Sunday’s winter league action for Pirates’ players and friends…the Dominican League is down to their last few days of the regular season, which ends on the 21st.
VENEZUELAN LEAGUE
Tiburones de La Guaira 8, Caribes de Anzoategui 3
A 4-run 7th inning by Los Tiburones put the game out of reach of Los Caribes. Los Caribes scored one run in the 3rd inning, in a rally that began with a single up the middle. CF Gorkys Hernandez grounded to third, but beat out the relay to first, preventing a double play. Hernandez moved to second on a ground out and came around to score on an RBI single. Los Caribes took a brief 3-2 lead with a 2-run homer in the 3rd inning, but Los Tiburones scored 2 in the 5th, then had the big 7th inning.
Tigres de Aragua 6, Cardenales de Lara 5
Los Cardenales probably thought they were sitting pretty with their 5-run 3rd inning. With 4 of those runs already in, Wil Ledezma came on in relief, and gave up an RBI single, then ended the inning with a ground out. Los Tigres scored 2 runs in the top of the 3rd, beginning with a double and a single, then a walk to RF Jonel Pacheco. SS Ronny Cedeno hit a sacrifice fly that drove in two runs. Cedeno also doubled in the 5th, driving in two more runs, including Pacheco, who had singled, to bring Los Tigres within one run of Los Cardenales. A single and two walks loaded the bases for Los Tigres in the 8th. Former Pirate Romulo Sanchez was brought on in relief for Los Cardenales, but he gave up a single to tie the score, then a wild pitch to give Los Tigres the winning run. 1B Hector Gimenez and LF Jorge Cortes were both hitless in the game.
Leones del Caracas 4, Bravos de Margarita 3
Anthony Claggett pitched 6 scoreless innings in his start for Los Bravos, for no decision. He scattered 3 hits and 2 walks over his 6 innings. Los Bravos had the early lead with 2 runs in the bottom of the 1st off Los Leones’ starter (and former Pirate farmhand) Ronald Uviedo. A double and a walk put two runners on base. They added one run in the bottom of the 7th on two singles and a double off Caracas reliever Justin Thomas. Los Leones scored their first run in the top of the 8th with a solo homer. Then in the top of the 9th, Los Leones came from behind to score 3 runs and take the win. With another former Pirate farmhand, Ronald Belisario, on the mound for Los Bravos, one Caracas runner on first and two outs, two singles and a double tied the game at 3-3. CF Corey Wimberly was intentionally walked to load the bases, and a passed ball allowed the winning run to score from third base.
DOMINICAN LEAGUE
Gigantes del Cibao 5, Estrellas de Oriente 2
Los Gigantes scored their 5 runs in the first two innings, then held Los Estrellas to 2 runs on 5 hits. Both 1B Jake Fox and C Dusty Brown were hitless for Los Estrellas.
Leones del Escogido 6, Toros del Este 2
Los Toros, managed by Pirates’ Dean Treanor, scored 2 runs in the top of the 6th, on two singles and a double. Los Leones answered with 6 runs in the bottom of the frame. Two walks and two doubles brought in 2 runs to tie the score. CF Starling Marte singled up the middle to drive in the go-ahead run and an insurance run, and another double and two more singles gave Los Leones 6 runs in the inning. Marte also singled in the 1st inning and stole second base.
PUERTO RICAN LEAGUE
Indios de Mayaguez 3, Leones de Ponce 2
SS Benji Gonzalez singled in the 3rd inning rally, though he was forced out at second base on the subsequent play, when the first run of the game scored. An RBI single gave Ponce their second and last run. Los Indios scored one run on a walk, a single, and an RBI grounder in the 6th. A walk and a 2-run homer in the 8th gave Los Indios the win.
AUSTRALIAN LEAGUE
Melbourne Aces 8, Perth Heat 5
DH Aaron Baker went 3-for-5 for the Heat, including a solo homer to tie the game in the 6th, but a 4-run 8th inning gave the win to the Aces. Baker started a rally for the Heat in the 2nd inning with a single, but after loading the bases, the Heat could not push any runners across to score. Melbourne scored first with a 2-run homer in the top of the 3rd, and the Heat answered with their own 2-run homer in the bottom of the frame. The Aces scored one run in the top of the 4th, then Baker’s homer tied the score tied the score at 3-3 in the 6th. Four singles, a double, and a hit batter gave the Aces 4 runs in the top of the 8th, then another solo homer added their final run in the top of the 9th. Baker picked up his third hit of the game in the bottom of the 8th, when he began another rally with a single. A hit batter and a double gave the Heat 2 more runs, but they again left the bases loaded and could not catch up to the Aces.
