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Robinzon Diaz Has A 3-Hit Night
The starting rotation
An alternate 2009 – Part two
Perry Hill not returning; Searage promoted
Veal Pitches 2 Perfect Innings in AFL Debut
Tabata and Friday Shine in AFL Debut
AFL Opens; Walker’s Homer Lifts Bravos
Walker’s Homer Lifts Bravos
Walker’s Homer Lifts Bravos
Bixler And Walker Continue to Hit in Winter Ball
2B Brian Bixler came up with two more hits for Mazatlan, including a key RBI single in the 9th inning. �Mazatlan scored in the 4th inning on CF Ruben Rivera's 2-run homer. �They added another run in the 8th on two singles and a sacrifice fly by 3B Freddy Sandoval. �In the top of the 9th, LF Lorenzo Buelna doubled and RF Christian Quintero brought him across the plate with an RBI single. �With two outs, Bixler added another RBI single, giving Mazatlan a 5-1 lead. �The run Bixler brought in turned out to be the winning run, when Culiacan scored 3 runs in the bottom of the inning. �A strikeout with the bases loaded ended the game with Mazatlan still on top. �
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Venezuelan League
Tiburones de la Guaira 4, �Bravos de Margarita 3
3B Neil Walker �went 1-for-4 with a double and scored a run for Margarita. �Los Tiburones scored 2 runs in the 2nd inning and 2 more runs (one unearned) in the 3rd, all off former Indy Indian (2000 - 02) Tim Harikkala, who suffered the loss. �Another former Indian (2007) Michael Tejera relieved Harikkala and pitched 1.1 scoreless innings for Margarita. �Los Bravos came back in the top of the 4th inning. �1B Javier Brito led off with a single, and Neil Walker doubled into left field, moving Brito to third base. �A single by RF Francisco Leandro and a throwing error brought in both Brito and Walker, and Leandro scored on a ground out, bringing Margarita within one run of La Guaira. �That was all the scoring that either team would do, though, and La Guaira held on for the win. �
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Leones de Caracas 8, � Tigres de Aragua �6
Former Pirate C Carlos Maldonado had one hit for Caracas, while 1B Hector Gimenez contributed 2 hits to Aragua's effort. �Gimenez's RBI single put Aragua onto the scoreboard in the bottom of the 1st inning. �Former Indy Indian Anderson Machado pinch-hit for Los Tigres, and remained in the game to play third base. �His throwing error in the top of the 9th contributed to Caracas' 5-run rally that gave them the win. �
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Navegantes del Magellanes 7, �Cardenales de Lara 5
SS Argenis Diaz singled twice and scored once, and former Indy Indian (2007) LF Mike Ryan singled and walked twice as Magellanes came back from two tied scores to take the win. �Lara scored one run in the top of the 1st to take the early lead. �In the bottom of the 3rd, Argenis Diaz opened the frame with a single. �Another single and a sacrifice bunt put runners on second and third base, and a fielding error allowed Diaz to score from third. �RF Richard Hidalgo doubled, adding another run. �After an intentional walk to �Mike Ryan, another single brought in the third run of the inning. �
Lara tied the score in the top of the 4th, on two singles and a 2-RBI double. �Hidalgo gave Magellanes the lead again with a 2-run homer in the 5th. �Lara took advantage of two walks by Team USA pitcher Cedrick Bowers to tie the score once more in the top of the 7th inning. �In the bottom of the inning, Mike Ryan led off with a walk. �Ryan was forced out at second base on a bunt, but 3B Jesus Merchan followed with a triple to take the lead for Magellanes. �Pinch-hitter Marcos Vechionacci doubled in Merchan, and Argenis Diaz added another single, giving Magellanes the win. �
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Aguilas de Zulia 3, � Caribes �de Anzoategui 2 (10 innings)�
Zulia scored one run in the 2nd inning, and another on Chris Denorfia's solo homer in the 4th. �Los Caribes tied it up with a solo homer by Steve Torrealba in the 5th, and a single and a double in the 6th. �Both teams missed scoring opportunities over the next few innings, including a bases-loaded situation for Los Caribes in the 7th that was halted by a double play. �Jonel Pacheco pinch-hit for Los Caribes in the 10th inning but grounded out. �They got a walk and a double after Pacheco's at-bat, but the lead runner was thrown out at the plate, and the tie held. �Zulia got a single, a sacrifice bunt, an intentional walk, and a grounder force out in the bottom of the 10th, putting runners on first and third, and then scored the winning run on a single up the middle. �
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Arizona Fall League begins play on Tuesday.
The Dominican Winter League begins play on Friday.
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Bixler and Walker Continue to Hit in Winter Ball
Winter ball results from Sunday, featuring Pirates' players and friends:
Mexican Pacific League
Venados de Mazatlan 5, �Tomateros de Culiacan 4
2B�Brian Bixler�came up with two more hits for Mazatlan, including a key RBI single in the 9th inning. �Mazatlan scored in the 4th inning on CF Ruben Rivera's 2-run homer. �They added another run in the 8th on two singles and a sacrifice fly by 3B Freddy Sandoval. �In the top of the 9th, LF Lorenzo Buelna doubled and RF Christian Quintero brought him across the plate with an RBI single. �With two outs, Bixler added another RBI single, giving Mazatlan a 5-1 lead. �The run Bixler brought in turned out to be the winning run, when Culiacan scored 3 runs in the bottom of the inning. �A strikeout with the bases loaded ended the game with Mazatlan still on top. �
Venezuelan League
Tiburones de la Guaira 4, �Bravos de Margarita 3
3B�Neil Walker��went 1-for-4 with a double and scored a run for Margarita. �Los Tiburones scored 2 runs in the 2nd inning and 2 more runs (one unearned) in the 3rd, all off former Indy Indian (2000 - 02) Tim Harikkala, who suffered the loss. �Another former Indian (2007) Michael Tejera relieved Harikkala and pitched 1.1 scoreless innings for Margarita. �Los Bravos came back in the top of the 4th inning. �1B Javier Brito led off with a single, and Neil Walker doubled into left field, moving Brito to third base. �A single by RF Francisco Leandro and a throwing error brought in both Brito and Walker, and Leandro scored on a ground out, bringing Margarita within one run of La Guaira. �That was all the scoring that either team would do, though, and La Guaira held on for the win. �
Leones de Caracas 8, � Tigres de Aragua �6
Former Pirate C�Carlos Maldonado�had one hit for Caracas, while 1B�Hector Gimenez�contributed 2 hits to Aragua's effort. �Gimenez's RBI single put Aragua onto the scoreboard in the bottom of the 1st inning. �Former Indy Indian Anderson Machado pinch-hit for Los Tigres, and remained in the game to play third base. �His throwing error in the top of the 9th contributed to Caracas' 5-run rally that gave them the win. �
Navegantes del Magellanes 7, �Cardenales de Lara 5
SS�Argenis Diaz�singled twice and scored once, and former Indy Indian (2007) LF Mike Ryan singled and walked twice as Magellanes came back from two tied scores to take the win. �Lara scored one run in the top of the 1st to take the early lead. �In the bottom of the 3rd, Argenis Diaz opened the frame with a single. �Another single and a sacrifice bunt put runners on second and third base, and a fielding error allowed Diaz to score from third. �RF Richard Hidalgo doubled, adding another run. �After an intentional walk to �Mike Ryan, another single brought in the third run of the inning. �
Lara tied the score in the top of the 4th, on two singles and a 2-RBI double. �Hidalgo gave Magellanes the lead again with a 2-run homer in the 5th. �Lara took advantage of two walks by Team USA pitcher Cedrick Bowers to tie the score once more in the top of the 7th inning. �In the bottom of the inning, Mike Ryan led off with a walk. �Ryan was forced out at second base on a bunt, but 3B Jesus Merchan followed with a triple to take the lead for Magellanes. �Pinch-hitter Marcos Vechionacci doubled in Merchan, and Argenis Diaz added another single, giving Magellanes the win. �
Aguilas de Zulia 3, � Caribes �de Anzoategui 2 (10 innings)�
Zulia scored one run in the 2nd inning, and another on Chris Denorfia's solo homer in the 4th. �Los Caribes tied it up with a solo homer by Steve Torrealba in the 5th, and a single and a double in the 6th. �Both teams missed scoring opportunities over the next few innings, including a bases-loaded situation for Los Caribes in the 7th that was halted by a double play. �Jonel Pacheco�pinch-hit for Los Caribes in the 10th inning but grounded out. �They got a walk and a double after Pacheco's at-bat, but the lead runner was thrown out at the plate, and the tie held. �Zulia got a single, a sacrifice bunt, an intentional walk, and a grounder force out in the bottom of the 10th, putting runners on first and third, and then scored the winning run on a single up the middle. �
Arizona Fall League begins play on Tuesday.
The Dominican Winter League begins play on Friday.