PIRATES PROSPECTSPITTSBURGH PIRATES MINOR LEAGUE NEWS, TRANSACTIONS, AND ARTICLES

Cheering for Pirates' players and friends in the winter leagues on Tuesday...

PUERTO RICAN LEAGUE

Criollos de Caguas� 8,� Senadores de San Juan� 2� -- Former Indy Indian SS Luis Figueroa was just a homer away from hitting for the cycle, with 3 of Los Criollos' 15 hits.� 3B Ramon Vazquez also had a hit for Caguas.� Figueroa doubled in the 1st inning but was left on base.� He singled in the 3rd and scored on an RBI double in the 4-run 3rd inning, then he tripled a run in and scored in the 2-run 4th inning.� Caguas also scored one run in the 2nd and the 8th innings.

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DOMINICAN LEAGUE

Toros del Este� 6,� Tigres del Licey� 4� -- Los Toros posted a pair of 3-run innings to take the win.� They scored on three walks and two doubles in the 4th inning, and on two walks and three singles in the 5th, complicated by a throwing error by Los Tigres' C Robinzon Diaz.� Diaz had one hit for Licey, a single in the 8th inning, after a solo home run.� 1B Jake Fox also had one single for Los Tigres, but did not score.

Aguilas Cibaenas� 8,� Leones del Escogido�� 7� -- Another hit-fest, with Los Aguilas recording 12 hits and Los Leones piling up 17.� LF Starling Marte had one hit for Los Aguilas, a single to load the bases in the 5th.� A strikeout ended that inning without a run scoring.� He also reached base on fielding error in the 2nd inning, which allowed a run to score.� Los Aguilas' biggest inning was the 3rd, when DH Eric Patterson hit a grand slam.� Luke Carlin came into the game to catch for Los Aguilas in the 9th inning, but did not get a plate appearance.� Los Aguilas scored again in the 4th and 6th innings, and had an 8-2 lead going into the bottom of the 7th.� Los Leones scored 3 runs in the 7th, plus one more in each of the 8th and 9th innings, but still came up short.

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VENEZUELAN LEAGUE

Cardenales de Lara� 5,� Navegantes del Magallanes� 4� -- Three runs in the bottom of the 8th inning gave Lara the win.� A walk and two singles brought in the first two runs, to tie the game.� Jean Machi came on in relief for Los Navegantes, and he was able to prevent a run from scoring by fielding a come-backer and firing it back to the plate, to make the out at the plate. But a passed ball allowed the next runner on third base to score the go-ahead run.� Magallanes had scored 3 runs in the top of the 1st on a walk and three doubles, including a double by 1B Mike Ryan.� A home run added another run in the 6th.�� SS Argenis Diaz singled in the 2nd inning and walked to lead off the 7th inning for Magallanes, but did not score.� Former Pirate Romulo Sanchez pitched 1.2 innings for Lara.� He entered the game in the top of the 6th after the home run, with one runner on base and no outs.� He got a double play, then gave up a single before ending the inning with a ground out.� He walked Diaz and gave up a single in the 7th inning.

Bo Porter, who is one of the remaining manager candidates who has interviewed with the Pittsburgh Pirates, accepted a job as the third base...

Four Pirates prospects played today, but the Mesa Solar Sox lost 13-8: -Andrew Lambo (.304) started in right field, batting sixth.  He went 1-for-4 with...

A few quick, unrelated notes regarding the Arizona Fall League, 2011 World Series odds and the Pirates' managerial search.

It's been almost three weeks since the Pittsburgh Pirates have interviewed anyone for their vacant manager position, leading to speculation that they could be...

With the World Series coming to an end tonight, the 2010/2011 off-season officially begins tomorrow.  You can check out all of the important off-season...

In August, I considered whether the Pirates starting lineup could be significantly improved through free agency this upcoming offseason. I completed that post by promising a part two. Well, that was more than two months ago, but a promise is a promise.

Mesa Solar Sox� 15,� Peoria Saguaros� 1

The Solar Sox scored in all but two innings, and each member of the starting lineup had at least one hit and scored at least one run, as they withered the Saguaros this afternoon in the Arizona Fall League.�� RF Andrew Lambo contributed 3 of Mesa's 20 hits, including a home run.

It was all Solar Sox, all the time, right from the start.� In the bottom of the 1st, CF Jeremy Moore and SS Brandon Wood (both of the Angels) walked, and both moved up a base on a passed ball.� 1B Matt Rizzotti (Phillies) brought them in with a single up the middle.

The Sox added 4 runs in the 2nd inning, as the first four batters reached base safely:� a lead-off single by Lambo, a single by DH Ryan Flaherty (Cubs), a double by LF Kirk Nieuwenhuis (Mets) for 2 runs, and C Tim Kennelly (Phillies) was hit by a pitch.� A grounder and an error brought in another run, and two more singles (RBI by Wood) plated the fourth run.

By the 4th inning, things were getting out of hand.� Rizzotti doubled, then 3B Josh Vitters (Cubs) and Lambo hit back-to-back homers.� Solar Sox 9, Saguaros 0.� Two more runs scored in the 5th, when Lambo singled again.� Vitters and Flaherty had the RBI singles in that inning.� Another two runs came across in the 6th, one on a passed ball and one on a double play grounder.

The Solar Sox did not score in the 7th inning, but Jordy Mercer got a pinch-hitting appearance, though he grounded out.� The final two runs came in the bottom of the 8th.� Kennelly doubled, 2B Jordany Valdespin (Mets) tripled, and Wood hit a sacrifice fly, to make the score 15 - 0.

The Saguaros scored their only runs in the 9th inning.� With Ryan Brasier (Angels) on the mound, Peoria started with a single, and two ground outs moved the runner to third base.�� An RBI double drove in the lone run.

Josh Zeid (Phillies) earned his third win for the Solar Sox (3-0 record) with 4 shutout innings in the start.� Zeid allowed only 2 hits.�� Three more Phillies' pitchers, Tyson Brummett, BJ Rosenberg, and Justin De Fratus, each pitched a perfect inning for Mesa.� Chris Kissock (Phillies, of course), pitched a scoreless 8th inning, allowing 2 hits.

Limited winter league action on Monday night...� but back to full strength on Tuesday� (Go Vote!)

Tigres de Aragua� 6,� Leones del Caracas� 4� (Venezuelan League)� -- Starter Brian Bass won his first game for Los Tigres tonight.� He allowed 2 runs in the 1st inning on a single, a triple and an RBI ground out by Caracas' C Carlos Maldonado.�� Then Bass scattered 3 hits and 2 walks over the next four innings.� He started the 6th with a double and a line out before being relieved.

Los Tigres threatened in their half of the 1st, loading the bases on a single, a double, and a walk, but leaving the bases loaded.� C Raul Chavez was the only Aragua batter to reach base over the next four innings� -- he walked to lead off the 2nd inning, but was out in a double play.� He also led off the 5th with a single, but was again forced out at second base.

Aragua got going again in the 6th, starting with a double by CF Lastings Milledge. A walk and another double drove in two runs to tie the score, and Chavez's sacrifice fly brought in the third run for the lead.� A walk, a throwing error, and a wild pitch increased the lead to 4-2 in the 7th inning.

Chavez continued on a roll in the 8th inning, when his solo homer followed LF Luis Maza's homer, for a 6-2 lead.� Caracas got 2 runs back in the bottom of the 8th, on a double and two singles, but got no further, and Aragua had the win for Bass.

Milledge went 2-for-5 with a single and a double; Chavez went 2-for-2 with a single and a homer, a walk, and a hit-by-pitch, plus 2 RBI.

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The 2010 winners of the Fielding Bible Awards were announced today, along with the complete voting tallies. Unsurprisingly, no Pirates defenders took home an award. Scanning the lists of players receiving votes, very few Pirates were even considered.

Andrew Lambo was the only Pirates prospect to start today, as the Mesa Solar Sox won 15-1: -Andrew Lambo (.308) started in right field, batting...

Your Monday evening reading, with appearances by Joe Posnanski, Matt Klaassen and Joe Pawlikowski.