Tag: Ronny Cedeno

A quick look at what some of the Pirates' players and friends were up to in the Venezuelan League recently:

Anthony Claggett joined Los Bravos de Margarita, and has made two relief appearances.  On the 17th, he pitched one inning, giving up only a 2-out double, then finishing the inning with a groundout.  On the 21st, Claggett pitched 2 innings and allowed only a single to former Indy Indian Jorge Cortes, who he then erased in a double play.  
Los Tigres de Aragua got two hits each from1B Hector Gimenez, SS Ronny Cedeno, and C Raul Chavez on the 17th.  Unfortunately their only run in the game was Gimenez's solo home run.  Brian Bass made the start for Los Tigres on the 19th.  He pitched 5 innings and gave up 4 runs -- one run on a pair of singles and his own throwing error in the 1st inning, and 3 runs on a homer then two walks and 3 singles in the 3rd.  The score was tied when Bass left the game.  Lastings Milledge contributed a 2-run homer for Los Tigres in the 1st.  Aragua won the game in the bottom of the 10th on a walk-off RBI single by Cortes.  
Also on the 19th, Sean Gallagher suffered his third loss of the season for Los Navegantes.  He pitched 4 innings against Los Aguilas del Zulia and gave up 4 runs on 8 hits.  In the 3rd inning, he allowed a 2-run homer, then in the 4th, Gallagher gave up 2 more runs on a walk and 3 singles. 
Justin Thomas earned the win (his first in Venezuela) for Los Bravos de Margarita on Saturday the 20th.  He was first charged with a blown save when he gave up a solo home run in the bottom of the 7th to Los Navegantes del Magallanes.  But he was then credited with the win when Margarita hit a 3-run homer in the top of the 7th.  Corey Hamman also was charged with a blown save for Magallanes in that same game, when he faced 3 Margarita batters in the 5th inning and gave up a homer, a single, and a double.  Jean Machi pitched the top of the 9th for Magallanes and got three ground outs.  

Sunday's winter league action with the Pirates' players and friends...
As usual, the Arizona Fall League has Sunday off.  Guess who is leading the AFL in RBI?  That's right, it's OF Andrew Lambo.
The Australian League also has a few days off, with the Adelaide Bite and Quincy Latimore back in action on Wednesday.


 VENEZUELAN LEAGUE
 
Tigres de Aragua  6,  Cardenales de Lara  4  --  A 4-run 4th inning gave Los Tigres the edge over Los Cardenales.  A pair of singles opened the inning, then after a fly out, CF Jorge Cortes loaded the bases with a single into right field.   Lara changed pitchers, but he gave up three more singles.  The first drove in one run, then SS Ronny Cedeno singled in two more runs.  A passed ball put runners onto second and third bases, and RF/LF Lastings Milledge's single drove in the fourth run of the inning.  Los Tigres' first run came on a solo home run that opened the game in the top of the 1st.  Cedeno singled and Milledge walked after the home run, but they did not score in that inning.  Aragua added a run on a double and a fielding error in the 2nd inning.  Cedeno also singled in the 3rd inning, for a total of 3 hits in the game.  C Raul Chavez was hitless in 5 at-bats.  Lara also scored one run in the 1st inning, to tie the score.  Los Cardenales took a 3-2 lead with 2 runs in the bottom of the 3rd, but that lead lasted only a few minutes, until Aragua scored 4 in the 4th.  

Aguilas del Zulia  10,  Navegantes del Magallanes  4  --  Los Aguilas also had a 4-run inning, the 9th, to cap their scoring and take the win.  LF Mike Ryan singled in the 1st inning for Magallanes but did not come around to score.  Magallanes scored one run in the 3rd and another in the 4th.  In the 9th, Los Navegantes loaded the bases on two singles and a walk, then scored one run on SS Argenis Diaz's sacrifice fly.  Another single plated one more run, but a double play ended the rally.  


Los Bravos de Margarita are reporting that manager Luis Dorante has been hospitalized with kidney failure.  He will be out for two weeks.

Cheering for the Pirates' farmhands and friends in Saturday's winter league games...

VENEZUELAN LEAGUE

Cardenales de Lara  2,  Tigres de Aragua  1  --  Brian Bass suffered the loss for Los Tigres, though he did not pitch poorly.  Bass threw 7.2 innings and scattered 5 hits and 3 walks.  He gave up a run on a single and a double in the 3rd inning, and another on a hit batter and a double in the 6th.  A walk and a double play on a bouncer back to the mound started the 8th inning, then Bass was relieved.  Los Tigres scored their only run in the 5th inning.  A pair of singles and a walk loaded the bases for SS Ronny Cedeno, whose sacrifice fly plated the run.  Cedeno singled in the 1st inning.  LF Lastings Milledge singled in the 4th inning, but he was picked off.  DH Hector Gimenez doubled in the 8th, but was left on base.  CF Jorge Cortes was the only Tigres batter with 2 hits, both singles.  Romulo Sanchez pitched to two batters in the 6th for Lara -- he walked Milledge, then got a ground out.

Navegantes del Magallanes  6,  Leones del Caracas  3  --  Sean Gallagher earned his third win for Magallanes, going 5 innings in this start.  Gallagher faced only one batter over the minimum over the first three innings, allowing just a walk in the top of the 1st.  He allowed a lead-off homer to DH Jesus Guzman in the 4th, then a single and a double in that inning.  Guzman got to Gallagher again in the 5th, with a 2-run homer.  Jean Machi earned his 5th save of the season with a scoreless top of the 9th for Magallanes, allowing only a single to 

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DOMINICAN LEAGUE

Tigres del Licey  5,  Toros del Este  2  --  C Jason Jaramillo drove in one of Los Toros' runs with a sacrifice fly in the 2nd inning, but Los Toros would not score after that.  SS Pedro Ciriaco singled in the 9th innning, but was left on base.  Los Tigres scored one run in the 3rd, and tied the game with a solo homer in the 5th.  Licey took the lead in the 6th.  Pinch-hitter Jake Fox began the rally with a single, and he came in on an RBI single.   C Robinzon Diaz gave the team a pair of insurance runs with a 2-RBI single.  

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.

Cheering for some Pirates' players and friends in Tuesday's winter league action...�� The Australians are back in action on Thursday, which will be late Wednesday night/early Thursday morning for most of us.

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VENEZUELAN LEAGUE

Tigres de Aragua� 6,� Bravos de Margarita� 0� -- A Pirate-filled game... 2B/3B Andy LaRoche singled twice and walked for Los Bravos, but his teammates could not get him or anyone else pushed across the plate.� LaRoche singled to lead off the 2nd inning, went to second on a fielding error, and to third on a wild pitch, but he was out at the plate on what seems to have been a wild pitch or passed ball.� LaRoche worked the second of two walks in the 4th inning, but was erased in an inning-ending double play.� Another double play took him off the bases in the 9th, after another lead-off single.� Meanwhile, the Pirates playing for Los Tigres also got off to a frustrating start.� DH Hector Gimenez walked in the 2nd, and LF Lastings Milledge followed by beating out a tapper back to the mound.� But a double play ended that inning without a run scoring.� It got better in the 5th, when Milledge walked, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt, then scored on CF Jorge Cortes' RBI double into right field.� A single and a home run by C Wilson Ramos gave Los Tigres 2 more runs in the 6th.� In the 8th, with two on (walk and single) and two outs, Jhonathan Ramos came on to pitch for Los Bravos.� Gimenez was the first batter he faced� -- and he blasted a 3-run over the left field wall, to give Aragua a 6-0 lead.� Ramos got Milledge to ground out to end the inning, and he was relieved for the next inning.� So, one hit each for Gimenez, Milledge, and Cortes, but an 0-for-4 night for SS Ronny Cedeno.

Caribes de Anzoategui� 7,� Tiburones de La Guaira� 1� -- The score was tied at 1-1 going into the bottom of the 8th, when Los Caribes exploded for 6 runs.� After a lead-off double, Adenson Chourio was brought in to pinch-hit.� He was intentionally walked, and a sacrifice bunt put both runners into scoring position.� Another intentional walk loaded the bases, then an unintentional walk forced in the go-ahead run.� An RBI grounder plated Chourio, then back-to-back homers, 3-run and solo, gave Los Caribes all the insurance they would need.

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Cheering for Pirates' players and friends in Sunday's winter league games...

VENEZUELAN LEAGUE

Leones del Caracas� 9,� Bravos de Margarita� 2� -- Caracas began the game with 2 runs in the bottom of the 1st, and kept right on rolling, with a run in the 3rd, 2 in the 4th , and 4 in the 5th.� In the 5th, Margarita reliever Jhonathan Ramos enterd the game with one run already scored, a runner on second base, and no outs.� He made a missed catch error while covering first base for the first batter he faced, which allowed the base runner to score.� Then Ramos gave up a double and a single, and two more runs came in.� A double play and a tapper back to the mound ended the inning.� Margarita's first run came in the 4th inning, when LF Frank Diaz tripled, and 3B Andy LaRoche brought him in with a sacrifice fly.� Los Bravos scored again in the 5th inning on a pair of doubles.� LaRoche also walked in the 6th inning, but was earased in a double play.

Navegantes del Magallanes� 5,� Tigres de Aragua� 4� -- Aragua jumped out to a 3-0 start in the top of the 1st.� A lead-off double was followed by a sacrifice bunt by SS Ronny Cedeno, and an RBI single by LF Lastings Milledge. DH Hector Gimenez brought in Milledge with a 2-run homer.� Magallanes brought Corey Hamman on in relief to begin the 3rd inning, and Hamman allowed Aragua only one hit over the next three innings.� He then began the top of the 6th by giving up a double, then a sacrifice bunt by Gimenez.� Hamman was relieved, and one more run scored on a walk and a sacrifice fly.� Then in the bottom of the inning, Magallanes started their come-back.� Brian Bass had pitched 5 scoreless innings for Los Tigres (allowing just 2 hits and 4 walks), and Los Navegantes had to wait until Bass was relieved to start their rallies.� A single, a walk to DH Mike Ryan, then three more walks forced in two runs in the 6th.� A hit batter, another walk to Ryan, a wild pitch, and an RBI ground out got Los Navegantes within one run of Los Tigres.� In the bottom of the 8th, two lead-off singles and a sacrifice bunt put two Navegantes' runners into scoring position.� The next batter dropped another sacrifice bunt, which Aragua reliever Rich Rundles picked up and threw away, allowing two runs to score, to give Magallanes the win.� Aragua CF Jorge Cortes also singled and doubled in the game but didn't score.

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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The Australians are beginning their third iteration of the Australian Baseball League this weekend.� The Aussies have had two leagues before -- both had to shut down due to financial issues.� This time, the ABL is going to be a partnership between MLB and the Australian Baseball Federation.� MLB has been sponsoring the Australian Academy Program since 2001, and several Pirates' farmhands (Jarryd Sullivan, Mitch Fienemann) have participated.� This academy works with young Australian and Asian players, similar to the work done by the Dominican and other Caribbean academies.

The new ABL has six teams:� the Adelaide Bite (think: shark), the Brisbane Bandits, the Canberra Cavalry, the Melbourne Aces, the Perth Heat, and the Sydney Blue Sox.� The season will run into January, with each team playing 40 games.� Of course Australian players will be featured, but there are some other "imports" as well.� Here's the official ABL site, and you can see the resemblance to many other US minor league sites.

The good news:� some Pirates' farmhands are going to be playing

Adelaide Bite:� RHP Mitch Fienemann, LHP Paul Mildren (former Altoona Curve), C Dylan Child, OF Quincy Latimore;� the team manager is Pirate international scout Tony Harris.� Also on the team is a second baseman named Dayle Child.... I'm guessing he's Dylan's brother, but I've not confirmed it.� The Bite play their first game on Thursday.

Canberra Cavalry: LHP Rinku Singh

Sydney Blue Sox: RHP Jarryd Sullivan

The Calvalry and Blue Sox open on Saturday Nov 6th at 7:30 AEST in Sydney... which is 4:30 am EST in the US, as best as I can tell.� (I will not be up.)

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And on to Friday evening's winter league games:

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

VENEZUELAN LEAGUE

Tigres de Aragua� 6,� Bravos de Margarita� 0� -- Los Bravos were held to just 2 hits -- a single in the 7th, and another to lead off the 9th inning.� 3B Andy LaRoche worked a walk to open the 2nd inning, but was erased in a double play.� Margarita got another walk in the 4th inning, and those were the only two Bravos batters to reach base in the first six innings.� Los Tigres scored their first run in the 1st inning, on a double, a single by SS Ronny Cedeno (in his Tigres' debut), a fielders' choce by CF Lastings Milledge, and an RBI single.� They added 2 more runs in the 4th, on a 2-run homer.� C Raul Chavez doubled after the homer, and Hector Gimenez reached on a fielder's choice, but Chavez was out at third.� Cedeno also doubled in the 5th, then had the second single of the 7th inning.� Milledge moved Cedeno up to second base on a ground out, and an intentional walk loaded the bases.� A sacrifice fly plated the first run of the inning.� Chavez and Gimenez each drove in a run with an RBI single.� Jorge Cortes made a pinch-hitting appearance for Los Tigres and worked a walk in the 8th, but was left on base.

Navegantes del Magallanes� 3,� Tiburones de La Guaira� 1� -- Los Tiburones put up half of their 6 hits in the 4th inning, when they scored their only run -- back-to-back doubles and a single to begin the inning.� Los Navegantes scored one run in the 1st inning on a fielding error, a stolen base, and a double.� After Los Tiburones tied the score in the top of the 4th, Magallanes came back in the bottom of the frame to take the lead with a single, a walk, a wild pitch, and a 2-RBI single.� DH Mike Ryan was hitless in 4 trips to the plate for Magallanes.� Jean Machi pitched the top of the 9th for Magallanes and gave up a walk but struck out 2 batters to keep Los Tiburones from scoring.� Machi earned his 3rd save of the winter league season.

The Arizona Fall League begins play today, with seven Pirates' farmhands on the roster for the Mesa Solar Sox.� Players from the Los Angeles Angels, the Philadelphia Phillies, the Chicago Cubs, and the New York Mets will round out the Solar Sox' roster. � Pitchers Brian Leach, Aaron Pribanic, and Justin Wilson are all participating, and all are expected to pitch in relief, as other pitchers have the priority for starting roles.� Team USA's Justin De Fratus (Phillies) is also on the roster, so he must be planning to join the Solar Sox later in the week after the Pan Am tournament wraps up.

Behind the plate, look for C Tony Sanchez, who is trying to make up time after missing much of the regular season due to a fractured jaw.� Sanchez has also been asked by MLB to keep a blog of his experiences in the Arizona Fall League.� (He hasn't started it yet -- stay tuned.)� Phillies' pitcher Josh Zeid and Angels pitcher Ryan Brasier, both slated as starters for the Solar Sox, have also been asked to write blogs.

Altoona infielders Josh Harrison and Jordy Mercer will be sharing some infield time with six other infielders, including Josh Vitters of the Cubs.� Their Curve teammate Andrew Lambo will be sharing outfield duties with four other outfielders, including Phillies' John Mayberry.

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Mexican Pacific League

Los Venados de Mazatlan is the hometown team of OF Rogelios Noris. He got in a little playing time last year as a rookie, and was a bit of a surprise, with some home runs and some very good pinch-hit appearances. The 21-year-old hit .236 with the West Virginia Power during the 2010 season.

Also listed on one Mazatlan roster (but not all) is LHP Jovany Lopez. Lopez is a 19 year old from Los Mochis, who has spent two seasons with the Pirates Venezuelan Summer League team.� This season, he made 18 relief appearances (27.2 innings) and had a 5-0 record with a 3.90 ERA.� He gave up 30 hits and 12 earned runs, but allowed only 5 walks and struck out 21.

Three former Pirates are also playing in the Mexican Pacific League:� Inf/Of Yurendell de Caster is with Los Algodoneros de Guasave, C Humberto Cota is on the roster of Los Naranjeros de Hermosillo, and OF Jeff Salazar will be in center field for Los Yaquis de Obregon.

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