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STEVEN WRIGHT
Steven Wright's best outing this winter.

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Scott Kazmir has signed a contract to play for Los Leones del Escogido in the Dominican Republic.

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Sunday, Nov. 20, 2011

Dragons edge Hawks; series tied 3-3

Chunichi win sets stage for decisive seventh game to crown Japan Series champion

By JASON COSKREY, Staff writer

FUKUOKA —


Early momentum:

Dragons slugger Kazuhiro Wada smacks a two-run, first-inning triple against the Hawks in Game 6 of the Japan Series on Saturday at Yahoo Dome. Chunichi defeated Fukuoka Softbank 2-1. KYODO PHOTO

Standing on the brink of elimination, the Chunichi Dragons couldn't afford to lose.

So their ace pitcher made sure they didn't.

Kazuki Yoshimi was dominating on the mound, Kazuhiro Wada provided all the offense with a two-run triple in the first inning, and the Dragons edged the Fukuoka Softbank Hawks 2-1 in Game 6 of the Japan Series on Saturday at Yahoo Dome.

"I told you, right? If we won, we would have another game, and if we lost, that would be it," Dragons manager Hiromitsu Ochiai said. "We won, so there will be another game tomorrow. It's that simple."

The Dragons evened the series at three games apiece, meaning the title will be decided in Sunday's winner-take-all seventh game.

"Tomorrow will be the final game of 2011, and the winner will be the champion," Ochiai said.

The Dragons should like their chances in Game 7, given that the road team has won all six games of this year's Japanese Fall Classic.
Kazuki Yoshimi

"This series has been very strange in that the visiting team has won every game, and I hope that will hold tomorrow," Ochiai said.

Yoshimi didn't leave anything to chance on the mound as he sliced through the Softbank lineup.

"I went out tonight knowing we could not lose," Yoshimi said. "I got the lead in the first inning before I even went to the mound, so that made me relaxed and confident."

Yoshimi threw 7⅔ innings of one-run ball, walking none and striking out eight. The Hawks had no answer for the Chunichi ace, who allowed five hits and at one point retired 12 straight batters.

He was relieved with two outs in the eighth by Hitoki Iwase, who was on the mound for three outs before yielding to Takuya Asao, who retired the final batter to record the save.

Wada did all the damage at the plate for the Dragons. He led both teams with two hits, his first being the two-run triple that was the difference for Chunichi.

"The pitchers really deserve the credit," Wada said. "We only put up two runs for them, and they were able to hold Softbank to only a run. They are the ones who earned the victory."

With Yoshimi dealing, the Hawks struggled at the plate. Of their five hits, four were singles, with Yuichi Honda's fourth-inning triple one of the few encouraging signs of the night.

"The only thing I have to say is tomorrow's game will be for all the marbles," Softbank manager Koji Akiyama said. "We'll do our best."

Like the Dragons, the Hawks sent their top pitcher, Tsuyoshi Wada, to the mound. But Wada wasn't nearly as sharp as he was in Game 1 and it came back to haunt him. He took the loss after allowing a pair of runs on four hits in five innings. He struck out three and walked two.

"I at least tried not to allow them to score first," Wada said. "I feel sorry for the team. That's the only thing I can say for now."

Wada began the game by giving up a single to Chunichi shortstop Masahiro Araki, who moved to second on Hirokazu Ibata's sacrifice bunt.

Tony Blanco drew a walk later in the inning, and Chunichi's Wada drove both runners in with his triple to right.

"It was a chance to get on the board first and I was fired up," the Dragons veteran said.

Honda led off the fourth with his triple and Seiichi Uchikawa cut Chunichi's lead in half with an RBI single.

"I give the credit to Pon (Honda)," Uchikawa said. "We wanted to start a rally as early as possible and we didn't want to waste the chance. I came up with that mind-set."

The teams return to Yahoo Dome for the seventh and final game of the Japan Series on Sunday with the first pitch scheduled for 6:30 p.m.

"Our team would really like to win tomorrow for our manager since it will be his last game," the Dragons' Wada said. "Our offense has to do better, though."

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Salt River tops Surprise for AFL title

By Jonathan Mayo / MLB.com | 11/19/11 7:00 PM EST

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. --

For the entire Arizona Fall League season, the Surprise Saguaros beat opponents into submission with the best offense in the league. On Saturday in the AFL Championship Game, the Salt River Rafters gave them a taste of their own medicine.

Using a five-run seventh inning to break it open, the Rafters came away with a bit of an upset victory, 9-3, over the Saguaros in front of 3,079 at Scottsdale Stadium.

It was the bottom half of the Salt River lineup that did most of the damage, highlighted by Arizona Diamondbacks second baseman David Nick's bases-loaded triple in the seventh inning. Salt River pounded out 10 hits to give the Rafters their first title since they were the Grand Canyon Rafters back in 2000.

"It was a total team effort," said Nick, who went 2-for-5 with those three big RBIs. "We came out ready to swing it. We knew they were a great team, one through nine they're a really tough lineup. We were a confident bunch as well. We knew we could compete with anybody."

The Rafters jumped out to an early lead, scoring twice in the second against Surprise starter Alex Sanabia. And it was the bottom of the lineup that did the damage. Astros outfielder Jake Goebbert drove in the Rockies' Ben Paulsen with a sacrifice fly from the eight-hole. Tigers shortstop Dixon Machado, the No. 9 hitter who hit .118 during the regular season, followed with a two-out single that scored Nick to give Salt River a 2-0 cushion.

The Rafters added to their advantage in the third inning, when Fall League MVP Nolan Arenado sent a shot to left that just cleared the fence for a solo home run and a 3-0 lead.

"It was a changeup inside," the Rockies' Arenado said. "I got a little nervous. The wind was blowing out and pushed it out a little, which was nice. When I firsts hit it, I thought, 'Ooh, I don't know,' but luckily it went out."

Anyone who's watched any Fall League action knew not to feel too comfortable with any lead, given the kind of offensive firepower Surprise has shown all season. After D-backs pitcher Charles Brewer cruised through two perfect innings, Rays first-round pick Mikie Mahtook led off the bottom of the third with a single and Braves catcher Christian Bethancourt hit a shot into the Salt River bullpen to close the gap to just one run.

But that was all the powerful Saguaros lineup would muster for most of the day. Brewer, a local product who attended nearby Chaparral High School before attending UCLA, allowed just those two hits in the third and a double to Astros catcher Jason Castro in the fourth. The right-hander went four innings, yielding two runs on three hits while walking none and striking out four.

"Changing speeds, that was the thing I told my catcher from the get-go," Brewer said. "They're very aggressive, especially early in the count. Even early in the count, I threw my changeup, I threw my cutter, my curve ball. I kind of threw everything at them.

"You're kind of disappointed you made a mistake. Against an offense like this, you give up three hits through four innings, you can't be too upset. I really could care less about my performance as long as my team ended up winning this ballgame."

The Rafters made sure of that outcome with that five-spot in the seventh off of Royals reliever Jeremy Jeffress. The right-hander was charged with four runs on two hits, a walk and a wild pitch. The big blow came from Nick off of Marlins lefty Dan Jennings, who relieved Jeffress.

"I was looking for a fastball away," Nick said. "I didn't want to try to do too much with it. That allowed me to stay short and put a line-drive swing on it. Luckily, it found a gap."

Salt River tacked on one more run in the eighth when a Tim Wheeler (Rockies) sacrifice fly scored Machado following a double by D-backs outfielder Adam Eaton.

Salt River's bullpen took it the rest of the way, tossing shutout ball and scattering just three hits until the ninth inning. Surprise threatened in the ninth, loading the bases and scoring a run on a Leury Garcia infield single, before Kevin Mattison popped out to Arenado to end it.

"It's a great accomplishment," Arenado said. "We came in here, we were ready to play. Right away, we were very pumped up. We took over. When we got people on base, we got them in. We played the game the right way and did the right things."

For Nick and Brewer, along with other D-backs prospects like Eaton (2-for-5), winning it in front of an engaged crowd mostly made up of fans of their parent organization made it a little more special than the typical AFL title.

"We definitely had a lot of support the whole season," Nick said. "I had no idea we'd get that kind of support, but we had fans coming out every single game, cheering us on. It was such a blast, such a fun experience. It's a great way to go out."

"I was so pumped," said Brewer, who left around 30 passes for friends and family to attend the game. "It was one of the most exciting games I've ever pitched. I had 30 people here supporting me, so that was really cool, not to mention all the people watching on TV. It was a heck of an experience."

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Hara gets 2-year deal, but must win pennant

The Shimbun

Yomiuri Giants manager Tatsunori Hara agreed to a two-year contract with the Central League club on Tuesday, when he was also informed that finishing second won't be good enough.

Hara, in the final year of a current three-year deal, met with team owner Tsunekazu Momoi in Miyazaki.

"Missing out on the [league] championship for three straight seasons is unacceptable," Momoi said. "Should that happen, someone would have to take responsibility [for the failure]."

Hara, entering his ninth season as Giants skipper, said that expectation comes with the job.

"We're always battling within that context. It's motivating," he said.

The team also announced on Tuesday it would not be offering contracts to four players, including reliever Micheal Nakamura. Acquired in a November 2008 trade from the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters, Nakamura set the Pacific League saves record with 39 in 2006. He saved only one game in three seasons with Yomiuri

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Portillo helps Aguilas one-hit Leones

Padres prospect strikes out seven in five scoreless innings

Venezuelan Winter League

Zulia 3, Caracas 0

Adys Portillo struck out seven over five innings and combined with three relievers on a one-hitter as the Aguilas climbed one game over the .500 mark. The Padres prospect allowed only a fourth-inning single to Rays outfielder Stephen Vogt en route to his second win. Yankees Minor Leaguer Colin Curtis doubled and scored a run for Zulia.

La Guaira 10, Lara 0

Les Walrond, who spent the season in the Phillies organization, scattered six hits over six innings as the Tiburones reeled off their fourth straight win. Tigers farmhand Danny Worth slugged a three-run homer and Giants prospect Hector Sanchez also went deep and had three RBIs for La Guaira.
Adys Portillo was 3-11 with a 7.11 ERA in 23 games, including 20 starts, for Class A Fort Wayne in 2011. (Emily Jones/MiLB.com)

Magallanes 3, Margarita 0

Minor League veteran Bear Bay struck out six and gave up four hits over five innings as the Navegantes blanked the last-place Bravos. Astros infielder Jose Altuve went 2-for-3 with an RBI and former Rays farmhand Erold Andrus delivered a two-run triple for second-place Magallanes.

Aragua 13, Caribes 2

Former Major League Edgardo Alfonzo homered and delivered an RBI single in a 10-run sixth inning as the first-place Tigres pounded the Caribes. Big league veteran Lastings Milledge contributed a two-run triple and Luis Maza finished with three RBIs for Aragua. Gustavo Molina went 3-for-3 and scored a run in a losing cause.

Dominican Winter League

Gigantes 9, Escogido 1

Royals farmhand Kevin Pucetas struck out seven and gave up a run on three hits over six innings for the last-place Gigantes. Yeral Sanchez tripled, doubled and drove in two runs, while Mariners outfielder Carlos Peguero and Twins prospect Estarlin De Los Santos also had a pair of RBIs apiece for Cibao. Nationals prospect Eury Perez drove in the lone run for the Leones.

Aguilas 7, Estrellas 1

Astros outfielder Brian Bogusevic went 3-for-4 with two RBIs and a run scored as the Aguilas cruised to their second straight win. Major League veteran Joaquin Arias recorded his second three-hit game in as many nights and scored twice for Cibaenas, while Felix Pie smacked a solo homer for the Estrellas.

Toros 3, Licey 2

Blue Jays Minor Leaguer Ricardo Nanita had two hits, including a two-run homer, to power the Toros into first place. Former Twins farmhand Juan Richardson drove in the other run for Este, while Reds infielder Juan Francisco slugged a two-run shot for Licey.

Puerto Rican Winter League

Caguas 3, Mayaguez 2

Nationals infielder Alex Cora went 3-for-4 and scored twice as the first-place Criollos rallied for their fourth straight win. Twins farmhand Aaron Bates had two hits, including a solo homer, for Caguas, while former Major Leaguer Randy Ruiz was 3-for-4 with an RBI for Mayaguez.

Ponce 6, Carolina 2

Reds Minor Leaguer Jorge Jimenez had two hits and drove in three runs as the Leones dealt the last-place Gigantes their fourth consecutive loss. Brewers prospect Sergio Miranda went 2-for-4 and scored twice for Ponce, while Rockies prospect Juan Perez yielded one hit over 2 1/3 innings of scoreless relief for Carolina.

Mexican Pacific League

Navojoa 4, Mazatlan 2

Former Orioles farmhand Kraig Binick went 3-for-5 with a run scored to raise his average to .348 in the Mayos' win. Sergio Lizarraga allowed a run on four hits over six innings to square his record at 2-2, while Minor League veteran Archie Gilbert doubled and scored a run for Mazatlan.

Obregon 8, Los Mochis 5

Major League veteran Doug Clark homered, doubled and drove in three runs as the Yaquis avoided a third straight loss. Former big leaguer Alfredo Amezaga and Sergio Contreras each chipped in two RBIs for Obregon, while Phillies prospect Sebastian Valle homered for the second straight game for the Cañeros.

Culiacan 9, Hermosillo 1

Yankees infielder Ramiro Peña doubled twice and drove in three runs as the Tomateros coasted past the Naranjeros. Emmanuel Valdez went 3-for-4 with a homer and two RBIs and Hector Rodriguez pitched six strong innings for the win. Cardinals prospect Mark Hamilton and former big leaguer Humberto Cota had two hits apiece for Hermosillo.

Mexicali 9, Guasave 3

Major League veteran Chris Roberson went 4-for-5 with two RBIs and two runs scored out of the leadoff spot to lead the first-place Aguilas to their eighth straight win. Angels prospect Ricky Alvarez added three hits, scored twice and drove in a run for Mexicali, while Mario Valenzuela ripped a two-run homer for Guasave.

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Dominican Republic Winter League

•Jerad Head (RF-1B, Tigres del Licey): 0-for-3, BB, 2 K. Head is really in a funk of late in the DR as he is hitting just .175/.190/.350 in his last 10 games. He is still having issues with the strikeouts as he has 20 in 82 at bats.

Venezuelan Winter League

•Ezequiel Carrera (CF, Navegantes del Magallanes): 0-for-2, R, 2 BB, 1 K. Carrera is another guy who is struggling of late as he is hitting just .189/.286/.351 in his last 10 games. He has a nice 8:9 walk to strikeout rate, but is just having a problem making good contact and finding holes.

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TOKYO, Nov. 20 (23:36) Kyodo

Baseball: Sugiuchi sizzles as Hawks clinch Japan Series title

FUKUOKA -

Lefty Toshiya Sugiuchi pitched seven shutout innings,
Katsuki Yamazaki and Seiichi Uchikawa both hit RBI singles and the
Softbank Hawks defeated the Chunichi Dragons 3-0 in Game 7 to win the
Japan Series on Sunday.

In the first matchup in two years of the Pacific League and
Central League champions, the Hawks won their first series in eight
years and fifth overall, while denying Chunichi its first title since
2007 under outgoing manager Hiromitsu Ochiai and third ever.

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Monday, Nov. 21, 2011
Party time:

The Hawks celebrate after winning the Japan Series title on Sunday at Yahoo Dome. KYODO

Hawks capture 2011 title

By JASON COSKREY Staff writer

FUKUOKA —

The Fukuoka Softbank Hawks had been waiting for this for years.


Toshiya Sugiuchi

Eight seasons of disappointment and heartbreak, all forgotten in the second it took Tadashi Settsu to get strike three past Kazuhiro Wada and officially put the Hawks back on top.

Toshiya Sugiuchi threw seven shutout innings, and the Hawks put enough runs on the board behind him to defeat the Chunichi Dragons 3-0 in Game 7 to capture their first Japan Series title since 2003 on Sunday at Yahoo Dome.

"I'm exhausted," Hawks manager Koji Akiyama said. "But it was a great series. Chunichi is a great team. We are fortunate to come out on top."

Softbank won everything that was placed in its path this season. The Hawks captured the interleague title, the Pacific League pennant and PL Climax Series title before winning a back-and-forth Japan Series against Chunichi.

The Hawks flipped the script in the series finale, becoming the only team to win at home. Softbank benefited from a bases-loaded walk in the third inning, catcher Katsuki Yamazaki's RBI single in the fourth and Seiichi Uchikawa's run-scoring hit in the seventh.

"It's good we won the series in Fukuoka before our home fans, and I want to thank all the fans here and the Hawks fans throughout the country," Akiyama said.

The last time the Hawks were crowned champions they were still under the Daiei umbrella and Akiyama was named the MVP.


End of an era:

Dragons skipper Hiromitsu Ochiai (66), who guided the club to five Japan Series appearances in eight seasons, managed his final game in a Chunichi uniform on Sunday. KYODO

Veteran first baseman Hiroki Kokubo took home the honors this time, with the 40-year-old surpassing Akiyama (then 37) to become the oldest MVP in Japan Series history.

"I can't describe how I feel," Kokubo said. "I thought I was dreaming out there in the ninth inning."

Softbank's Brian Falkenborg and Sugiuchi were named the outstanding players of the series along with Chunichi's Wada. Dragons pitcher Kazuki Yoshimi won the award for the best player on the losing team.

Sugiuchi, a holdover from the 2003 team, wasn't as sharp as usual, but the left-hander was still too much for the Dragons. Sugiuchi allowed three hits, struck out eight and walked two.

"It feels like I've finally contributed to the team," Sugiuchi said. "It feels great, I'm relieved."

Chunichi's loss spells the end of manager Hiromitsu Ochiai's tenure with the Dragons. The team informed him in September that he would not be retained after his contract expires this year.

Ochiai had a wildly successful run, winning four Central League pennants and reaching the Japan Series five times in eight years in charge. For all their regular-season triumphs, Ochiai's teams struggled in the Japan Series, going 1-4 with only their 2007 trip ending in a championship.
Key at-bat:

The Hawks' Katsuki Yamazaki hits a fourth-inning single off Dragons pitcher Maximo Nelson in Game 7 of the Japan Series on Sunday. Fukuoka Softbank defeated Chunichi 3-0 to win the 2011 NPB championship. KYODO

Daisuke Yamai, who threw eight innings of a combined perfect game to clinch Chunichi's 2007 title, got the start but didn't have nearly that level of success this time around.

Yamai got the hook after two-plus innings and was charged with a run. He allowed three hits and struck out two before running into trouble in the third inning.

Softbank's Hitoshi Tamura led off the third with a single to center. Yuya Hasegawa followed with a deep double to center that grazed outfielder Yohei Oshima's glove before hitting the ground.

Yamai then walked Yamazaki to load the bases. That sent Ochiai to the bullpen, but reliever Masato Kobayashi walked Munenori Kawasaki to give the Hawks a 1-0 lead.

Kobayashi got the next batter, Yuichi Honda, to fly out in foul territory before Maximo Nelson came on in relief and retired Uchikawa and Kokubo.

Fukuoka Softbank Hawks manager Koji Akiyama is tossed into the air as the team celebrates winning the 2011 Japan Series on Sunday. The Hawks won the deciding seventh game at Yahoo Dome in Fukuoka 3-0 to clinch their first title since 2003. KYODO

Hawks veteran Nobuhiko Matsunaka drew a walk to lead off the fourth and advanced to second on Nobuhiro Matsuda's sacrifice bunt. Tamura flew out to center for the first out, and Chunichi walked Hasegawa to get to Yamazaki, a .189 batter in 86 regular season games.

Yamazaki turned the tables on Chunichi with an single to right that was enough to get Matsunaka, bad knees and all, home from second.

"I got the pitch I was looking for," Yamazaki said. "I gave my all and managed to come up with a hit."

Uchikawa came to the plate with a runner on second in the fourth and hit an RBI single off Dragons reliever Takuya Asao to make the score 3-0.

"I'm just so pleased I was able to hit it off the best middle reliever in this situation," Uchikawa said. "I'm happy."

Softbank isn't quite done yet, with the Asia Series set for later this month in Taiwan.

"I want to take the team as far as it can go," Akiyama said. "Right now, we are the best of the 12 teams in Japan."

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Mexican Winter League <
Culiacan Top of the 9th

Defensive Substitution:
Ivan Cervantes replaces third baseman Jose Amador, batting 7th, playing third base.

Pitcher Change:
Jason Rice replaces Blake Parker.

Jorge Vazquez strikes out swinging.

Refugio Cervantes singles on a ground ball to center fielder Henry Mateo.

Offensive Substitution:
Pinch runner Eloy Gutierrez replaces Refugio Cervantes.

Sergio Gastelum grounds into a force out, shortstop Walter Ibarra to second baseman Carlos Gastelum. Eloy Gutierrez out at 2nd. Sergio Gastelum to 1st.

Jesus Cota flies out to left fielder Mark Hamilton.

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Canizares homers twice in Yaquis' victory

Former Braves farmhand drives in six runs, sinks Caneros

Mexican Pacific League

Obregon 7, Los Mochis 5

Former Braves farmhand Barbaro Canizares homered twice and drove in six runs as the Yaquis held off the Cañeros. Canizares' league-leading 13th homer was a two-out grand slam in the ninth inning that put Obregon in front, 7-4. Giants outfielder Justin Christian went 3-for-3 with two walks, two RBIs and a run scored for Los Mochis.

Mexicali 4, Guasave 1

Irwin Delgado tossed five scoreless innings as the first-place Aguilas reeled off their ninth straight victory. Cristhian Presichi went 2-for-4 with two RBIs and a run scored, while Juan Canizales doubled twice, scored twice and drove in a run for Mexicali. Former Rays farmhand Gabriel Martinez was 3-for-3 with a pair of doubles and a run scored for Guasave, which has lost 16 in a row.
Barbaro Canizares won an International League batting title during five years with the Braves. (Melinda Pease/Gwinnett Braves)

Hermosillo 3, Culiacan 2

Former Reds Minor Leaguer Jesse Gutierrez hit a go-ahead two-run single in the seventh inning as the Naranjeros edged the Tomateros. Nationals farmhand Zech Zinicola pitched a scoreless inning for the win, while former Cardinals farmhand Amaury Cazana provided Culiacan's offense with a two-run homer.

Mazatlan 2, Navojoa 1

Pinch-hitter Hector Paez and former big leaguer Ruben Rivera homered in the eighth inning to power the Venados past the Mayos. Pablo Ortega gave up a run on five hits over eight frames for the win, while former Braves Minor Leaguer Azael Alvarez tossed 5 1/3 shutout innings for Navojoa.

Venezuelan Winter League

Caracas 6, Zulia 1

Brewers right-hander Michael Fiers allowed a run on four hits and struck out six over five-plus innings as the Leones shut down the Aguilas. Two days after he was added to Milwakuee's 40-man roster, Caleb Gindl went 3-for-5 with an RBI and two runs scored for Caracas. Yankees infield prospect Jose Pirela doubled home the lone run for Zulia.

La Guaira 5, Lara 4

Tigers infielder Danny Worth tied the game with a two-run homer in the eighth inning and the Tiburones rallied past the Cardenales for their fifth straight win. Major League veteran Gregor Blanco went 3-for-4 with a pair of doubles, an RBI and two runs scored for La Guaira, while Astros newcomer Joe Thurston had two hits and drove in two runs for Lara.

Magallanes 3, Margarita 1

Astros prospect David Martinez allowed three hits over five shutout innings in his first Winter League start as the Navegantes handed the Bravos their league-worst 23rd loss. Astros infielder Jose Altuve went 3-for-4 and scored a run to raise his average to .403 for Magallanes, which got a two-run homer from Nationals catcher Jesus Flores. Former Major Leaguer Jose Castillo had two of Margarita's seven hits.

Caribes 6, Aragua 4

Major League veteran Renyel Pinto grabbed a share of the league lead with his fifth win as the Caribes held off the Tigres. Pinto allowed four runs -- one earned -- on eight hits over 6 1/3 innings, while Yankees catching prospect Jose Gil delivered an RBI double, walked and scored twice for Anzoategui. Twins prospect Yangervis Solarte hit a two-run triple off the bench for Aragua.

Dominican Winter League

Aguilas 6, Licey 5

Joaquin Arias hit a two-run double to cap a four-run seventh inning that carried the first-place Aguilas to their third consecutive win. The Major League veteran finished with three RBIs in his third and extended his hitting streak to 10 games. Nationals farmhand Jhonatan Solano and Mets prospect Pedro Zapata drove in two runs apiece for Licey.

Toros 3, Escogido 2

Braves farmhand Jairo Asencio tossed a scoreless ninth inning for his league-leading seventh save as the Toros handed the Leones their third straight loss. Alejandro De Aza tripled and scored the go-ahead run for Este, while Royals catcher Brayan Peña had two hits, including a solo homer, for Escogido.

Puerto Rican Winter League

Mayaguez 8, Ponce 6

Royals farmhand Irving Falu collected three hits and three RBIs out of the leadoff spot as the Indios rallied past the Leones. Former Major Leaguer Randy Ruiz slugged a go-ahead three-run homer in the seventh inning for Mayaguez, while Minor League veteran Antoan Richardson was 2-for-3 with a pair of walks, an RBI and a run scored in a losing cause.

Caguas 5, Carolina 4

Orioles farmhand Miguel Abreu capped a four-run first inning with a two-run double as the first-place Criollos held on for their fifth straight win. Twins Minor Leaguer Aaron Bates contributed two hits, an RBI and a run scored for Caguas, while Mariners prospect Daniel Carroll doubled, singled and scored twice for the Gigantes.

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Australian Baseball League

•Andrew Campbell (DH, Brisbane Bandits): 0-for-2. Campbell’s fourth game in the ABL and off to a slow start going just 1-for-10 at the plate so far. He has yet to see any action in the field.

Dominican Republic Winter League

•Jerad Head (LF, Tigres del Licey): 0-for-2, K. Head’s numbers continue to free fall as he is now hitting just .162/.179/.270 in his last 10 games. He is not expected to resign with the Indians, but someone will pick him up, perhaps even someone overseas.

Puerto Rico Winter League

•Giovanni Soto (RP, Gigantes de Carolina): 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K. Soto continues his work out of the pen with his 6th outing in relief. He has been good so far allowing just 1 run in 6.0 innings (6 H, 3 BB, 5 K).

Venezuelan Winter League

•Luis Valbuena (2B, Cardenales de Lara): 0-for-4, K. Valbuena’s performance has flatlined this fall. After hitting .282 with a .917 OPS in his first 12 games this fall he is hitting just .206 with a .604 OPS in 20 games since.

•Ezequiel Carrera (CF, Navegantes del Magallanes): 1-for-4, K. Carrera is another player who got off to a hot start this fall hitting .333 with a .951 OPS in his first 11 games, but has struggled of late hitting just .171 with a .465 OPS in his last 9 games

SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic --

The dates for the most anticipated three hours of baseball all winter are circled by midsummer. This contest is the Subway Series, Battle of the Bay, and Lone Star Series all rolled into one game.

It's Licey vs. Aguilas at Estadio Quisqueya in the capital city and until you've seen it first-hand, you have not seen what a rivalry in baseball is all about. Sure, most would say the Yankees-Red Sox rivalry is second on the list, but it's a distant second.

"This is the game of the year and you just have to say 'Wow' when you step on the field and see everything," said former Boston outfielder Willy Mo Pena, who plays for the Aguilas. "It's more than Red Sox and Yankees. It's like a playoff game every single time."

The game on the field is rivaled only by the gamesmanship off of it. Bells, horns, whistles and improvised noisemakers are all the rage. Fans taunt each other so mercilessly that the occasional scuffle in the stands becomes commonplace when Licey and the Aguilas get together for this ultimate fighting championship. It's rumble time with thumping melodies, either played over the public address system or chanted by the fans, providing the bass line. If you can carry on a conversation with the fan sitting next to you it's because you are screaming or you are sitting in your living room watching the game's national broadcast.

It's that loud.

And colorful. It seems as if everybody is in Licey blue or Aguilas yellow, and those who are not are either in line at the stadium team store or outside the park purchasing "pirata" (knockoff) versions of team gear. Ever see a family of five wave five monster-sized team flags -- the kind of flags big enough to fly over elementary schools -- in unison?

Go see a Licey-Aguilas game.

Want insane? Players and fans say that at least one person dies after every Licey-Aguilas game of shock, heartache or elation. The death, they say, can occur at the stadium or at home in front of a television. The morbid tale is usually said with a straight face.

No kidding.

"It's intense, crazy, and funny at times. It has a little bit of everything," said Rays star Carlos Pena, who plays first base for Licey. "For us players, it's a challenge to keep that out of our minds and play the games, but sometimes it creeps in and you get caught up in it. You really want to kick the other team's butt because everybody is so into it."

For all its drama, the Licey-Aguilas game is only part of the Dominican Winter League experience. The modern Dominican Winter League is made up of six teams located in various parts of the country: Tigres del Licey and Leones de Escogido in Santo Domingo, Estrellas Orientales in San Pedro De Macoris, Aguilas del Cibao in Santiago, Gigantes del Cibao in San Francisco de Macoris, and the Azucareros del Este in La Romana.

Made up of Major League and Minor League players, the Dominican Winter League begins when the Major League season ends, and concludes with a round-robin playoff in January. The winner of the Dominican Winter League advances to the Caribbean Series to take on the championship teams from the leagues in Venezuela and Mexico.

"Overall, I say in Dominican baseball, you multiply the intensity of a regular Major League game times 100," Pena said. "Fans have so much passion that it's like a soccer match, where each team represents a different culture and everything is about personal pride and bragging rights for the rest of the year. Intensity takes over in all aspects much more than they do in the United States. It's hard to compare anything to it."

Pena is right. No baseball game in Latin America is more intense than Licey-Aguilas, although there are those who will argue the Caracas-Magallanes Winter League game in Venezuela is as good or better.

"It's a must-see for every baseball fan," said Nationals manager Manny Acta, a former manager of Licey. "You can't see a game in the Dominican Republic and not see Licey-Aguilas. It's what it is all about."

The actual rivalry could be about championships and respect. Licey, the winningest franchise in the Dominican Republic, is also the oldest. The club was established in 1907. The Aguilas were established in 1936.

The two clubs have combined to win 13 of the last 14 Winter League titles with the Aguilas winning eight of the last 12 titles starting in 1995. Licey, the champions of the 2005-2006 season, is a 19-time champion.

"Has this helped my career? Are you kidding? Of course, it has," said Yankees outfielder Melky Cabrera, who plays for Aguilas. "You play in this game, you can play anywhere."

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Toros del Este

Pitcher Edinson Volquez, informed by Frank Micheli, Chairman of the Toros, will join the team based in La Romana on or before November 15.

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ERIC BERGER added to the roster of 34

Today the lefty reliever added to strengthen the bullpen for Margarita

Tuesday November 22, 2011 12:00 AM

The high command of the Margarita Braves does not plan to throw in the towel in its attempt to get into the fight for the round robin classification and as such hired the lefty reliever from the Cleveland Indians, Eric Berger.

The gunsmith arrived on the night of Sunday into the country and was at once joined to the cast of the island bullpen. Margarita is located on the bottom rung of the standings, five games behind the fifth place team, the Zulia Aguilas. The Aguilas own now the last spot to qualify for a ticket into the semi-finals.

This year, the left hander was 2-1 combined between the two branches A and Triple-A of the Indians from Cleveland, accumulating an effectiveness of 4.04 in 71 innings and a third.

The left-hander Royce Ring also joins as a new weapon for Margarita.

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Big Z expected to return to mound Saturday

Righty was struck in face by line drive Friday in Venezuela

By Carrie Muskat / MLB.com | 11/22/11 10:04 AM EST

CHICAGO --

Carlos Zambrano, who needed 10 stitches to fix a cut after he was hit in the face by a line drive, was expected to pitch again on Saturday in Venezuela.

Zambrano was examined Monday, and a spokesman for his Caribes club said the team may have a better idea Tuesday if the right-hander will be available, according to reports. The Cubs pitcher had his best outing in Venezuela on Friday, giving up one unearned run on two hits and two walks over five innings for Caribes, but had to leave the game after he was hit by Ezequiel Carrera's liner.

This was Zambrano's third start in Venezuela and his first since meeting Cubs president of baseball operations Theo Epstein in Chicago.

Epstein and the pitcher had lunch Nov. 14 near Wrigley Field, and the message to Zambrano was that he had to earn his way back. Zambrano last pitched for the Cubs on Aug. 12, serving up five home runs to the Braves before he was ejected for throwing inside to Chipper Jones. Zambrano left the ballpark, telling teammates he was retiring.

Zambrano is under contract next season for $18 million, and has a full no-trade clause.

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Tuesday, Nov. 22, 2011

Tokai pitcher Sugano rejects Fighters' offer to join club

Highly touted Tokai University flamethrower Tomoyuki Sugano, who was selected in the first round of the baseball draft by the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters, decided on Monday to not accept the Pacific League club's offer to join the team.

Decision time:

Tokai University pitcher Tomoyuki Sugano speaks at a news conference on Monday in Hiratsuka, Kanagawa Prefecture. KYODO PHOTO

Earlier in the day, Tokai University manager Hitoki Yokoi reportedly told Nippon Ham that Sugano, 22, does not wish to join the club. He plans to train in the next year with the hope of being named in the draft by the Yomiuri Giants — the team managed by his uncle Tatsunori Hara.

"It was an honor to have a chance to hear from Nippon Ham. But my dream from when I was a child was stronger in the end. I might be taking a detour, but I want to shoot for my dream," Sugano said in a news conference at the Tokai University baseball dormitory in Hiratsuka, Kanagawa Prefecture. "I really thought it over and made this decision, so my mind is at ease."

The Fighters won the right to negotiate with the right-hander after drawing the winning lottery ticket in a contest with the Giants, who had believed they would be the only team to name Sugano because of his family ties to Hara.

Sugano called the Giants a "special club" and broke down in tears when speaking of his future earlier this month after Tokai University lost to Toin University of Yokohama in the semifinals of the Kanto regional university championship.

Sugano would lose the right to participate in next year's draft if he decided to play for a corporate or independent league team or for any professional teams overseas.

"I know that there are risks involved in taking time off and it will be a tough road ahead. But I hope to become an even bigger player as I get ready for next year's draft," Sugano said.

Sugano's grandfather, Mitsugu Hara, who is a special adviser for the Tokai University baseball team, has suggested Sugano will be allowed to use the training facilities at Tokai University for one year.

"In a sense, this will give me some room to breathe. I want to think more of the pluses than the minuses," said Sugano, who is prohibited from pitching in any pro or amateur games during his year off.

On Nov. 7, Sugano was greeted by Nippon Ham general manager Masao Yamada and other team officials and said he wanted to take the month of November to decide what to do.

Nippon Ham plans to continue trying to convince Sugano until the end of next March when the negotiation right expires.