Checking in on Pirates’ players and friends in Tuesday’s winter league action:
PUERTO RICAN LEAGUE
Criollos de Caguas 9, Leones de Ponce 5
Los Criollos scored 7 runs over the final two innings to take the win. Benji Gonzalez entered the game in the bottom of the 8th as a pinch-runner for Los Leones, and reached third base, but was left stranded. He remained in the game to play third base in the 9th. Former Indy Indian SS Luis Figueroa singled in the 3rd to drive in a run for Caguas, then came around to score.
Gigantes de Carolina 3, Indios de Mayaguez 2
Carolina trailed 2-0 going into the bottom of the 6th. They scored one run in the 6th on a solo homer, and two in the 7th on two walks, a single, and a wild pitch to take the win. Their only other hit in the game was a single after the homer in the 6th. Los Indios scored a run in the 1st on a walk, a stolen base, a wild pitch, and an RBI ground out. A double, a walk, and a single drove in their second run in the 5th. 3B Jeremy Farrell doubled for Los Indios in the 2nd inning, but was left standing there on second base. That hit raised his average to .180.
DOMINICAN LEAGUE
Aguilas Cibaenas 3, Estrellas de Oriente 1
Former Pirate Shane Youman earned his second win for Los Aguilas, going 5 innings and allowing just one run on 6 hits. That lone run for Los Estrellas came in the top of the 1st, when CF Felix Pie doubled, and 1B Jake Fox drove him in with an RBI single through to left field. Los Aguilas took the lead with 2 runs in the 4th inning, and added an insurance run in the 6th.
Leones del Escogido 7, Gigantes del Cibao 0
RF Starling Marte singled up the middle in the 3rd inning for Los Leones, plating one run, then he scored on a 3-run homer. Los Leones added a run in the 4th and 2 more in the 6th. Four Leones’ pitchers held Los Gigantes to 4 hits in this shut-out.
Toros del Este 1, Tigres del Licey 0
1B Matt Hague was held hitless in this pitching duel, while SS Pedro Ciriaco had one of Los Toros 6 hits. Hague still contributed to Los Toros only run-scoring rally — in the 3rd inning, after a double and a walk, Hague was hit by a pitch to load the bases. A sacrifice fly brought in the only run of the game.
VENEZUELAN LEAGUE
Tigres de Aragua 5, Caribes de Anzoategui 3
Los Tigres started with a bang, scoring 4 runs on two doubles and two singles in the bottom of the 1st. A 2-run homer and a double and a single gave Los Caribes 3 runs in the top of the 2nd, but Los Tigres did not allow them to score again. Then Los Tigres added an insurance run on a solo homer in the 6th. CF Jonel Pacheco singled for Los Tigres in the 6th after the home run. SS Ronny Cedeno struck out three times,and dropped down a sacrifice bunt for Aragua.
