Checking in on Pirates’ players and friends in Tuesday’s winter league action:
DOMINICAN LEAGUE
Leones del Escogido 3, Estrellas de Oriente 2
CF Starling Marte led off the bottom of the 11th inning with a triple into left field, then scored on an RBI single for Los Leones’ walk-off win. Marte also tripled in the 4th inning, driving in Los Leones’ first run, then scored on another single. A double, a fielding error, and a single gave Los Estrellas one run in the 3rd. They tied the score in the top of the 9th with two singles, including one by LF/C Jake Fox. The lead runner scored from third base on a double play. Fox was 1-for-4 and struck out 3 times. C Dusty Brown made the start behind the plate for Los Estrellas, but was replaced by a pinch-hitter in the 3rd inning. Fox moved from the outfield to behind the plate after that.
Aguilas Cibaenas 5, Toros del Este 4
Los Toros scored 4 runs in the bottom of the 1st, but did not score again in the game. Pedro Ciriaco led off with a single, and a single and a double followed, driving in one run. A ground out drove in the second run, and a wild pitch allowed a third run to score. The fourth run of the inning came in on another RBI double. Los Aguilas scored one run in the top of the 1st, then 2 in each of the 3rd and 4th innings. Los Toros’ reliever Fabio Castillo (Rangers) took the loss, despite striking out 9 batters in 4.2 innings. 1B Matt Hague walked to lead off the 6th but was left stranded. He also singled to lead off the 8th, then was replaced by a pinch-runner, who also was also left on base.
VENEZUELAN LEAGUE
Aguilas del Zulia 7, Cardenales de Lara 6
Pirates’ Mike Crotta made his debut for Los Cardenales tonight with two scoreless innings. Crotta entered the game in the 7th, after the lead-off batter had been hit by a pitch. He got a pop out and then a double play to end that inning. He gave up two singles in the 8th, but left both runners on base. Diego Moreno pitched 1.2 innings for Los Aguilas. He began his appearance with a throwing error on a pick off attempt in the top of the 7th, but got a ground out and a strike out to end the inning. Moreno retired the side in order in the top of the 8th. Los Aguilas scored 3 runs in the 2nd, with former Pirate Carlos Maldonado contributing an RBI on a grounder to second — a fielding error allowed a second run to score on the play. Maldonado drove in 2 more runs with a 2-RBI single in Los Aguilas’ 4-run 3rd. Lara scored 2 runs in the 1st and one run in the 2nd, and nearly caught up with 3 runs in the 5th.
Tiburones de La Guaira 10, Caribes de Anzoategui 8
CF Gorkys Hernandez homered and singled for Los Caribes, but he also committed a key error that allowed Los Tiburones to score the winning runs in the top of the 10th inning. Los Tibureones had the early lead, scoring 3 runs in the 1st, and 4 runs in the 3rd, with a homer in each. A solo homer in the 5th gave them a total of 8 runs. Los Caribes scored one run with a solo homer in the 1st and Hernandez’s 2-run homer brought the score to 8-3 in the bottom of the 5th. Los Caribes tied the score with 5 runs in the bottom of the 7th, on a double, two singles, two walks, and an error. Hernandez singled in the bottom of the 9th, but was left stranded. With two outs and two on in the top of the 10th, Hernandez made a throwing error on a single — the first runner scored the go-ahead run on the single, but the second run came in on the error. Los Caribes put two runners on base in the bottom of the inning, but could not bring them across the plate.
Navegantes del Magallanes 3, Tigres de Aragua 2
Former Pirate Jean Machi earned his 4th win for Los Navegantes. He entered the game in the bottom of the 8th with two outs and got a foul pop to end the inning. He was the pitcher of record when Los Navegantes scored the winning run on a single and a double in the top of the 9th. Los Magallanes scored one run in each of the 3rd and the 5th innings. Los Tigres scored both of their runs in the bottom of the 3rd. A walk, a single, a fielding error by Navegantes’ SS Argenis Diaz, and a double brought in the runs. 1B Hector Gimenez doubled in the 9th inning for Los Tigres, while LF Lastings Milledge and SS Ronny Cedeno were both hitless.
MEXICAN PACIFIC LEAGUE
Naranjeros de Hermosillo 7, Venados de Mazatlan 3
RF Rogelio Noris walked twice in four plate appearances for his home town Mazatlan. His walk in the 2nd inning loaded the bases, but all three runners were left on base. Los Venados scored one run in the 3rd and 2 in the 7th, but could not keep up with Los Naranjeros.
PUERTO RICAN LEAGUE
Indios de Mayaguez 6, Criollos de Caguas 3
Pirates’ Nelson Figueroa made the start for Los Criollos, going 6 innings and allowing 2 runs (one earned) on 6 hits. He also walked 2 batters and struck out three. A walk and a fielding error brought in Los Indios’ first run in the 1st inning. Figueroa gave up a run in the 4th on three singles and a sacrifice fly. Figueroa’s teammates tied the score with an unearned run in the top of the 2nd and a solo homer in the top of the 6th, and the score was still tied when Figueroa left the game after the 6th. Los Indios scored again in the 7th when a bases-loaded hit batter forced in the go-ahead run. They added 3 insurance runs in the 8th, with a triple, a double, and 3 singles. Former Indy Indian SS Luis Figueroa drove in Los Criollos’ last run with a sacrifice fly in the top of the 9th.
Gigantes de Carolina 4, Leones de Ponce 1
Los Leones scored their only run in the top of the 1st with a walk and a double. Carolina scored 2 in the 2nd and one run in each of the 6th and the 7th. SS Benji Gonzalez went 0-for-3 in the game.
