Checking in on Pirates’ players and friends in Tuesday’s winter league action:
PUERTO RICAN LEAGUE
Indios de Mayaguez 2, Criollos de Caguas o
Los Indios took a 2-1 game lead in this best-of-9 series with a shut-out win. Los Criollos were held to 4 hits. Two of them were surrendered by Justin Thomas, who made what was for him an unusual start for Los Indios. Thomas pitched into the 3rd inning. He retired Los Criollos in order in the 1st, and gave up a lone single in the 2nd. In the 3rd, he got two outs and gave up a double, then a walk — then was relieved. Los Indios scored their runs in the 4th inning, when they opened the inning with 3 consecutive singles and a sacrifice fly. A fielder’s choice grounder forced out a runner at the plate, but another single drove in Los Indios’ second run.
DOMINICAN LEAGUE
Tigres del Licey 6, Leones del Escogido 5
A 4-run 7th inning made the difference for Los Tigres. Los Tigres scored their first 2 run in the 2nd inning, when DH Ronny Paulino led off with a walk. 3B Yamaico Navarro singled, and a fielding error loaded the bases. A 2-RBI single drove in both Paulino and Navarro. A triple and a single gave one of those runs back to Los Leones in the bottom of the inning. Los Leones took the lead with a 2-run homer in the 6th. Los Tigres regained the lead in the top of the 7th. A lead-off single and a bunt put a runner on second base, and he scored on an RBI single. A hit batter and a walk loaded the bases for Los Tigres. 2B Anderson Hernandez drove in a run with a single, then Paulino drove in two more runs with another single. Los Leones cut the lead to 6-4 with a run in the 7th. In the 9th, a single, a wild pitch and an error brought Los Leones to within one run, but they could not score again.
VENEZUELAN LEAGUE
Tigres de Aragua 5, Tiburones de La Guaira 2
Los Tigres won by taking several small bites out of Los Tiburones. They scored one run in the 1st with a solo homer, and one in the 3rd on a walk to LF Jorge Cortes, a sacrifice bunt by CF Jonel Pacheco, and an RBI double. A single by 1B Hector Gimenez, then a walk, and an RBI single. After a double in the top of the 7th, Cortes singled to drive in Los Tigres 4th run. Pacheco sacrificed again, and a sacrifice fly plated Cortes. Los Tiburones scored their runs in the bottom of the 6th, with a triple and an RBI double, then a wild pitch and an RBI single. That was the end of starter Yusmeiro Petit’s evening. Wil Ledezma came on in relief, giving up a walk before ending the inning with a ground out.
Navegantes del Magallanes 6, Caribes de Anzoategui 4
Los Caribes began the scoring with a 2-run homer in the top of the 2nd. They added another 2 runs in the 7th on 2 walks and 2 singles. Los Magallanes scored one in the 2nd, then jumped out with 4 runs in the 4th, on a bases-loaded triple and an RBI double. They tacked on an insurance run in the 7th with 2 singles and a double. Gorkys Hernandez went 0-for-3 with a walk for Los Caribes. Reliever Jean Machi picked up a Save for Los Navegantes with a scoreless 9th, though he gave up a single and the walk to Hernandez.
AUSTRALIAN LEAGUE
Canberra Cavalry 16, Melbourne Aces 7
It’s not the playoffs yet, but the Cavalry kicked off the final weekend of the regular season with 17 hits and 16 runs. 1B Travis Scott doubled and homered for the Cavalry and collected 4 RBI. His first RBI came in the top of the 1st. A hit batter, a walk, and an RBI double brought in the first run of the game. Scott drove in a run with an RBI ground out, and a third run scored on a single. The Cavalry scored 5 runs in the 2nd inning, beginning with a solo homer. After a walk and a single, Scott doubled, driving in the lead runner. A single drove in two more, including Scott, then a sacrifice fly gave Canberra the 5th run of the inning. A solo homer in the 4th, giving the Cavalry a 9-1 lead. The Aces homered in the 1st inning, then tried to catch up with 4 runs in the bottom of the 5th on a pair of 2-run homers. Melbourne scored one run in the 6th and homered again in the 7th, but the Cavalry were still riding. A single and four walks gave the Cavalry a run in the 5th, and a fielding error and a single drove in a run in the 8th. Two more homers gave the Cavalry their final 5 runs in the top of the 9th — with two outs, two singles and a 3-run homer were followed by another single and Scott’s 2-run homer finished up the scoring.
