Checking in with some Pirates’ players and friends in winter league play.
VENEZUELAN LEAGUE
Cardenales de Lara 4, Caribes de Anzoategui 3
Los Caribes had a 3-2 lead going into the bottom of the 8th. That’s when Los Cardenales took the lead and the win with a 2-run homer. CF Gorkys Hernandez went 1-for-3, with a single in the 5th inning.
Navegantes del Magallanes 6, Leones del Caracas 1
Four consecutive singles got Los Navegantes off to a 2 run lead in the top of the 1st. Los Leones got one run back with a double and a single in the bottom of the 1st. But that was all Los Leones would do, and Los Navegantes kept going, scoring one in each of the 3rd and 4th, and 2 more in the 7th. DH Ramon Cabrera went 0-for-4 for Los Leones.
DOMINICAN LEAGUE
Tigres del Licey 9, Toros del Este 6
Los Toros posted 4 runs in the 6th inning, but it was not enough to overcome two 4-run innings by Licey, in the 3rd and 4th. Matt Hague singled to drive in a run in the top of the 1st for Los Toros. Licey tied the score with a run in the bottom of the 2nd, then took a 9-1 lead with their two big innings. Aaron Thompson was the unfortunate pitcher on the mound in the 4th inning, giving up a triple, two doubles, a single, and a walk, on the way to 4 earned runs. Hague singled again in Los Toros’ 6th inning, and scored on a wild pitch He singled again in the 8th, but did not score.
PUERTO RICAN LEAGUE
The Puerto Rican league opened their season tonight, with a few Pirates’ minor leaguers on the rosters:
Criollos de Caguas — Pitcher Nelson Figueroa, along with former Indy Indian (2004) Inf Luis Figueroa
Indios de Mayaguez –Inf Jeremy Farrell, Inf Greg Picart, OF Adalberto Santos
Leones De Ponce — Inf Benji Gonzalez, and former Pirate farmhand reliever RJ Rodriguez
Gigantes de Carolina 7, Criollos de Caguas 6
This game had the lead going back and forth, with Los Criollos tying the score at 6-6 with 2 runs in the bottom of the 9th. A walk, a single by SS Luis Figueroa, and a 2-RBI double brought in the tying runs. Los Gigantes took the lead again in the top of the 10th, with two walks, a wild pitch to move both runners into scoring position, and an RBI single. Figueroa had 3 singles in the game.
Leones De Ponce 4, Indios de Mayaguez 1
Los Leones scored one run in the 2nd, and 2 runs in the 3rd, all on doubles and singles. They added an unearned run, courtesy of two throwing errors in the 7th. Los Indios only run came in the 6th, on a throwing error and two singles. 3B Jeremy Farrell went 0-for-3 at the plate. RJ Rodriguez pitched the 9th inning for Ponce and earned his first Save of the season.
AUSTRALIAN LEAGUE
A busy day, with three double headers…. except there was a rain-out in Perth.
Adelaide vs. Perth — Game 1 was suspended after Adelaide had scored 3 in the top of the 1st with a 3-run homer, and another run on two singles in the 2nd. Calvin Anderson had walked in the 1st and crossed the plate with the home run. Perth had only one base runner in the first two innings, when a batter was hit by a pitch. 1B Aaron Baker had grounded out in the 2nd. Adelaide began the top of the 3rd with two singles and two outs, and that’s where the game was halted. Game two was also postponed.
Brisbane Bandits 7, Canberra Calvary 4 (Game 1)
Calvary 5, Bandits 4 (Game 2)
The Bandits had control of Game 1, which included a 4-run 7th inning. Brisbane started the scoring in Game 2 with 2 runs in the 2nd, but the Calvary came charging back with 3 runs in the bottom of the frame. C Travis Scott began the rally with a lead-off single. A hit batter and a walk loaded the bases, then a bases-clearing double gave Canberra a 3-2 lead. The Bandits stole the lead right back with two more runs in the top of the 3rd, on two doubles and a triple. They tied the score at 4-4 with a solo homer in the bottom of the 6th. A double by 2B John Tolisano (Toronto) and a single by Scott followed the homer, but Tolisano, who was trying to score from second base on Scott’s single into right field, was thrown out at the plate. That tie lasted until the bottom of the 9th, when Tolisano was successful in crossing the plate — with a walk-off homer.
