Tag: Luis Matos

Back in action.... cheering for some Pirates' players and friends in Sunday's winter league action:

DOMINICAN LEAGUE
Gigantes del Cibao  11,  Toros del Este  7  --  The Dominican League's round robin playoff series began this evening, and Los Gigantes took their first game with a 6-run 8th inning.   Los Toros scored 4 runs in the 1st and 3 runs in the 6th, but it wasn't enough.  SS Pedro Ciriaco went 0-for-4 for Los Toros, and he also reached base on a fielding error in the 6th, which allowed a run to score.  Former Pirate Juan Perez pitched to one batter for Los Gigantes, finishing the 6th inning after Los Toros' runs had scored.


PUERTO RICAN LEAGUE
Senadores de San Juan  3,  Gigantes de Carolina  1  --  2B Benji Gonzalez and CF Luis Matos were both hitless for Los Gigantes, who scored their only run in the 8th inning, on a single and a double.  Former Pirate farmhand Eric Krebs came on to pitch the bottom of the 5th for Los Gigantes, which he began with a ground out.  But a walk, a single, and Krebs' own throwing error on a pick-off attempt brought in one run for San Juan.  A wild pitch and another fielding error added a second run, and Krebs was relieved.  Los Senadores scored again in the 6th on a walk, a stolen base, and an RBI single.


MEXICAN PACIFIC LEAGUE
Venados de Mazatlan  9,  Caneros de los Mochis  6  --  Los Venados scored 5 runs in the first two innings,a nd did not give up their lead, as they posted a total of 15 hits.  Rogelios Noris entered the game as a defensive replacement in the bottom of the 6th, to play right field.  He had one plate appearance, in which he struck out.  Then in the bottom of the 9th, Noris moved to the infield to play second base -- something he hasn't done for at least 2 season, if he played there at all in the VSL.  He's not a natural there -- he made a throwing error which extended the game, though no runs scored because of it.

The Dominican and Puerto Rican All-Star squads faced off this evening (Sunday), and a four of the Pirates' former players and friends were involved, all on the Puerto Rican team:

Puerto Rican All-Stars  4,  Dominican All-Stars  3
The Puerto Ricans and Dominicans put runners on base in the first three innings, but couldn't get any of them around to score.  The Puerto Ricans finally got onto the scoreboard in the bottom of the 4th.  Two singles and a ground out put two runners into scoring position.  Former Indy Indian (2007) LF Luis Matos reached base on a throwing error at short, and both runners came in to score.  A double brought in Matos to give the Puerto Ricans a 3-0 lead.  The Dominicans came right back to tie the game in the top of the 5th.  A double and a single plated one run, and a 2-run homer by 3B Victor Mercedes made it a 3-3 tie.  The Puerto Ricans scratched out another run in the bottom of the 7th.  A single, the third error by the Dominican shortstop, a ground out, and an RBI single gave the Puerto Ricans the lead.  Former Pirate farmhand RJ Rodriguez pitched the top of the 8th for the Puerto Ricans.  He struck out the first two batters of the inning, then finished it with a fly out.  Former Indy Indian (2004) SS Luis Figueroa singled for Puerto Rico in the 1st inning, but didn't score.  Former Pirate 3B Ramon Vazquez doubled in the 2nd, and also did not score.


MEXICAN PACIFIC LEAGUE
Aguilas de Mexicali  2,  Venados de Mazatlan  1 --  A pair of singles around a sacrifice bunt gave Los Aguilas the first run of the game in the top of the 1st, and they repeated the trick for another run in the 6th.  Two singles and a throwing error brought in Los Venados' only run in the 7th.  RF Rogelios Noris singled in the 8th for Los Venados but was left on base.  His fellow Pirate farmhand Matt Hague came in to play first base for Mexicali in the 8th, but did not get a plate appearance.  

Checking in on some Pirates' players and friends in Friday night's winter league games:

VENEZUELAN LEAGUE
Navegantes del Magallanes  7,  Bravos de Margarita  5  --  Jean Machi pitched a perfect 9th inning to earn his 6th Save for Los Navegantes.  His teammates took a 5-1 lead in the bottom of the 6th with a two-out rally, scoring 5 runs on two doubles, four singles, and a walk.  They added 2 more runs in the 7th on four more singles.  Los Bravos put their first run on the board in the 3rd with three singles.  A grand slam by CF Frank Diaz in the top of the 8th brought Los Bravos closer, but Machi held them off in the 9th.  Just released SS Argenis Diaz came into the game to play shortstop in the top of the 9th, and he scooped the grounder that was Machi's first out.  

Tigres de Aragua  8,  Aguilas de Zulia  1  --   Two Pirates' teammates on Los Tigres.... one tendered a contract, one not... SS Ronny Cedeno was hit by a pitch in the top of the 1st, stole second base, then scored on a 2-run homer.  C Raul Chavez's home run in the 2nd inning gave Los Tigres a 3-0 lead.  In the 5th, a throwing error and a single put two runners on base.  Cedeno bunted them both into scoring position, then CF Lastings Milledge drove in one run with an RBI single into right field.  Los Tigres capped their scoring with 4 runs in the 6th.  A single and two walks loaded the bases.  Chavez was hit by a pitch, forcing in the first run.  A single brought in the second run, and Cedeno's ground out plated the third run.  A walk to Milledge loaded the bases again, and another walk forced in Chavez with the fourth run of the inning.  Chavez had an embarrassing moment in the 5th -- with runners on first and second bases, Chavez lined right to the Zulia third baseman, who started a triple play.  


PUERTO RICAN LEAGUE  
Criollos de Caguas  4,  Gigantes de Carolina  3  --  Los Gigantes had the early lead, starting with a run in the 1st, when former Indy Indian LF Luis Matos doubled and scored.  In the 2nd, a ground-rule double, a walk, a fielding error by 3B Ramon Vazquez, and a single gave them a 3-0 lead.  An RBI single by SS Luis Figueroa drove in Los Criollos' first run in the 5th.  Then a single, a triple, and a 3-run homer in the 6th gave Los Criollos the win.  Figueroa also singled in the 1st, and Vazquez singled in the 3rd.  

Looking in on the Pirates' players and friends in Saturday's winter league action...

PUERTO RICAN LEAGUE
Criollos de Caguas  2,  Gigantes de Carolina  1  --  A low-hitting game, and Caguas scored their 2 runs in the bottom of the 7th on two singles and some mistakes by Los Gigantes.  With the first two batters on base, SS Luis Figueroa bunted both into scoring position.  That put the runner on third base in position to score on a wild pitch.  Ramon Vazquez reached base on a fielding error at second base, which let the second run score.  Another wild pitch and a walk put two runners on base again, but no more runs scored.  Los Criollos also loaded the bases in the 3rd, on singles by Figueroa and Vazquez and a walk, and a walk and two more singles loaded the bases in the 6th, but both times the bases were left loaded.  Vazquez also walked in the 1st inning.   Los Gigantes' only run came in the 5th, on a single, a double by Luis Matos, and a sacrifice fly.  
 

VENEZUELAN LEAGUE
Navegantes del Magallanes  4,  Tigres de Aragua  0 -- Los Tigres could not score despite 7 hits and 2 walks.  RF Alex Romero had 3 of those 7 hits, and 1B Hector Gimenez had a single.  SS Ronny Cedeno, CF Jorge Cortes, and C Raul Chavez were all hitless in the game.  Los Navegantes scored all 4 of their runs in the top of the 2nd, on a solo homer, followed by four singles.  Corey Hamman pitched to one batter in the 6th, and gave up a single.  Two more walks loaded the bases for Magallanes, but the runners were left stranded.  Jean Machi pitched the 9th inning for Magallanes and gave up the single to Gimenez, but a double play erased Gimenez and ended the game.

Bravos de Margarita  6,  Aguilas del Zulia  4 --  Anthony Claggett earned his first Venezuelan League win with 1.1 scoreless innings for Margarita.  Los Bravos scored first, with a run in the bottom of the 1st, and Los Aguilas tied the score with one run in the top of the 2nd.  Zulia scored 2 more runs in the top of the 3rd on two walks and three singles, and Claggett was brought into the game with 2 runs in, one out, and the bases loaded.  he faced just one batter, and got the double play to end the inning.  Los Bravos' batters responded with 4 runs in the bottom of the 4th, on 4 singles, a walk, and a bases-clearing 3-RBI double.  That gave Los Bravos the lead, which they would not give up, and Claggett was the pitcher of record.  He began the top of the 4th with two outs, then a throwing error and a single put two runners on for Los Aguilas. Claggett was relieved at that point, but those runners did not score.  Ronald Belisario earned his 9th save for Margarita.  

Cheering for Pirates' players and friends in Thursday's winter league action....

PUERTO RICAN LEAGUE

Gigantes de Carolina  5,  Senadores de San Juan  4  --  Los Gigantes plated a run in the bottom of the 11th inning for the walk-off win.  Carolina posted 15 hits, and 3 of those were by LF/RF Luis Matos.  Benji Gonzalez came into the game to pinch-hit in the 8th inning, when he put down a sacrifice bunt in the rally that tied the game and eventually sent it into extra innings.  Gonzalez remained in the game to play second base.  He struck out in his only other plate appearance.   

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VENEZUELAN LEAGUE

Bravos de Margarita  2,  Tigres de Aragua  1  --  A solo home run by Margarita's DH Frank Diaz in the bottom of the 9th gave the win to Los Bravos.  Los Tigres scored their only run in the 6th inning, when C Raul Chavez singled and came around to score on an RBI double.  Margarita tied the score in the 7th with an RBI single.  Chavez had a pair of singles in the game.  LF Lastings Milledge and CF Jorge Cortes each had a single in the game.  1B Hector Gimenez was 0-for-4.  Ronny Cedeno came in to pinch-run for Chavez after his single in the 8th, but did not score.  Miguel Perez took over behind the plate for the rest of the game.  Margarita's Andy LaRoche did not get into the game. 

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Winter league action with the Pirates' players and friends on Wednesday...

VENEZUELAN LEAGUE

Tigres de Aragua� 6,� Bravos de Margarita� 0� (Game 1) -- SS Ronny Cedeno's 3-run homer in the 4th inning put the game away for Los Tigres.� Aragua scored one run in each of the first three innings.� A single, a sacrifice bunt by Cedeno, and an RBI single by DH Hector Gimenez plated the run in the 1st inning.� A walk, a single by CF Jorge Cortes, and an RBI ground out brought in the run in the 2nd.� Gimenez also drove in the run in the 3rd with another RBI single.� LF/RF Lastings Milledge was hitless in this game, as was Margarita's 3B Andy LaRoche. Los Bravos were held to just 3 hits.

Tigres de Aragua� 2,� Bravos de Margarita� 0� (Game 2)� -- RF Lastings Milledge blasted a solo homer over the left field wall in the top of the 1st, and that was all the scoring Los Tigres needed.� Milledge added another RBI in the 7th inning with a single to give Aragua some insurance, and he also walked in the 3rd inning.� Los Tigres needed only 5 hits in the game, with 1B Hector Gimenez getting one of those.� CF Jorge Cortes walked in three trips to the plate, but SS Cedeno and C Raul Chavez were both hitless.� 3B Andy LaRoche singled to lead off the 2nd inning for Margarita, but did not score.

Aguilas de Zulia� 5,� Navegantes del Magallanes� 1� -- DH Mike Ryan scored Magallanes' only run, which came in the 6th inning, when he singled, then scored on an RBI double.� Ryan also singled in the 1st inning.� Zulia scored one run in both the 1st and 2nd innings, then 2 more in the 6th, and one in the 7th.� Corey Hamman took the mound in relief in the 7th, with two outs and a runner on 2nd base.� He gave up an RBI single to the only batter he faced, though the run was charged to the previous pitcher.

A few winter league games with Pirates' players and friends on Saturday...

VENEZUELAN LEAGUE

Aguilas de Zulia� 2,� Caribes de Anzoategui� 1�� (Game 1 and Game 2)� -- No kidding, the same score in both games.� Zulia recorded 6 hits in both games also.� In the first game, Los Caribes were held to just two hits, and their only run scored on a walk, a ground out, and an RBI double in the 2nd inning.� Zulia scored a run in the 1st on a pair of singles and a throwing error.� The tie-breaker scored in the 4th inning on two singles and a double play.� Adenson Chourio came in to pinch run for Los Caribes in the top of the 7th after a walk.� He got as far as third base on a bunt and a ground out, but was left there when the game ended.� The second game began with Los Aguilas scoring 2 runs on two walks and a 2-RBI single in the 1st inning.� Los Caribes had 7 hits in this game, but still scored only one run, again on two singles and a double play.� Chourio made the start at shortstop in this game, but went 0-for-2 at the plate.

Leones del Caracas� 8,� Tiburones de La Guaira� 6� -- A 3-run homer made the difference for Caracas in the 8th inning.� Los Leones scored their first run in the 1st on a walk and an RBI single.� They added 2 more in the 4th, on a double, and two RBI singles, one by C Carlos Maldonado.� Maldonado ended the inning when he was thrown out trying to steal second base -- something that would not surprise Indy Indians' fans.

Navegantes del Magallanes� 4,� Cardenales de Lara� 0� -- Los Cardenales posted just 3 hits in the shutout.� Los Navegantes scored 2 runs in the 4th, on three singles, a walk, and two wild pitches.� They added another pair in the 7th, when they got a single and a walk off Lara reliever Romulo Sanchez.� Sanchez was relieved, but two more singles drove in the 2 runs.� DH Mike Ryan went 0-for-3 for Los Navegantes.

Bravos de Margarita� 6,� Tigres de Aragua� 4� -- Los Tigres got onto the scoreboard first with 3 runs in the 3rd inning.� A walk and a single opened the inning.� SS Ronny Cedeno struck out, but a wild pitch on strike three let the runners advance one base.� LF Lastings Milledge hit a fielder's choice to his Pirate teammate 3B Andy LaRoche, who threw to the plate to get the lead runner out.� But moments later, LaRoche's error at third let a run score, and two mroe runs came in on an RBI single.� Los Bravos came back with 5 runs in the top fo the 4th.� LaRoche hit the middle of three consecutive singles to open the inning, scoring a run.� A walk loaded the bases, and C Henry Blanco cleared them with a grand slam.� Aragua got one run back with a homer in the bottom of the 4th, to make the score 5-4, with Margarita ahead.� Blanco singled in the 9th, and scored again for Margarita, on a fielding error by Cedeno.� Ronald Belisario came on to pitch for Margarita in the 9th inning.� He earned his 5th save, despite giving up two singles, including one to pinch-hitter Hector Gimenez. A double play ended the inning for Belisario.� C Raul Chavez also had a single for Aragua.

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Phoenix Desert Dogs� 8,� Mesa Solar Sox� 6

A 5-run inning by Phoenix overcame an early Solar Sox lead this afternoon in the Arizona Fall League.� Each member of the Solar Sox' lineup except one had at least one hit in the game, including a single by C Tony Sanchez.

Mesa jumped out to a 3-run lead in the top of the 1st.� 2B Jordany Valdespin (Mets) opened the game by beating out an infield single.� CF Brett Jackson (Cubs) walked, and LF Jeremy Moore (Angels) drove them both in with a triple lined into right field.� A single by 3B Brandon Wood (Angels) brought in Moore.� Sanchez also singled in the inning, but he was left on base.

The Solar Sox added another run in the 2nd, on a single by SS Andrew Romine (Angels), who then stole second base.� Jackson singled, and Romine scored from second base.� They picked up an unearned run in the 3rd, when RF kirk Nieuwenhuis (Mets) singled, moved to second when DH Josh Vitters (Cubs) reached on a fielding error at short (it should have been the third out), and scored on 1B Ryan Flaherty's(Cubs) RBI single.

Cubs' Jake Muyco made the start for Mesa.� He zipped through the first inning, but gave up a double and a 2-run homer in the 2nd inning.� Muyco and the Solar Sox were still leading 5-2 going into the bottom of the 3rd. That's when the trouble started.� A double, a walk, and a 3-run homer tied the score at 5-5.� Muyco got a ground out, then gave up another double.� A second grounder gave him the second out of the inning, but an RBI single followed.� That was all for Muyco.� He was relieved by Ryan Brasier (Angels), who was greeted by the third double of the inning, which brought in the 5th run for the Desert Dogs.� Dogs 7, Sox 5.

Andrew Romine started another Solar Sox rally in the 6th with a single up the middle.� Valdespin added a single into right, moving Romine to third base.� Jackson's sacrifice fly brought him home, and Valdespin stole second base, but couldn't come around to score.

After Brasier finished the 3rd inning, he retired the side in order in the 4th.� BJ Rosenberg (Phillies) worked around a walk and a single to keep Phoenix from scoring in the 5th.� Aaron Pribanic took care of the 6th, allowing a walk, but erasing the runner with a double play.

The Desert Dogs scored one more time in the 7th.� With Robert Fish (Angels) on the mound in relief of Pribanic, Andrew Romine's brother Austin (Yankees) doubled, then moved to third base on a passed ball by Sanchez.�� A single scored the run from third base.� Chris Kissock (Phillies) pitched the final inning for the Solar Sox and retired the side in order.

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The only winter league game tonight was in the Puerto Rican League, where Los Gigantes de Carolina beat Los Indios de Mayaguez 6-2.� Carolina made use of a 4-run 3rd inning, which was started by former Indy Indian RF Luis Matos, who hit the first of four consecutive singles.� A walk and a fifth single finished the inning.

Cheering for the Pirates' players and friends in winter league games:

VENEZUELAN LEAGUE

Tigres de Aragua� 4,� Caribes de Anzoategui� 2 -- Former Pirate farmhand Miguel Perez smacked a pinch-hit double in the bottom of the 8th after a single and a walk, driving in two runs to break a 2-2 tie and give Aragua the win.� Los Caribes scored a run in each of the first two innings -- a triple and a sacrifice fly in the 1st, and three singles in the 2nd.� Los Tigres fought back with a solo home run by 2B Ramon Castro in the 5th.� The 7th began with back-to-back singles, the second by C Hector Gimenez. A sacrifice bunt by DH Raul Chavez moved both runners into scoring position, and an intentional walk loaded the bases.� Castro singled to drive in the tying run.

Aguilas de Zulia� 2,� Bravos de Margarita� 1� -- Los Bravos were held to just 3 hits, and two of them came in the 5th, when they scored their only run.� RF Rene Reyes led off with a single, and 3B Andy LaRoche advanced him to second base with a ground out.� Reyes moved to third on a fly out, then scored on a wild pitch.� C Henry Blanco also singled in the inning.� LaRoche reached on a throwing error in the 2nd inning and was left on base, and flied out in the 7th, and was removed for a defensive substitute in the 8th.� His average is now .091.� Zulia scored their 2 runs in the 6th, on a walk, a single, and a 2-run double.� With two outs onad a runner on third, lefty Jhonathan Ramos came on in relief.� Ramos ended the inning with a ground out, then pitched the 7th inning.� He gave up a single, but his catcher Blanco threw out the runner trying to steal second base.

Leones de Caracas� 2,� Navegantes del Magallanes� 1 -- A pitching duel ended with a run on two hits in the bottom of the 10th inning by Caracas.� Magallanes was held to just 4 hits, one by LF Mike Ryan, who then came around to score in the 4th.� Caracas posted only 6 hits, including one by C Carlos Maldonado.� They scored their first run in the 2nd inning.� SS Argenis Diaz was hitless in 4 trips to the plate for Magallanes.