In playoff action last night from the Dominican, Kris Johnson continued his brilliant Winter League season, allowing one run on two hits over seven innings, helping his team to an important win. Johnson has pitched well this entire Winter, allowing more than one earned run just once, and even that was only two runs back on December 30th. In 53.1 innings between the regular season and playoffs, Johnson has allowed 33 hits and has posted a 1.18 ERA. With the win, his Leones del Escogido team clinched a spot in the DWL Championship series against Aguilas Cibaenas.
Johnson did pitch well, but when he left the game after seven innings, his team still trailed 1-0. They went down another two runs in the top of the eighth before making a comeback in the bottom of the inning. The scoring in that inning for Escogido began with an RBI single from Starling Marte, who came around to score one batter later on a three run homer. Marte finished the day 1-for-4.
In the other playoff game from the Dominican, Felix Pie and Alex Valdez each got the start. Batting seventh and eighth in the lineup, Pie went 1-for-3, with a single and stolen base, while Valdez followed him with an 0-for-3 night.
In Venezuela, Darren Ford came off the bench for the third straight game as a defensive replacement in left field. Unlike the previous two games, he got an AB last night. Ford continued his poor postseason performance, striking out in his only AB, still leaving him hitless in the playoffs.
News From Colombia
In Winter League action out of Colombia from Tuesday night, Dilson Herrera went 2-for-5, with two singles and an RBI.
Harold Ramirez went 0-for-2, with a walk, run scored and sacrifice hit.
Oderman Rocha took the loss in relief, allowing two hits and three walks in one inning of work. Coming into the game, he had a 2.45 ERA, allowing just nine walks over 25.2 innings.
The league finished up it’s regular season schedule last night(results will be posted tomorrow) and playoffs begin on Friday.
News From Down Under
In Australian Baseball League action from today, Zac Fuesser got the start for Adelaide, going six innings and taking the loss in his team’s 3-2 defeat. He allowed three runs on seven hits, two walks and he struck out six. Fuesser threw 94 pitches, 64 for strikes.
Stefan Welch was the only Pirates player in the starting lineup. He went 0-for-4.
In the U18 National Youth Championships, Sam Kennelly went 1-for-3 in the first game of the day, with a run scored and an RBI single in the third inning. His team moved to 8-0 in the tournament with a 7-4 win. In the second game, his team rolled to an easy 10-2 win, posting nine runs over the first three innings. Kennelly walked in the first, singled in the second and had a two-run double in the third inning. He is 14-for-28 in the tournament with 12 RBI’s.
Pitcher Nick Hutchings started at shortstop on his day off, going 0-for-2, with a walk and run scored. He finished the game defensively at first base.
