Happy Thanksgiving! Checking in with the Pirates’ players and friends in Wednesday’s winter league action:
PUERTO RICAN LEAGUE
Indios de Mayaguez 1, Criollos de Caguas 0
Los Indios posted 10 hits but left 8 runners on base, scoring only one run. A double and two singles brought in the lone run, but left the bases loaded and one out. Unfortunately, 3B Jeremy Farrell bounced into a double play to end the rally. Farrell went 0-for-4 in the game.
Gigantes de Carolina 4, Leones de Ponce 2
Los Gigantes scored a pair of runs in each of the first two innings, leaving Los Leones to try to catch up. SS Benji Gonzalez went 0-for-2 at the plate, and made a throwing error, though the error did not lead to a run.
VENEZUELAN LEAGUE
Cardenales de Lara 6, Tigres de Aragua 2
Los Cardenales also put Los Tigres in the position of trying to catch up, with a 2-run 3rd inning and a 3-run 5th. Los Tigres scored one run in the 5th on a wild pitch and a double. SS Ronny Cedeno singled to begin a rally in the top of the 7th, and scored Aragua’s only other run on two more singles. Three other former Pirates got into the game: 1B Hector Gimenez and CF Jonel Pacheco each had a hit, and C Raul Chavez went o-for-4.
Caribes de Anzoategui 5, Bravos de Margarita 3
CF Gorkys Hernandez was hitless in two trips to the plate for Los Caribes, who did their scoring in three consecutive innings. They scored one run in the 2nd and one in the 4th, then scored on a 3-run homer in the 3rd.
Aguilas del Zulia 3, Leones del Caracas 2
A triple and a homer in the top of the 8th let Los Aguilas take the lead from Los Leones, and then hang on for the win. Caracas threatened in the bottom of the 8th, when Corey Wimberly led off with a double and moved to third on a sacrifice bunt, but Zulia’s Diego Moreno came on in relief and retired the next two batters to halt the rally.
DOMINICAN LEAGUE
Aguilas Cibaenas 5, Toros del Este 1
Los Aguilas scored 4 runs in the bottom of the 1st, on two doubles, two walks, and a single. Former Pirate pitcher Shane Youman made the start for Los Aguilas, allowing just one run over 6 innings of work, for his first win of the Dominican season. Los Toros’ only run came in the 4th inning when 1B Matt Hague had the second part of back-to-back singles. After a grounder force out on Hague at second, another single drove in the run.
AUSTRALIAN LEAGUE
Canberra Cavalry 5, Melbourne Aces 2
Two walks and a 3-run walk-off homer in the bottom of the 9th broke a 2-2 tie and gave Canberra the win. C Travis Scott went 0-for-3 with a walk for the Cavalry.
Adelaide Bite 8, Sydney Blue Sox 6
1B Calvin Anderson did the walk-off honors for the Bite, who were trailing 6-3 going into the bottom of the 9th. With two outs, a single and a homer brought the Bite within one run of the Blue Sox. After a walk and a single, Anderson blasted a 3-run homer over the right field wall to give Adelaide the win. Anderson also walked in the 8th, but was erased in a double play.
