In Venezuela on Monday night, Jose Osuna lost his hitting streak, but came up big in the second game of a doubleheader. In game one, Osuna went 0-for-2 with a walk, so the nine-game hit streak is gone, but he currently has an 11-game on base streak going. He started at first base in the first game and moved to left field for the nightcap. Osuna went 2-for-3 in the second game, connecting on his second homer of the winter, while also driving in another run with a sacrifice fly. He has a .353 average through 15 games. I’ve added videos below for both of his home runs. They’re worth watching just for the home run calls.
Junior Sosa hit lead-off in game one and played center field, going 1-for-3, with a sacrifice bunt.
Francisco Diaz got the start behind the plate in game two and went 1-for-2 with an RBI, before being taken out for a pinch-hitter in the seventh inning. He is 1-for-6 in five games this winter.
In the Dominican, Edwin Espinal got his first start of the winter and hit a solo home run in his first at-bat. He was a late defensive replacement in his only other game. Espinal played six games last winter as one of the youngest players in the league, seeing all of his time at the end of the season.
Willy Garcia went 1-for-4 with a double and an RBI. It’s the first extra-base hit for Garcia, who is 4-for-21 in six games this winter. He missed a few games due to a facial injury caused by a poor headfirst slide into home plate.
Josh Wall threw a scoreless inning, getting a strikeout and giving up a walk. He only threw ten pitches in the frame.
There were only two games on the schedule on Monday in the Dominican and the second game ended up being postponed after four innings, so the stats won’t count. Andrew Lambo started at first base for the first time this winter and went 0-for-1 with a HBP. As mentioned, the stats won’t count, but that HBP would’ve been the first time he reached base this winter. He went 0-for-9 in his first three games. Mel Rojas Jr. also played in the postponed game and had a single in his only at-bat.
There was only one game in Mexico on Monday and no Pirates’ players were involved.
The league in Puerto Rico begins play on Friday. We should have the rosters for the league soon.
Osuna’s home run from Monday
Osuna’s home run last week
