. Raul Chavez came into the game as a defensive replacement behind the plate in the bottom of the 8th, but did not get a plate appearance.
AUSTRALIAN LEAGUE
Games begin on Thursday night (Australian time). Several Pirates’ minor leaguers are involved:
Adelaide Bite: OF Calvin Anderson and LHP Jackson Lodge, as well as former Altoona Curve RHP Paul Mildren are on their active roster. RHP Ryan Beckman, RHP Mitch Fienemann, LHP Rinku Singh, and C Dylan Child are all “reassigned”, which seems to mean that they are not on the active roster.
Canberra Calvary: C Travis Scott is on their roster
Perth Heat: former Pirate farmhand (traded during the season) 1B Aaron Baker
Sydney Blue Sox: P Jarryd Sullivan and INF Gift Ngoepe are both on the roster but are “reassigned”
UPDATE: The Australians were rained out on Thursday night. They’ll try again on Friday.
Thanks for the info in the comments! Marte has groin tightness, and Xavier Paul is on the “reassigned” part of the Brisbane Bandits’ roster.
