Tag: Yurendell de Caster

Cheering for Pirates' players and friends in Tuesday's winter league action:

VENZUELAN LEAGUE
Tigres de Aragua  12,  Tiburones de La Guaira  2  --   Los Tigres posted 12 runs on 12 hits, including a 4-run 6th inning and a 6-run 7th inning.  They began their scoring with a 2-run homer in the bottom of the 1st.  Then LF Lastings Milledge added another 2-run homer following 1B Hector Gimenez's walk to lead off the 6th.  CF Jorge Cortes walked moments later, and a single and an intentional walk loaded the bases, and two runs came in on a double.  The 7th inning rally got started with four singles (one by Cortes) and three doubles, and along with an RBI ground out by Gimenez, 6 runs crossed the plate.  Los Tiburones scored one run in the 5th and one in the 9th.  Milledge and Gimenez each walked once, and Cortes walked twice.  

Caribes de Anzoategui  8,  Bravos de Margarita  3  --  DH Jose Tabata scored twice as Los Caribes scored in 4 consecutive innings.  A 2-run homer scored in the 2nd.  A walk by Tabata and three singles added two runs in the 3rd, and a double and a single plated one run in the 4th.  Tabata led off the bottom of the 5th with a solo homer, and a single and a pair of doubles brought in two more runs in that inning.  

Leones del Caracas  7,  Navegantes del Magallanes  6  --  This one took 11 innings, with Los Leones manufacturing the winning run in the bottom of the 11th.  The lead-off batter singled, and a bunt moved him to second.  A single by SS Asdrubal Cabrera nearly won the game, but the runner was tagged out at the plate.  Then CF Josh Kroeger lined a single up the middle, and this time the throw to the plate was not in time.  LF Mike Ryan led off the 4th inning with a triple for Los Navegantes, and he scored on a sacrifice fly.  Corey Hamman pitched to one batter (Kroeger) in the 7th and got a fly out, but his wild pitch allowed Cabrera to score from third base to tie the score at 5-5.  Each team scored a run in the 9th.  Jose Ascanio pitched the top of the 9th for Los Leones, and he gave up a run on a double, a sacrifice bunt, and a sacrifice fly, giving Caracas the lead again.  Jean Machi pitched 2 innings of relief.  He gave up the homer to Kroeger in the bottom of the 9th, which sent the game in to extras with a 6-6 tie, then retired the side in order in the 10th.  

Left over from late Friday night and early Saturday morning:

AUSTRALIAN LEAGUE

Adelaide Bite  13,  Melbourne Aces 2  (Game 1) --  The Bite continued chomping on the Aces in this 7-inning game.  LF Quincy Latimore got the scoring started for Adelaide in the bottom of the 1st with a 3-run homer that followed a pair of lead-off singles.  The Aces scored one run in the 2nd when two singles and two hit batters forced in a run.  A single, a stolen base, and two ground outs gave Melbourne another run in the 3rd, bringing the score to 3-2.  It was all Adelaide after that.  In the 4th, a single, a balk, and a hit batter put two runners on base, and RBI singles by 3B Stefan Welch and Latimore brought in 2 runs.  The Bite batted around in the 5th to plate 5 runs.  A throwing error, a walk, another balk, an RBI single and a 2 RBI double brought in 3 runs.  At that point, the Melbourne pitcher was ejected from the game.  Latimore reached on a throwing error, which added 2 more runs.  Another 2-RBI double and a sacrifice fly gave the Bite 3 runs in the 6th inning.

Bite   8,  Aces  3  (Game 2)  --  It didn't get any better for Melbourne in the night-cap, though they did post more hits (10).  Adelaide starter Dushan Ruzic scattered 5 hits over the first 6 innings, then gave up one run on a walk, a single, and a sacrifice fly in the 7th.  Two doubles and two singles gave the Aces their other 2 runs in the 8th.  The Bite bats were also quiet for the first three innings, then LF Quincy Latimore started pounding the ball again in the 4th.  His 2-run homer got things started, and the Bite added another run on a double and a single for a 3-0 lead.  Latimore's second homer of the game and third of the day opened the 6th inning.  Then he picked up his fourth RBI of the game in the bottom of the 7th inning.  A walk, a wild pitch, and two throwing errors gave Adelaide one run, then another walk and Latimore's RBI grounder plated the second run of the inning.  Three singles plus a wild pitch and a passed ball added 2 more runs to the Bite's total in the 8th inning, to give the Bite a 4-0 record in the new season. 

Quincy Latimore currently has a .429 average (third best in the league).  He leads the ABL with 3 homers, and teammate Ben Wigmore is next with 2.  Latimore and Wigmore also top the RBI list -- 8 for Latimore and 6 for Wigmore.  Guess who's on top of the SLG list?  Latimore with 1.071 and Wigmore with .933.  OPS?  1.601 for Latimore, 1.404 for Wigmore.  Yes, a very small sample, but we can enjoy it while it lasts.

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MEXICAN PACIFIC LEAGUE

Algondoneros de Guasave  16,  Venados de Mazatlan  1  --  It's the start of deer season in Indiana, and somehow that must have translated down to Mexico.  Guasave posted 21 hits, with each member of the starting line-up collecting at least one hit.  Yurendell de Caster contributed a 3-run homer in Guasave's 6-run 7th inning.  Los Venados scored only one run, which (briefly) tied the score in the 2nd inning.  Rogelios Noris came in as a defensive replacement later in the game, and he had a hit in his only plate appearance. 

Just a few Pirates' players and friends saw winter league action on Friday...

DOMINICAN LEAGUE

Gigantes del Cibao  9,  Toros del Este  4  --  This game was a little home run derby.  Los Toros scored their only runs in the top of the 3rd inning, on a pair of 2-run homers, each one following a double.  SS Pedro Ciriaco tripled in the 4th inning, but did not score.  Mike Dubee pitched the 7th inning for Los Gigantes, and he allowed Los Toros only a walk in the scoreless inning.  Los Gigantes scored one run on a solo homer in the 2nd, then had three solo homers in the bottom of the 3rd.  They also added a run in the 5th and 4 more in the 7th, but without needing the long ball. 

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VENEZUELAN LEAGUE

Navegantes del Magallanes  6,  Tiburones de La Guaira  3  --  Three runs in the top of the 10th broke a 3-3 tie and gave Magallanes the win.  LF Mike Ryan led off the inning with a single up the middle, and he was replaced by a pinch-runner.  Another single and a double drove in two runs, and the third single of the inning brought in the third run.  La Guaira could only manage one single in the bottom of the inning, and Los Navegantes had the win.  Los Navegantes scored their first 2 run in the 6th, when they loaded the bases on a single, a throwing error, and an intentional walk to Ryan.  A single and another error pushed 2 runs across the plate.  A triple and an RBI single gave them one more run in the 7th.  Argenis Diaz came in to pinch run for Los Magallanes in the bottom of the 9th, but did not score.  He remained in the game at shortstop, and struck out in his only plate appearance. 

Bravos de Margarita  3,  Caribes de Anzoategui  1  --  Justin Thomas pitched a hitless but wild 4.1 innings in his start for Los Bravos.  He struck out 4 batters, but walked 5 and was responsible for Los Caribes' only run.  After retiring the side in the top of the 1st, Thomas walked one in the 2nd, but erased him with a double play.  He walked 2 batters in the 3rd and left both on base.  One walk in the 4th, also left on base.  One more walk to lead off the 5th inning, then a fly out, and Thomas was relieved by Renee Cortez.  Cortez gave up another walk and two singles, allowing the runner Thomas had walked to score.  Los Bravos scored 2 runs in the 4th inning on two singles and a double, then added one more in the 7th, on a solo home run by C Henry Blanco. 

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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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Pirates' players and friends in winter league action....� The Dominican and Puerto Rican Leagues begin in less than a week.

VENEZUELAN WINTER LEAGUE

Cardinales de Lara� 3,� Tigres de Aragua� 2 -- The first inning was the most important in this game.� Aragua scored one run on a walk, a hit batter, a fly out, and an RBI ground out by 1B Hector Gimenez. Lara came back with a 2-run homer in the bottom of the frame, to take a 2-1 lead.� Los Tigres continued to put runners on base, including a single by former Pirate farmhand C Miguel Perez in the 2nd, but they could not score again until the 6th, when two singles and Perez's sacrifice fly brought in their second run.� But Lara, also scored again, when former Indy Indian C Alex Delgado led off the 5th with a single, then scored on a sacrifice bunt and another single.

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Caribes de Anzoategui� 9,� Bravos de Margarita 1 -- 3B Andy LaRoche went 0-for-4, dropping his batting average to .100, but Los Bravos only managed 4 hits tonight.� Their only run came in the 2nd inning on a walk and a triple by 1B Javier Brito.� Justin Thomas made his first appearance for Margarita, taking over to begin the bottom of the 4th with the score tied at 1-1.� Thomas gave up a single in that inning, but the runner was thrown out trying to steal second base.� He began the 5th with a hit batter, then got two outs, then gave up a double.� Thomas was relieved, but both runners scored on an RBI single, both charged to Thomas, making him the losing pitcher.�� Yoffri Martinez pitched to two batters in the bottom of the 8th -- he gave up a walk, then got a ground ball for a double play.� Los Caribes scored one run in each of the 6th and 7th, then added 4 more runs in the 8th inning.

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MEXICAN PACIFIC LEAGUE

Algodoneros de Guasave� 7,� Venados de Mazatlan� 3 -- RF Rogelios Noris tripled in a run for Mazatlan in the 7th inning.� Los Venados also scored one run in the 3rd on a double and an RBI single, and plated one more in the bottom of the 9th on a walk and a single, but they fell short.� Former Pirate 1B Yurendell de Caster went 3-for-4 with a double, two singles, and a walk, as Guasave totalled 15 hits.�� De Caster doubled and scored in the 2nd, and he had the second of four singles in Guasave's 3-run 4th inning.� Guasave also scored two runs in the 7th on two singles, a double, and a sacrifice fly.� They added one more in the 9th on a walk and a double.

A quick look at some winter league games involving Pirates' players and friends:

VENEZUELAN WINTER LEAGUE

Navegantes del Magallanes� 3,� Bravos de Margarita� 0 -- Margarita just couldn't get anything going in this game.� The only time they had more than one runner on base at a time was in the 1st inning, when CF Frank Diaz and RF Rene Reyes hit a pair of two-out singles.� Diaz had 3 hits in the game.� 3B Andy LaRoche was hitless in 4 trips to the plate, including 3 strikeouts.� Los Navegantes scored 2 of their runs in the 5th, on a walk and four singles.� Former Pirate DH Mike Ryan had one of those singles, and he scored one of the runs.� Jean Machi pitched the 9th inning for Magallanes, earning the save.� He gave up two singles, but got a double play in between then.� Jhonathan Ramos came in to finish up the 5th inning for Margarita, then pitched the 6th.� He gave up a hit but followed it with a double play.

Leones del Caracas� 11,� Tigres de Aragua� 0 -- Los Leones devoured Los Tigres, holding Aragua to just 5 hits.� 1B Hector Gimenez had one of the hits, a single in the 7th, but was left stranded. C Raul Chavez also had a single, but he was erased in a double play.� Caracas posted a total of 14 hits, and had two 4-run innings (2nd and 7th).� C Carlos Maldonado doubled, walked, and reached on a fielding error, and scored all three of those times.

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MEXICAN PACIFIC LEAGUE

Algodoneros de Guasave� 6,� Venados de Mazatlan� 4 -- RF Rogelios Noris doubled and scored for Los Venados, and former Pirate 1B Yurendell de Caster singled and doubled for Guasave.� Noris' double led off the 3rd inning, and two more doubles gave Mazatlan 2 runs in that inning.� Guasave scored 3 times in the 4th inning, and that tipped the scales in their favor for the rest of the game.� De Caster's RBI double brought in a run in the 5th, and his single plated another run in the 8th.� Mazatlan's last run came on a homer in the 6th.