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Winter League Update: Mexican Pacific
Brian Bixler finished up his half-season contract with Los Venados de Mazatlan at the end of last week. Bixler started off his time in Mazatlan with a hitting streak, and he continued hot. He had a slow couple of weeks, then fired up again for the finish. He hit in 8 of his last 10 games, going 16-for-38 (.421), and 7-for-14 in his last four games with Los Venados. Bixler found some power in the last couple of weeks too, and his 5 homers all came in that time, with four in the last 8 games. Bixler had 5 doubles, a triple, and 12 RBI for Mazatlan. On Nov 17th, Bixler went 2-for-3, with homer #4, which was an inside-the-park shot, and he singled and scored in the 4-run 7th inning. On the next night, Bixler's 2-RBI single contributed to Los Venados' 6-run 7th inning. In his final game, Bixler again had 2 hits, a single and a homer. The homer put Mazatlan onto the score board in the top of the 1st, and his single in the 9th inning brought in Mazatlan's final run.
Rogelios Noris has played in one game for Mazatlan in the past week -- Bixler's final game on the 19th. Noris doubled in the 2nd inning, but was left on base. He was left on base again in the 6th when he was hit by a pitch.
Ty Taubenheim made 6 starts for Los Naranjeros de Hermosillo, the last of which was on Nov 12th. He did not have as strong a performance as he would have liked, and generally struggled in his time with Hermosillo. His two longest (and best) outings resulted in his one win and one of his losses. On Nov 6th, Taubenheim earned the win with 6 innings of work, allowing 2 runs on 4 hits, with 2 strikeouts. On Oct 20th, he also pitched 6 innings, and also allowed 2 runs, but on 6 hits and a walk, and a best 5 strikeouts. In his other starts, he allowed 2 or 3 runs on 4 to 7 hits, over 4 to 5 innings (2.2 innings on Oct 14th). Taubenheim's overall ERA was 4.66 in 29 innings, with 32 hits, 11 walks, and 15 strikeouts. Taubenheim is likely going to be seeking a free agent contract for 2010, and unfortunately his winter league work is not going to be a big selling point for him.
The versatile Luis Cruz has had a solid week for Los Tomateros de Culiacan. He has gone 7-for-19 (.368) at the plate with 5 RBI. On Nov 17th, Cruz went 3-for-4 with a 2-RBI double in the 3-run 6th inning, and a 2-out double in the 9th. The next night, his RBI single brought in a run in the 4th. Cruz singled to drive in a 9th inning run and came around to score the winning run on Nov 22nd.
Former Indy Indian (for a few weeks in 2009) Chris Snelling has begun a stint with Los Yaquis de Obregon in the past week. He homered in his first at-bat for Obregon on Nov 17th, and has had at least one hit in 5 of his 6 games. In the double-header on Nov 22nd, Snelling had a 2-run homer in the first game and hit an RBI single in the 5-run top of the 1st in the night-cap.
AFL Wrap Up: Six Hits for Tabata In the Last Game
The AFL's Dernell Stenson Sportsmanship Award was presented to Javelina's 1B Russ Mitchell (Dodgers), but Pirates' infielder Chase d'Arnaud was the Scorpions' nominee for the award.
In the final two games:
Scorpions 7, Mesa Solar Sox 5 -- Nov 18th
Donnie Vealmade his final start for the Scorpions on Wednesday. He pitched 2 innings but threw 54 pitches (30 strikes) and allowed one run on two hits. The first batter of the game tripled, but was out at the plate on a fielder's choice. A walk and a single scored the run. Veal walked the first batter of the second inning, but picked him off first base. A batter reached on a throwing error, but Veal then struck out the next two batters, for a total of 4 strikeouts over his two innings.
Danny Moskos earned the win for the Scorpions. He relieved Veal and pitched the next two innings. Moskos allowed a run in the 3rd inning on two doubles, and also gave up another double to lead off the 4th inning, but two strikeouts and a ground out left that runner standing on second base. Tony Watson, the third Pirates' pitcher on the Scottsdale team, also got into the game with two innings of work and also gave up a run. Watson retired the side in the 5th inning, then gave up a triple to lead off the 6th, and a ground out brought that run in. Japan's Takanobu Tsuijiuchi and Andrew Johnston (Rockies) finished the game for the Scorpions, and each gave up a run.
Both CF Jose Tabata and 2B Chase d'Arnaud had 2 hits for the Scorpions on the offensive side. Tabata got the Scorpions on the scoreboard in the bottom of the 1st with his third AFL triple, then scored on a wild pitch. 1B Brandon Allen (Diamondbacks) also tripled in that inning, but was left on base. The Scorpions rallied with two outs in the 3rd inning to score 4 runs. Tabata and Allen hit back-to-back singles, then LF Cole Gillespie (D'backs) walked to load the bases. 3B Brandon Crawford (Giants) singled, scoring Tabata, and a throwing error brought in Allen as well. C Tuffy Gosewisch (Phillies) gave the Scorpions two more runs with a double that scored both Gillespie and Crawford.
Chase d'Arnaud contributed to both of the Scorpion's remaining runs. In the 6th inning, his single moved SS Troy Hanzawa (Phillies) to third base. When d'Arnaud stole his 11th base of the season, a throwing error allowed Hanzawa to score. D'Arnaud's single in the 8th inning also plated Hanzawa, who had doubled.
Scorpions 17, Peoria Javelinas 9 -- Nov 19thThe Javelinas may have won it all two days later, but in the final regular-season game, it was the Scorpions who had the sting. Scottsdale went out with a bang, collecting 21 hits for 17 runs, including a 6-run 8th inning and two 4-run innings. Only 5 of those hits were for extra bases, and all of the extra-base hits were doubles. CF Jose Tabata led the offensive onslaught with 6 hits (6-for-7) and 3 RBI. C Wilin Rosario picked up 5 RBI and DH Buster Posey brought in 4. 3B Chase d'Arnaud scored 4 times, with 2 hits and 3 walks.
Scorpions' starter Joe Martinez (Giants) had what would have been a losing performance on almost any other day. He pitched 3 innings and gave up 11 hits and a walk, for 9 runs (7 earned). He gave up a single and 3 doubles for 3 runs in the 1st inning, and a 3-run homer in the 2nd inning. After a relatively quiet 3rd inning, a walk, two singles, and two errors gave the Javelinas 2 more runs in the 4th inning before an out was made.
D'Arnaud began the game with a single and then stole his 12th base of the season. Tabata's first double of the game (no RBI) and four more singles gave the Scorpions a 4-0 early lead. D'Arnaud walked and stole his league-best 13th base to lead off the 2nd inning. He scored on Tabata's RBI single. Tabata singled and scored in the 4th inning, and when that inning ended, the Scorpions were behind, 9-6. But it was all Scorpions after that. With one out in the 5th inning, three consecutive singles by d'Arnaud, Brandon Crawford, and Tabata started a 4-run rally. Former Pirate farmhand Eric Krebs came in to pitch for Peoria, but gave up two walks, including one that forced in a run, before he ended the inning. Krebs also walked d'Arnaud to open the 6th inning, and after a sacrifice bunt and an RBI single by Tabata, the Scorpions were leading 11-9.
The 8th inning blasted the game wide open for the Scorpions. Chase d'Arnaud led off the inning for the fourth time in the game, again with a walk, though he was picked off and caught stealing. After a single, three doubles (one by Tabata, no RBI), and three more walks (two forcing in runs), all without another out recorded, 6 runs had scored and another Peoria pitcher was heading to the showers.
So, final stats for the AFL:
Jose Tabata did everything that the Pirates had hoped for and more. He led the Scorpions with a .392 average (third in the league) -- that includes going 11-for-15 in the last three games, and 17-for-34 in the last week. He had 6 doubles, 3 triples, and one homer, and stole 4 bases. Tabata's outfield work was fine, with only one error.
Chase d'Arnaud put in work at second base, shortstop, and third base. He made 5 errors, but that's not bad when the point is to be learning and improving at new or relatively new positions. D'Arnaud led the AFL with 13 stolen bases (Scorpions' teammate Thomas Neal of the Giants was second with 12 steals, and most everyone else was left in their dust.) He started off a little slowly at the plate, but finished with a .296 average, 5 doubles, a triple, and 6 RBI. D'Arnaud ended the season with a 6-game hitting streak, and had a hit in 9 of his last 10 games (16-for-43, .372). As the Pirates' A-level participant, d'Arnaud had a very reasonable performance in the AFL.
Brian Friday also got off to a slow start at the plate. He did better in the beginning of November, though, and finished with a .245 average, with a double, a triple, and 7 RBI. The Pirates were probably hoping for more out of Friday, though, as they try to figure out their shortstop problems.
Donnie Veal had a solid AFL experience. He made 7 starts for the Scorpions, and allowed only one run in the first 5 of them (16.2 innings). His 6th start was his toughest, when he gave up 3 runs on 5 hits and 3 walks over 2.1 innings -- the most hits and the most walks he allowed in an appearance. He gave up another run in his final start, but also struck out 4 batters in 2 innings. Veal's overall record was 3-1, with a total of 21 innings, 7 walks, 22 strikeouts, and batters hit only .221 against him. The Pirates have to be pleased with this.
Danny Moskos' time in the AFL was more erratic. He made 11 relief appearances, and sometimes he mowed 'em down -- but sometimes he was hit hard. He totalled up 14.1 innings, and a 1-1 record with a 5.28 ERA. He walked 7 and struck out 12, and batters hit .349 against him.
Tony Watson also made 11 relief appearances, but tended to fly under the radar. He had missed nearly all of the regular 2009 season due to elbow problems, but seems to be well on his way to a healthy 2010. In 11.2 innings, Watson gave up 3 runs on 6 hits (2.31 ERA), with 6 walks and 12 strikeouts. Batters hit .152 against him.
Adjusting The 40-Man Roster
The Pirates have added four players to the 40-man roster, which protects them from the Rule 5 Draft:
RHP Brad Lincoln-- Lincoln began the season with the AA Altoona Curve, where he posted a 2.28 ERA but a 1-5 record, and then was promoted to the AAA Indy Indians, where his record was better at 6-2 and his ERA was 4.70. Time to add him to the 40-man roster.
OF Gorkys Hernandez -- Came to the Pirates organization from the Braves, and spent the rest of the season with the Curve. Hernandez hit .262 with 3 homers and 31 RBI, and ran circles around everyone in the outfield. Another obvious addition to the 40-man roster.
RHP Ramon Aguero -- Aguero pitched at 3 levels in 2009, beginning with 20 games (3 starts, 49.2 innings) for the A West Virginia Power (4.71 ERA), 8 games/12.2 innings with the Curve (2.84 ERA), and 11 games/21.2 innings for the A+ Lynchburg Hillcats (2.49 ERA). He is a bit of a surprise addition, but looked good in Lynchburg and has been doing well in the Dominican Winter League, and might have attracted some attention.
RHP Bryan Morris-- Morris was out with shoulder problems in the early part of the season, but then made 15 starts for Lynchburg. He struggled with control, and also with his temper in one game. He ended with a 4-9 record and a 5.57 ERA, and walked more (34) than he struck out (32). Morris is only 22 years old, though, and a completely healthy season could turn things around, so he was added to the 40-man roster.
Three players were removed from the 40-man roster and designated for assignment, making space on the roster.
RHP Jeff Karstens -- Karstens struggled both as a starter and out of the pen, and he also had command problems. He was also going to be out of options in 2010, which would have limited what the Pirates could do with him. He was DFA'ed and has to go through waivers, though he might be assigned to AAA Indy if no other team offers.
LHP Justin Thomas -- Thomas was claimed off waivers just a few weeks ago, and was hoping to earn a bullpen spot in the spring. If he goes unnoticed through waivers this time, then he can still do that.
C Robinzon Diaz -- Diaz lost out to Jason Jaramillo for the role of back-up to Ryan Doumit, and he was also out of options. The Pirates expect him to become a minor league free agent and seek a spot elsewhere.
Then, one more addition: the Pirates claimed RHP Chris Jakubauskas off waivers from Seattle. He is a California native who will be 32 next month. He pitched in independent ball for several seasons, then joined the Seattle organization and rocketed up to the major league level. He pitched in 35 games for the Mariners in 2009, though he also missed some time with shoulder problems. He earned a 6-7 record and a 5.32 ERA in 93 innings. He gave up 91 hits, walked 27 batters, and struck out 47. He also allowed 15 homers. Jakubauskas will be competing for a bullpen spot in the spring. One advantage of Jakubauskas over Karstens is that Jakubauskas has options left, and can easily be sent to Indy if needed.
The Rule 5 Draft will be in 2 weeks. The Pirates have a full 40-man roster, so if they want to pick up anyone, they will have to make another move.
More former Pirate news
The value of a reliever
AFL: Three Hits For Tabata In Scorpions’ Win
Two throwing errors and three walks nearly handed the Desert Dogs the win in the 9th inning of Tuesday's AFL action. Japan's Tooru Murata held on to get the final out, though, and preserve the victory for the Scorpions.
CF Jose Tabata singled three times for the Scorpions and contributed an RBI. 2B Chase d'Arnaud began the bottom of the 1st inning with a single into left field, and he proceeded to score his 10th base of the AFL season. 3B Brandon Crawford (Giants) followed with a triple to score d'Arnaud, and Tabata brought Crawford in with an RBI single. Tabata also stole third base in the inning, but was left there when the inning ended.
Scottsdale added another two runs in the 3rd inning. With two outs, Diamondbacks' DH Brandon Allen and LF Cole Gillespie both walked. A single by C Wilin Rosario (Rockies) plated Allen, and SS Troy Hanzawa's (Phillies) single brought in Gillespie.
The Scorpions enjoyed that 4-0 lead until the 7th inning. Starter Michael Cisco (Phillies) pitched 4 shutout innings, allowing only one hit and 2 walks, with one hit batter. Edgar Garcia (Phillies) and Kenta Abe (Japan) each added one scoreless inning. Michael Schwimer (Phillies) took the mound for the Scorpions in the 7th, that's when the Desert Dogs broke the shutout, with a solo home run by 1B Adam Loewen (Blue Jays). Scott Mathieson gave the Scorpions a scoreless 8th inning.
An extra run in the bottom of the 8th turned out to be more than just another insurance run for the Scorpions. Wilin Rosario led off with a single, and Troy Hanzawa reached on a fielding error. Rosario tagged up and went to third on Chase d'Arnaud's fly out, and then he scored on Brandon Crawford's sacrifice fly. Jose Tabata also singled in the inning.
Things got dicey in the top of the 9th. Craig Baker (Rockies) came on in relief of Scott Mathieson, and he began the inning by giving up a single to the first batter, and making a throwing error on a pick-off attempt, to move the runner to second base. After a fly out and a walk, the next batter lined out to Chase d'Arnaud at second base. D'Arnaud tried to double off one of the runners, but his throw was wild, and the two-base error allowed the lead runner to score and put the following runner on third base. Two consecutive walks loaded the bases, and that was all for Baker. Tooru Murata took over, but he gave up a single up the middle to the first batter he faced, bringing in 2 runs to put the Desert Dogs within one run of the Scorpions. At that point, Murata bore down and got a grounder to second to end the game and keep the win for the Scorpions.
The Scorpions have two more games remaining. I'll be away for a few days, but I'll catch up with the final AFL scores and stats when I get back.
Not Much Dominican Hitting
The Venezuelan and Mexican Pacific Leagues were scheduled to have the day off on Monday. Both games in the Puerto Rican League were postponed due to wet grounds. That leaves just the Dominican League, where they had one game originally scheduled and one make-up game.
Toros del Este 3, Aguilas Cibaenas 1
Los Aguilas were held to just 3 hits on Monday night, but couldn't capitalize on the 7 walks they were handed. Their one run came in the 5th inning, on lead-off homer by 2B Dionys Cesar. C Erik Kratz walked in the 4th inning but was erased in a double play, and struck out twice.
Gigantes del Cibao 1, Estrellas De Oriente 0
This pitching duel was scoreless until the top of the 9th inning, when Los Gigantes scored on a walk, a ground out, and a double. Each team had 5 hits and walked 3 times. 1B Brian Myrow had two of Los Estrellas hits -- both were singles, and both times his single was followed by a double play. Los Estrellas bounced into a total of four double plays. They had two base runners on twice. In the 2nd, an error and a walk put two runners on, but one of those double plays ended the inning. A single and a walk put two runners on again in the 8th, but both were left on base. DH Robinzon Diaz went 0-for-4.
AFL: Scorpions Get Two Hits, Friday Gets Hit
The Scottsdale Scorpions' bats were all but shut down, held to just two hits, as they began the final week of AFL play. 3B Chase d'Arnaud and LF Thomas Neal (Giants) were the only Scorpions to get hits. Neal and RF Domonic Brown (Phillies) each had a walk. The only other Scorpion to reach base was 2B Brian Friday, when he was hit by a pitch to lead off the 4th inning. No word available at this point as to where Friday was hit, but he was immediately removed from the game and replaced with pinch-runner Pedro Ciriaco (Diamondbacks), who remained in the game to play second base.
Neal was the only base runner for the Scorpions over the first three innings of the game, when he walked in the 2nd inning. After Ciriaco replaced Friday in the 4th, he was immediately erased when CF Jose Tabata bounced into a double play. Neal singled and stole second in the 5th, and Chase d'Arnaud singled and stole second base in the 6th. It was d'Arnaud's league-leading 9th steal. Domonic Brown's walk came in the 7th inning.
Bryan Augenstein (D'backs) pitched 4 innings in his start for the Scorpions. He gave up a run in the 1st on a single, a walk, and a single. Then he kept the Saguaros scoreless over the next three innings. Cesar Valdez (D'backs) gave up a solo home run in the 5th. Tom Layne took the mound in the 6th, and that's when disaster struck. Layne surrendered four singles and two walks, accounting for 3 runs. C Buster Posey (Giants) prevented another run from coming in when he picked a base runner off first. Tony Watson relieved Layne with one out and runners on second and third base. He struck out the first batter he faced, then walked the next three batters, forcing in 2 more runs. All of the runs were charged to Layne. Finally, a fly out ended the inning. Steve Edlefsen (Giants) pitched the 7th inning for Scottsdale, and allowed an unearned run, on a triple and a fielding error by Pedro Ciriaco at second base. Matt Reynolds (Rockies) finished up with a scoreless 8th inning.
The Scorpions have three more games to play before the AFL regular season comes to an end.
Bixler And Noris Lead Mazatlan
VENEZUELAN LEAGUE
Leones del Caracas 8, Bravos de Margarita 6
Margarita scored 4 runs in the 4th, but Caracas came back with 3 runs in the 5th and 4 more in the final two innings to get the come-from-behind win. 3B Neil Walker got the rally started in Margarita's 4th inning when he walked. After a fielding error, three consecutive doubles brought in the 4 runs. CF Frank Diaz walked to lead off the 5th, and Walker followed with a single, moving Diaz to third base. Caracas brought on Ronald Uviedo in relief, and Diaz scored from third base when 2B Jose Castillo made a fielding error. Uviedo struck out three batters in the 5th and was not responsible for the run scored in that inning. He did give up a run in the 6th, though, on a walk, a stolen base, a ground out, and a sacrifice fly. Neil Walker walked again in the 7th, but was left on base. Michael Tejera made the start for Los Bravos, and gave up 4 runs on 5 hits in 4.2 innings.
Caribes de Anzoategui 3, Tigres de Aragua 2
Los Caribes took the early lead with a run in each of the first two innings. Aragua got one run back in the 4th, on a single by 1B Hector Gimenez and an RBI double. SS Ronny Cedeno singled in the 6th inning, advanced on a wild pitch, and scored on an RBI single to tie the game. Los Tigres threatened in the 7th when they loaded the bases on three singles, one by Gimenez. Pinch hitter Raul Chavez lined out to end the inning without a run scoring. Los Caribes retook the lead in the bottom of the 8th, when a wild pitch on a strikeout put a runner on base. A sacrifice bunt and a double brought in the winning run.
Aguilas de Zulia 9, Navegantes del Magallanes 5
Zulia scored 7 runs over the first four innings, and Magallanes could not catch up. LF Mike Ryan went 0-for-4 for Magallanes, and SS Argenis Diaz was hit by a pitch and grounded out in his two plate appearances. Los Navegantes scored 3 runs in the 6th on a throwing error, a walk, a double, a single, and a wild pitch. 1B Brian Dopirak added two more runs in the 8th with a 2-run homer.
PUERTO RICAN LEAGUE
Lobos de Arecibo 9, Criolles de Caguas 3
Caguas scored all three of their runs in the 5th inning on back-to-back ground rule doubles, a walk, and a 2-run double (which stayed on the field) by SS Luis Figueroa. Figueroa also stole third base in that inning, and he led off the 8th with a single. CF Luis Matos walked and was hit by a pitch in 4 trips to the plate for Cagua. Arecibo capped off their game with a 4-run 9th inning.
MEXICAN PACIFIC LEAGUE
Venados de Mazatlan 3, Mayos de Navojoa 2
Two Pirates' players were involed in two of Mazatlan's three runs. SS Brian Bixler led off the bottom of the 1st inning by beating out an infield single. He moved to third base on a double, and scored on an RBI ground out. Two doubles gave Los Venados another run in the 3rd inning. RF Rogelios Noris picked up what became the game-winning RBI in the 6th inning with a sacrifice fly after a walk and a double. Noris also singled i the 2nd inning to move a runner to third base, but he was caught stealing second base. Bixler led off the 5th inning with another single, went to second base on a walk, and to third base on a grounder that turned into a double play, but was left there at third when the inning ended. Navojoa scored one run in the 2nd inning and an unearned run in the 5th.
Tomateros de Culiacan 5, Caneros de Mochis 2
Culiacan scored all their runs in the 1st inning. A single and a double gave them the first run. A throwing error brought in another run, and a 2-run homer followed. LF Luis Cruz singled after the homer, and he scored on another double. Cruz also singled in the 8th inning but was out on a double play. Mochis scored one run in the top of the 1st, and then were held scoreless until they scored one more run in the 8th on a single and a double.
DOMINICAN LEAGUE
Aguilas Cibaenas 8, Tigres del Licey 2
Four runs in the 5th inning pushed Los Aguilas past Los Tigres. Ramon Aguero pitched the final inning for Los Aguilas. He gave up a single and struck out two batters.
Leones del Escogido 2, Estrellas de Este 1
1B Brian Myrow had two of Los Estrellas' five hits, and C Robinzon Diaz provided their only RBI with a single in the 1st inning. Myrow singled in the 4th inning and went to second on a wild pitch, but was out at third on a fielder's choice. He also doubled to open the 7th inning, but was doubled off when LF Fernando Tatis lined out to the shortstop. Those were the only other innings in which Los Estrellas made any kind of scoring threat. Former Indy Indian Roberto Giron was charged with the loss when he gave up 2 runs to Los Leones in the 7th inning on a single, a triple, and another single.
Saturday’s Winter League Action
PUERTO RICAN LEAGUE
Gigantes de Carolina 6, Criollos de Caguas 3
Former Pirate farmhand RF Luis Matos was responsible with all three of Caguas' runs, when he doubled with the bases loaded in the 8th inning. 2B Luis Figueroa had 2 hits for Los Criollos. He singled and was on base in the 8th when Matos cleared the bases, and also doubled to lead off the 4th inning, but was out at the plate on a fielder's choice.
VENEZUELAN LEAGUE
Leones del Caracas 8, Bravos de Margarita 2
Former Indy Indian Tim Harikkala stepped in to make the start for Margarita when the originally scheduled starter, Alberto Bastardo, had to sit out due to the flu. Harikkala lasted just 3 innings and gave up 4 runs on 5 hits. Caracas scored 2 runs in each of the 1st and 3rd innings. They continued scoring after Harikkala was relieved, adding another run in the 5th, 2 in the 8th, and one final run in the 9th. Los Bravos scored only twice. With two outs in the 6th, CF Frank Diaz singled, and advanced to third base when 3B Neil Walker's singled on a pop up to short. Diaz scored from third on a wild pitch. RF Rene Reyes provided the only other run for Margarita with a 2-run homer in the 8th. Walker was 1-for-4 in the game.
Caribes de Anzoategui 2, Tigres de Aragua 0 (Game 1)
Los Tigres were held to just 4 hits, with DH Hector Gimenez, pinch-hitter Raul Chavez, and C Alex Delgado all hitless in the game. Los Caribes scored a run in the 1st on a triple and a single, and another in the 2nd with a solo homer. Adenson Chourio came in to play shortstop for Los Caribes in the 7th inning, but did not get either a fielding opportunity or a plate appearance.
Tigres 7, Caribes 4 (Game 2, 8 innings)
A 3-run homer in the top of the 8th, gave Los Tigres the extra-inning (for a double header) win. Los Caribes scored one run at a time, with single runs in the 1st, 3rd, 4th, and 6th. SS Adenson Chourio was hit by a pitch in the 1st inning and grounded out in the 3rd, then was later removed in favor of a pinch-hitter. Aragua scored 2 runs in the 3rd inning, on SS Ronny Cedeno's single and 2B Ramon Castro's 2-run homer. 1B Hector Gimenez picked up an RBI with a single in the 4th inning, and he scored on another RBI single. The game was still tied going into the top of the 8th. DH Raul Chavez started the rally with a double, and Gimenez was intentionally walked. They both scored on the game-winning homer by pinch-hitter Alex Nunez.
Aguilas de Zulia 6, Navegantes del Magallanes 5
This marathon ended after 15 innings, when Zulia scored a run in the top of the inning on a single, a sacrifice bunt, an intentional walk, and an RBI single. Magallanes couldn't come back, despite two walks in the bottom of the inning. The game had been tied since the bottom of the 8th, when Magallanes tied the game with a solo homer. DH Mike Ryan walked in the 2nd inning and was the runner on third base with the bases loaded, but was forced out at the plate o a grounder. He also singled in the 9th inning, but was left on base. Jean Machi pitched two scoreless innings for Magallanes, allowing a walk and a single. Chris Hernandez pitched two scoreless innings for Zulia, and gave up two singles.
MEXICAN PACIFIC LEAGUE
Venados de Mazatlan 3, Mayos de Navojoa 2
Mazatlan scored all their runs in the first two innings, and then held off Navojoa for the win. Two runs came across in the bottom of the 1st with two singles, a fielding error, and a grounder force out. In the 2nd, C Miguel Ojeda led off with a double, and 2B Brian Bixler walked. An RBI single by RF Christian Quintero plated Ojeda. Navojoa scored a run in the 4th and another in the 5th, but Los Mayos were held to just two hits over the rest of the game. Bixler was hitless in two other trips to the plate.
Tomateros de Culiacan 4, Caneros de Los Mochis 3
Culiacan scored 2 runs in the 1st with three singles and a double. They added an unearned run in the 3rd inning and another run in the 4th. Los Caneros scored a single run in the 1st, 5th, and 9th, but could not catch up. LF Luis Cruz went 0-for-4 for Culiacan.
DOMINICAN LEAGUE
Tigres del Licey 15, Estrellas de Oriente 5
Los Estrellas jumped out to a big lead with 6 runs in the top of the 1st and 3 more in the 2nd inning. Six more runs came across the plate in the late innings. Los Estrellas scored two runs in the 2nd inning. 1B Brian Myrow led off with a walk and C Robinzon Diaz singled, moving Myrow to third base. A grounder force out scored Myrow and moved Diaz to third base, and another single brought in Diaz. Diaz also picked up an RBI with a single in the 3rd inning. Three singles added another run for Los Estrellas in the 4th. In the bottom of the 9th, Los Estrellas made one last attempt and scored one final run on two singles, including one by pinch-hitter Maiko Loyola, and an RBI ground out.
AFL: Scorpions Pull It Out In Late Innings
The Scorpions surprised the Rafters with 4 unanswered runs in the late innings, while the bullpen shut down the Rafter's bats, to get the come-from-behind win in Saturday's AFL action.
With starter Chaz Roe (Rockies) on the mound, the Rafters recorded one run in the bottom of the 1st inning on a solo home run by SS Reese Havens (Mets). Roe gave up three more hits and a walk over the first three innings, but erased one runner with a double play and his C Tuffy Gosewisch (Phillies) picked another off first base. The remaining two were left stranded. In the 4th inning, Roe gave up a single and an RBI triple to 3B Mike Moustakas (Royals) for the Rafters' second run.
That was all the scoring the Rafters would do. Takanobu Tsujiuchi and Tooru Murata, both from the Japanese leagues, each pitched a scoreless inning. Danny Moskos, the only one of the Pirates' farmhands to appear in the game, took care of the 7th inning. He gave up a lead-off single, but got the next batter to bounce into a 5-4-3 double play, then got a ground out to end the inning. Scott Mathieson (Phillies) and Andrew Johnston (Rockies) finished the game with a scoreless inning each.
Rafters' starter Aaron Crow (Royals) held the Scorpions to just one hit, a 1st inning double by CF Cole Gillespie (Diamondbacks), over his 4 innings. The Scorpions also went down in order in the 5th. Finally, in the 6th, the Scottsdale bats got going. 2B Pedro Ciriaco (D'backs) walked with two outs. He stole second and scored on Gillespie's single and a throwing error. 3B Brandon Crawford (Giants) gave the Scorpions the lead in the 7th inning with a 2-run homer. They added an insurance run in the top of the 9th, when Tuffy Gosewisch singled and LF Steve Susdorf (Phillies) doubled him in.
The AFL has Sunday off, and then there are only 4 more days of regular-season games. The championship game will be played next Saturday. The Scorpions have a 12-15 record and even if they win all the rest of their games to get to a 16-15 record, and the first-place Phoenix Desert Dogs lose all the rest of their games to end with a 17-15 record, the Scorpions still won't overtake them. The Mesa Solar Sox, the other team in the AFL East, could still beat the Desert Dogs on percentage points if they win their remaining 4 games, so the Desert Dogs have not yet clinched the division title. In the AFL West, the Peoria Javelinas have clinched the division title, with a 17-10 record.
AFL: D’Arnaud’s 3 Hits And 2 Steals Lead Scorpions
game story featuring Chase d'Arnaud
The Scorpions poured it on, scoring 7 runs in the last two innings, to defeat the Saguaros in Friday evening's AFL play. 3B Chase d'Arnaud led the way with 3 hits and 2 RBI, while 2B Brian Friday and CF Jose Tabata contributed one hit each.
Joe Martinez (Giants) made the start for the Scorpions. He gave up one single over the first two innings, while striking out three. In the 3rd inning, Martinez walked the lead-off batter, who then moved to third base on a wild pitch and a ground out. An RBI single brought that runner in and gave the Saguaros a 1-0 lead.
Jose Tabata put the Scorpions on the board in the bottom of the 4th. He began the inning with a single into left field, and when the Saguaros' pitcher tried to pick him off first base, Tabata went to second base on the throwing error. He stole third base, and when the catcher's throw to third went sailing into left field for the second throwing error of the inning, Tabata scrambled home. The Scorpions took a 2-1 lead in the next inning. With two outs, SS Hector Gomez (Rockies) reached base safely on a ball tapped back to the pitcher, then stole second base. Chase d'Arnaud singled to the right side of the infield, scoring Gomez. D'Arnaud stole second base, but was left there when Brian Friday grounded out to end the inning.
Relievers Daniel Turpen (Giants) and Tom Layne (Diamondbacks) each pitched a scoreless inning for the Scorpions. Steve Edlefsen (Giants) took the mound for the 7th inning, and gave up two walks and a single, as Peoria scored the tying run. Edlefsen was charged with a Blown Save, but his teammates rallied so that he also earned the win. In the bottom of the 7th, LF Thomas Neal (Giants) led off with a walk. C Wilin Rosario (Rockies) doubled into right field, putting Neal on third base. Chase d'Arnaud picked up his second RBI of the game with a line drive single into right field, scoring Neal and moving Rosario to third. D'Arnaud stole second base for the second time in the game (and a league-leading 8th of the AFL season). Brian Friday plated Rosario with a sacrifice fly, and when the Peoria right fielder made a throwing error, d'Arnaud also scored. Jose Tabata was hit by a pitch, but was still on first base when the inning ended.
The Scorpions had a 5-2 lead, but they weren't done yet. DH Buster Posey (Giants) began the bottom of the 8th with a walk, and 1B Brandon Allen (D'backs) was hit by a pitch. Thomas Neal brought both of them in with a triple into center field. Hector Gomez plated Neal with an RBI single. Chase d'Arnaud also singled, his third in the game, and Brian Friday's single scored Gomez to give the Scorpions 4 runs in the inning. The inning ended when Jose Tabata lined out right at the second baseman, who was able to double Friday off first base.
With just a week left in the AFL season, the Scorpions are in third (last) place in the AFL East division (11-15 record). They have 5 games left in the regular season, with the last game on Thursday Nov 19th.
